Photo By Spc. Elayseah Woodard-Hinton | The 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, held a non-commissioned officer induction...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, held a non-commissioned officer induction ceremony at the Zone 1 Chapel on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Jan. 30.
The ceremony was held to recognize the passing of 31 Soldiers into the ranks of the NCO Corps.
NCO induction ceremonies are an important rite of passage for Soldiers who have made a commitment to lead junior Soldiers and support commissioned officers. However, as pointed out in a speech given by Command Sgt. Major William Hardwick during the ceremony, 2009 presents additional meaning to this time-honored tradition.
"I could not think of a better opportunity to start 2009, the year of the NCO, than with this ceremony for the candidates sitting before me," said Hardwick, 420th Movement Control Battalion. "Over the next year, the Army will develop new programs that will help to enhance the training opportunities, the educational opportunities and the capabilities of the NCO Corps."
Becoming an NCO means more than receiving higher rank, more pay or respect. The role holds a great responsibility to be, know and do, meaning NCOs must at all times set an example by doing the right things and remain knowledgeable in their technical and tactical skills so they can teach and mentor their troops.
Because NCOs are promoted from the ranks, they are able to pass on their knowledge and experience to the Soldiers they lead, which is something Sgt. Donald George, a 311th Soldier who was inducted at the ceremony, said he felt was time for him to do.
"It was time for me to step up and become a leader," said George. "I'd been in the Army seven years, seen a few things and been around."
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Edgardo A. Coronado, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, spoke on how it was not enough for NCOs to know the NCO creed, but they must also apply and live by it, a thought that George also wrote about during his Warrior Leaders Course training.
"I wrote a paper on living the creed during WLC," said George, "And I figured since [Coronado] said that at the ceremony, then I was on the right path."
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2009 04:49 |
| Story ID: | 31220 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 270 |
This work, Non-commissioned officers prepare to live the creed, by SPC Elayseah Woodard-Hinton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
