Photo By Sgt. Daniel Schneider | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston speaks to Soldiers from United States Division...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – Soldiers of United States Division – Center got a rare treat when Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston arrived at Camp Liberty June 24 to talk to them.
Senior leadership and some junior enlisted Soldiers met with the highest-ranking enlisted member of the U.S. Army to ask questions of Preston during multiple open forums and hear his take on Army issues affecting them.
During his open forums with the junior enlisted Soldiers, Preston pointed out where the Army is headed in the near future, emphasizing the new enlisted promotion policy in the works.
“We want to make it so that Soldiers aren’t set back because they’re on a deployment,” Preston said. “A lot of times, a Soldier, when … deploy[ed], doesn’t have access to all the paperwork to successfully get promoted. Oftentimes, when they are out on distant [forward operating bases,] they don’t have access to attend a promotion board – either being too far away from where the board is held, or mission requirements deterring them from being able to make it.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, senior enlisted leader of United States Forces – Iraq, offered advice to the noncommissioned officers in attendance.
“We succeed as a team,” said Wilson. “If your junior Soldiers succeed, that means you succeed as an NCO. Never be afraid to grow future leaders because when they get promoted, you get promoted.”
Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, United States Division – Center senior enlisted leader, pointed out that Soldiers seeking promotion should concentrate on aiming for excellence in the performance of their jobs.
Preston also took questions from the Soldiers. One Soldier asked Preston what he likes and dislikes about today’s Army.
“Back in the old Army, you’d have people standing before a judge who would tell them, ‘You can go to jail or join the Army.’ Now, we have a purely volunteer force which I like a whole lot,” Preston said. “You all should be very proud of who you are. You are the cream of our society. Out of all people who try to join the Army, only 30 percent are even qualified to wear the uniform.”
“I am very proud of all of you,” Preston concluded.
The sergeant major of the Army travels all around the world, visiting Soldiers roughly 270 days out of the year, said Master Sgt. Jason Shepherd, the public affairs advisor to Preston. He tries to travel to either Afghanistan or Iraq quarterly, alternating between the two, and makes it a point to visit with all Soldiers regardless of rank.
At the end of the open forum meetings, Preston presented approximately 30 junior enlisted Soldiers from across USD-C with coins. Before departing, he reiterated just how proud he was of every Soldier for answering the call to serve their country.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2010 02:53 |
| Story ID: | 52012 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 189 |
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