CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — The tradition of recognizing and inducting newly promoted sergeants into the noncommissioned officer corps can be traced to the Army of Frederick the Great.
Thirteen Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, signified the transition from Soldier to leader, at a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea, July 11.
“Today, you became something different. Today, you have joined a Corps of men and women, Soldiers all, that have quite literally changed the world,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Bennet, 2nd Infantry Division, Provost Marshall Office sergeant major, and guest speaker at the ceremony.
Since the earliest days of our Army, the noncommissioned officer has been recognized as one who instills discipline and order within a unit.
“An NCO must always lead by example, train from experience, maintain and enforce standards, take care of Soldiers, and continue to learn and grow,” said Bennet.
The ceremony began with the Soldiers learning a bit of noncommissioned officer history, followed by junior enlisted Soldiers sounding off loud and thunderous with their requests to all noncommissioned officers, and the noncommissioned officers sounding off with their promises to the young Soldiers. Some of the requests were to be trained properly, to be taken care of, and to be trained to become sergeants themselves one day.
“When doing your duty, do not demean your Soldiers with unkind words and unnecessary punishment. Instead, provide guidance, patience, mentorship, and understanding. Teach them to ‘Be, Know and Do’,” said Bennet.
Three candles, red, white and blue which each had their own significance were lit. The red candle represented valor, the white represented honesty and integrity, and the blue candle signified vigilance and the field of honor in which an noncommissioned officer serves.
Each inductee crossed the line of authority by walking beneath an arch, which displayed images of all seven of the U.S. Army’s noncommissioned officer ranks, marking their transition from the ranks of Soldiers to leaders. They each received a certificate, the Army noncommissioned officer guide, and the charge of the noncommissioned officer, which symbolize that they would take on all responsibilities of leading Soldiers,
“Responsibility is being accountable for what you do, or fail to do,” said Bennet. “As an NCO, you are responsible to fulfill not only your individual duties, but also to ensure your teams and units are successful.”
“It feels great knowing that I am following in the footsteps of noncommissioned officers who are committed to our Army profession and corps,” said Sgt. Joshua Batts, from Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, and the executive administrative assistant to the division command sergeant major.
The ceremony concluded with the inductees reciting the creed of the noncommissioned officer in which a feeling of pride could be felt throughout each line recited.
“I have always been a leader of Soldiers both in Garrison and deployed, but was never officially an NCO. This ceremony was one last stamp of approval that my senior leaders approve of my leadership potential,” said Batts, a native of Washington, D.C.
The 13 Soldiers inducted in the noncommissioned officer corps include: Sgt. Joshua Batts, Sgt. Warner Lee, Sgt. Rebeca Mendieta, Sgt. David Hargett, Sgt. Jedidiah Rash, Sgt. Dowell True, Sgt. Ioka Limu, Sgt. Jonathan Kerr, Sgt. Lakendrick Thomas, Sgt. Jeremy Weaver, Sgt. Brooks Trubee, Sgt. William Milford, Sgt. Jaryl French.