Photo By Sgt. William Begley | "Brawler" Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment are inducted into the...... read more read more
The Battalion Command Sergeant Major walks and stands in front of 20 Soldiers. He then reads “The Charge of a Noncommissioned Officer,” which is repeated by the 20 newest noncommissioned officers in his battalion. This is one of the first actions confirming these NCOs as leaders in the Army.
The 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade held an NCO induction ceremony at Hunter Army Airfield March 10.
“You want to pass down traditions,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Muller, the 4th Bn., 3rd Aviat. Reg. senior enlisted advisor. “It was passed down to me in 1996 and I am trying to pass it down to the next generation. It's where we recognize a Soldier who moves into the NCO ranks so he or she understands the authority and the power that they have as an NCO.”
The newly confirmed NCOs not only pass down traditions, they also pass down information and skills they have learned as junior Soldiers.
“I like to teach my soldiers not just what the Army expects of them, but also financial things like how to buy a car for the first time,” said Sgt. Valerio Velasquez, a newly confirmed NCO with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Bn., 3rd Aviat. Reg. “As far as Army training, I am a signal NCO so I teach them about radio and computers.”
Moreover, Soldiers are able to teach NCOs a thing or two, said Sgt. Camisha March, E Co., 4th Bn., 3rd Aviat. Reg. No one is perfect so being receptive to learning is characteristic of being a leader.
“Being an NCO has been pretty interesting,” she said.
As a junior Soldier, there were different duties NCOs did that weren’t very clear, said March. So continual learning is expected as a leader.
“Leading soldiers makes the difference between having a soldier that loves his unit, loves the Army or doesn't,” said Velasquez. “It's very important because if you provide good leadership, good guidance then more often than not you'll get a soldier to like his job, to like coming into work and possibly stay in much longer than even he may anticipated.”
Leadership encompasses the Army values.
“All of the Army values are very important,” said 1st Sgt. Henry Marcelle, E Co., 4th Bn., 3rd Aviat. Reg. “We all have a few that we actually stick to but all are important. The two that really stick to me are loyalty and integrity.”
Being loyal to a team builds team cohesion, he said. Along with that, integrity builds trust, which also builds honesty among NCOs and lays the foundation to effectively build a team.
There are strengths and weaknesses within a team, added Marcell. The NCOs are leaned on for their personal strengths, but they also build their weaknesses while working together as a team.
“Never feel ashamed of something that you don't know,” said Marcell. “Always go out and ask that question because the more you learn the more you can actually go back and relay to Soldiers.”
Additionally, these newly confirmed NCOs will be the example for their Soldiers and the medium between their Soldiers and the company leadership.
“Every soldier has a sergeant, be that NCO who makes a difference and set the example,” said Command Sgt. Maj. LaVander R. Wilkerson, Hunter Army Airfield Garrison command sergeant major. “Counseling soldiers is the foundation of a leader in which will teach, coach and mentor soldiers.”
An NCO trains a Soldier every day they come into work, said Muller. Whether it's filling out a DA Form 4187, hooking a truck up to a trailer, or working on an aircraft; that's an opportunity for training and the NCOs need to utilize those opportunities to prepare for combat operations.
As generations go on, things get forgotten and things get remembered, explained Muller. NCOs have power and authority; their number one priority is to care and train for their soldiers. So when there is an NCO induction, the newer NCOs are being taught that they are in charge.
“It brings a little more emphasis that they're not an E-5, that's a pay grade,” he said. “They are a sergeant.”
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2017 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 226797 |
| Location: | HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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