Osborne Relinquishes Responsibility

Photo By Staff Sgt. Felicia Jagdatt | Capt. Chris Ingram, Headhunter commander, receives the company's guidon from 1st Sgt. Natonya Osborne, outgoing senior enlisted adviser at a change of responsibility Mar. 29. She hands him the guidon to represent her stepping down and handing over the responsibility of the unit. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Felicia Jagdatt)  

EL PASO, TX, UNITED STATES

03.29.2019

Story by Staff Sgt. Felicia Jagdatt 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

“They said the mission comes first, but, to me, the individuals conducting the mission comes first.” This is the the mentality that drives 1st Sgt. Natonya Osborne everyday as a leader and senior noncommissioned officer.
Osborne took responsibility of the ‘Iron Brigade’s’ Headquarters and Headquarters Company March 2018 as its senior enlisted adviser and, during her tenure, she was respected among her leaders, peers and subordinates as an outstanding leader who is reliable, hardworking and always improving.
“Her ability to balance responsibility to enforce the standard with a level of empathy that is greater than any other NCO I have ever met,” said Capt. Chris Ingram, company commander for HHC, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.
“It is to her credit that the Soldiers before you are professionals in everything they do,” he adds. “They are devoted to the Army values, committed to the Iron Soldier standard, and, at the end of the day, when the dust and sand have settled, they are a team that takes care of their own.”
Osborne, a native of Charlotte, N. C., joined the Army in 2000 because she fell in love with the Army uniform, and, although it has changed throughout the years, she still wears it with pride in serving her country.
Nineteen years later she continues to learn and her role as the first sergeant of the Headhunter’s company brought her invaluable new skills and lessons for the future.
“I have learned patience,” she said. “Just because I wear the rank doesn’t mean that I know everything. There are Soldiers who teach me something everyday.”
She plans to keep going and improve herself as she moves forward in her career.
“Your goal should be to improve yourself and be great at everything you do,” she exclaimed.
She not only applies that goal to herself but gives her subordinates the chance to learn it also.
“If you are constantly telling your subordinates what to do, they will never grow,” she continues. “They will be dependent on you to make all of the decisions for them. When you are no longer around, they will be lost. It’s all about mentoring and developing them to one day stand in your position.”
On March 29, and after a year of service to the Headhunter Soldiers, Osborne was replaced by 1st Sgt. William T. Nolan who expressed his gratitude in being able to takeover a well-oiled organization and hopes to continue to make it soar in the same direction.

• Date Taken: 03.29.2019
• Date Posted: 03.31.2019 12:04
• Story ID: 316333
• Location: EL PASO, TX, US