Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Neysa Canfield | Sgt. Tevyn Waters, a motor transport operator with 74th Transportation Company, 129th...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Every quarter, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade “Lifeliners,” 101st Abn. Div. (Air Assault) initiates its newest noncommissioned officers into the NCO corps with an induction ceremony.
Twenty-one Lifeliners walked under an archway which read “NCOs Lead the Way,” symbolizing their rite of passage into the NCO corps Aug. 11, at the Dale Wayrynen Community Recreation Center, here.
Among those NCOs was Sgt. Valerie Breton, a utilities equipment repairer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde.
Breton said the journey to joining the NCO corps was challenging, but after two and a half years she was able to achieve her goal.
“I lost motivation at least twice a month and was even looking into RCP,” said Breton.
The Army’s Retention Control Point (RCP) is the maximum years a Soldier can serve in the Army in their specific grade. If a Soldier reaches RCP without achieving the next higher rank they will no longer be able to stay in the military.
“I want to stay in the Army for 20 years and longer if I can, and hopefully become a warrant officer,” said Breton. “That was my biggest motivation during my journey to becoming an NCO.”
Breton said she used her lunchtime to complete correspondence courses and converted some of her military education to civilian college credits.
Army correspondence courses are an extension of the U.S Army’s training and doctrine command in the form of online learning. The courses are essential for military members as it trains and educates Soldiers in diverse skills and professions.
She also continued improving her physical fitness to attain a higher Army Physical Fitness Test score, in order to keep her competitive among her peers.
Breton’s hard work payed off as she walked on stage as part of her induction to the corps.
As part of the ceremony, four senior noncommissioned officers, including 1st Sgt. Brandon Cruz, senior enlisted advisor for 584th Support Maintenance Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Abn. Div. Sust. Bde., voiced their words of wisdom to the newly promoted NCOs.
“It is important to continue the tradition of the NCO induction ceremony, as it instills in the mind of that newly inducted Soldier that they are now a noncommissioned officer and have the responsibility to train, lead and mentor future leaders,” said Cruz.
In keeping with tradition, the newly promoted NCOs swore to the NCO charge in front of their friends and Family members.
“When you swear to the charge of the noncommissioned officer it should not be taken lightly, as you are are vowing to be a leader and committed to your Soldiers,” said Cruz.
Breton, who pinned her sergeant strips in August, said part of her motivation to become an NCO was her desire to provide great leadership to Soldiers.
“It was important for me to show Soldiers what a leader could be,” said Breton. “I want my Soldiers to progress and become great leaders, and hopefully surpass me some day.”
As the ceremony ended, NCOs stood in front of the audience and recited The Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
The creed guides and reinforces the values of each generation of noncommissioned officers. It outlines the meaning of being an NCO.
“Being part of the NCO corps means being a leader who is on the ground interacting with Soldiers, being a standard bearer, and helping advance Soldiers’ careers,” said Cruz
Breton said she wants her Soldiers, regardless of rank, to attend an NCO induction ceremony to hopefully motivate and instill the tradition of joining the corps of the noncommissioned officers.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2016 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 207952 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US |
| Hometown: | BURTON, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lifeliners welcome new NCOs, by SFC Neysa Canfield, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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