16th Sustainment Brigade develops leaders through NCO Day

Photo By 1st Lt. Hannah Morgan | Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Stoner, 16th Sustainment Brigade Mortuary Affairs noncommissioned officer in charge, lights a ceremonial candle during the NCO induction ceremony, part of 16th Sustainment Brigade’s NCO Day at Smith Barracks, Germany, Sept. 25. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Hannah Morgan, 16th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs)  

BAUMHOLDER, RP, GERMANY

09.25.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Michael O'Brien 

16th Sustainment Brigade

By Sgt. 1st Class Michael O’Brien

BAUMHOLDER, Germany – The 16th Sustainment Brigade developed its noncommissioned officer leaders by hosting an NCO Day at Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany, Sept. 25. The day began with physical training, followed by a platoon sergeant breakfast, an NCO induction ceremony, and an NCO professional development class.

“As professionals, we realize that fostering our traditions and honoring our history as NCOs is paramount in building our future NCO corps,” said Sgt. Maj. Thomas Moore, senior enlisted adviser, 16th Special Troops Battalion, and organizer of the event. “If these things are not taught and shared, we can lose the aspects of who we are as NCOs and how we are vital to the Army's mission and where we fit in [with] respect to our mission.”

The day started with circuit PT at Minick Field. Soldiers ran, “Iron Miked,” or high stepped, among eight strenuous stations including dead lifts, lunges and medicine ball twists.

Command Sgt. Maj. Maverick Ledbetter, the brigade command sergeant major, hosted a platoon sergeant breakfast at the Hard Rock Dining Facility. Ledbetter spent time mentoring his sergeants on leadership after the meal.

With full bellies, the NCOs headed to the Wagon Wheel Theater, where 16th STB conducted an induction ceremony for newly promoted NCOs, demonstrating the excellence and commitment that is indicative of NCOs. The time-honored event ushered four inductees into the NCO corps, and ended with a traditional cake cutting, made by the culinary specialists at the Hard Rock Dining Facility.

After lunch, the troops filed back into the theater for an NCOPD class on the Army’s European operations and plans by Sgt. Maj. Jose Alegado, U.S. Army Europe’s G3/5/7 sergeant major, the guest speaker at the induction.

“Today, I came down to Baumholder to inform our Soldiers how thankful we are for what they do,” said Alegado. “We’re hoping that we can get it across to them that U.S. Army Europe and the whole theater know what they are doing.”

The 16th Sustainment Brigade’s NCOs headed to the end of the week formation after the class, secure in the knowledge that they are developing leaders to help sustain a strong Europe with days like this.

“The induction ceremony was a humbling and proud experience to see the potential of the NCOs,” said Moore. “The ceremony, and the NCO Corps itself, is a legacy as these Soldiers will take our places one day.”

• Date Taken: 09.25.2015
• Date Posted: 10.28.2015 04:54
• Story ID: 180116
• Location: BAUMHOLDER, RP, DE