3rd AAB welcomes 14 into the NCO Corps

Photo By Pfc. Khori Johnson | A group of 64th Brigade Support Battalion non-commissioned officer inductees stand proudly and sing the 4th Infantry Division March during NCO Induction Ceremony at Memorial Hall on Camp Adder, Iraq, Nov. 5. The ceremony was held to welcome 14 inductees into the NCO Corps.  

CAMP ADDER, IRAQ

11.05.2010

Story by Pfc. Khori Johnson 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP ADDER, Iraq – The 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist, 4th Infantry Division, recently held a non-commissioned officer induction ceremony to welcome 14 soldiers into the NCO Corps at Memorial Hall on Camp Adder, Nov. 5.

The non-commissioned officer is widely considered the backbone of the U.S. Army. When a junior enlisted soldier becomes an NCO, that soldier is added to that backbone to further strengthen and help support the body of the Army. The NCO induction ceremony is a time-honored tradition, which originated in the late 1980s, that signifies a newly-promoted NCO joining the ranks of their fellow NCOs.

The inductees were: Sgt. Peter Andazola, Sgt. Robert Gerhardt, Sgt Ryan Hong, Sgt. James Hensen, and Sgt. Brian Leebert all from Company A, 64th BSB; Sgt. Lavoyd Anderson, Sgt. Mark Bowman, Sgt. Daniel Kiser, Sgt. Russel Mangels, and Sgt. Benjamin Warren from Company B, 64th BSB; Sgt Francisco Solis, Cpl. Kalynn Waltrip; Sgt. Kevin Kalyn, and Sgt. Alexis Santiago, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 64th BSB.

“This ceremony honors the NCOs of the past, the NCOs of the present, and our future non-commissioned officers. Also, it represents everything that we do and stand for in the United States Army,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Vaneta Vaughn, 64th BSB, 3rd AAB.

The Mountaineers of 64th BSB are spread throughout the Iron Brigade’s area of responsibility in southern Iraq. Since they are spread so thin, 64th BSB has had to remain industrious in order to accomplish its mission. Since some elements of 64th BSB are isolated, good leadership is critical.

“I think a good NCO can learn from anyone, regardless if they are an NCO or a junior enlisted,” said Leebert, of Sacramento, Calif., military intelligence non-commissioned officer, based in Basra. “They’ll take the good things that NCOs do and learn from it. Also, they’ll take their junior enlisted and see what ideas they have, because you can learn from anyone.”

For senior NCOs, the ceremony was an opportunity to witness a celebration of the hard work and success of their soldiers.

“I watched the whole process,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Maddrey, Company A, 64th BSB, referring to Leebert. “I was there when he first came to the company as a specialist, I sat on the board when he became promotable, and I was there to pin him when he made sergeant.”

Many senior NCOs enjoy seeing soldiers take the steps toward becoming an NCO, because it displays their desire to be successful within the U.S. Army, said Maddrey.

“I’d like to see more specialists step up and show that desire by saying ‘I want to go to the board,’ and actually go to the board and take part in that process,” he said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, about 200 soldiers applauded the newly-inducted NCOs that made the promise never to forget, nor allow their comrades to forget, that they are “professionals, non-commissioned officers, leaders.”

“It makes me very proud to see our young soldiers make that important rank of a noncommissioned officer and become part of the corps. I love the corps and I believe in the corps,” said Vaughn. “Today was a great day for the Mountaineers.”

• Date Taken: 11.05.2010
• Date Posted: 11.12.2010 08:12
• Story ID: 59992
• Location: CAMP ADDER, IQ