Sustainer speaks at Third Army WLC graduation

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Behlin | Command Sgt. Maj. Karl A. Roberts, the senior enlisted advisor for Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan and the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), speaks to graduates of the Third Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy’s Warrior Leader Course graduation ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 6, 2012.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

08.06.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Command Sgt. Maj. Karl A. Roberts, the senior enlisted advisor for Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan and the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), recently served as the guest speaker for the Third Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy’s Warrior Leader Course graduation ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 6, 2012.

Roberts considered his participation in the event to be special as the soldiers attending received the opportunity to attend a Noncommissioned Officer Education System school while deployed to a combat zone.

Roberts said he was honored to have the opportunity to speak to the future leaders of the U.S. Army.

“With your graduation here, you’ve become members of a select group who’ve attended an NCOES while deployed,” Roberts told the graduating soldiers. “It is often said amongst us older, seasoned NCO’s that we need to get back to the basics. Here, in Warrior Leader Course, is one of the places where you get the basics.”

Third Army’s WLC is the Army’s only forward deployed WLC course. Over the course of 15 days, soldiers are tested on the fundamentals of leadership, both in and out of the classroom. Training during course included conducting squad tactics exercises and surveying counter improvised explosive devices.

For Command Sgt. Maj. Franko J. Antolovich, the Third Army NCO Academy Commandant, his choice to select Roberts as guest speaker was special as he considers him a great role model for the Army’s junior leaders.

“CSM Roberts’ words of wisdom to the graduates of Warrior Leader Course Class 12-708 were especially pertinent and appreciated as these soldiers take charge on the challenging journey of leadership and assume their positions as leaders in the U.S. Army,” said Antolovich. “We thank CSM Roberts for investing his time and energy into the future of all soldiers. He is an awesome role model for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration for.”

In all, 125 soldiers graduated during ceremony for WLC Class 12-708. In his remarks to the graduates, Antolovich encouraged them to perform the duties expected of a NCO.

“Go back to your units and have the courage to take charge; you owe it to America’s sons and daughters to lead well,” Antolovich said. “Train America’s warriors to think critically and creatively, and to operate in any environment and lead our Army to fight, win and survive our nations wars.”

• Date Taken: 08.06.2012
• Date Posted: 08.15.2012 10:27
• Story ID: 93261
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW