Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hohman | Sgt. Marc Whittaker, 178th Military Police Detachment, 720th MP Battalion, signs a...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas - Noncommissioned officers have played an integral role within the Army by acting as advisers to the greatest commanders and mentors to the most valorous of Soldiers. Because of their important role, noncommissioned officers are known as the backbone of the Army.
The 720th Military Police Battalion’s backbone became stronger during a NCO induction ceremony held at the Howze Auditorium on Fort Hood Friday.
The NCO Induction ceremony is an Army tradition that allows units to honor the milestone of Soldiers transferring from junior-enlisted to junior NCO.
The 720th MP Bn. inducted 18 new NCOs from the 178th Military Police Detachment, 64th Military Police Company, 401st Military Police Company, 410th Military Police Company, and 411th Military Police Company.
Guest speaker for the event, Sgt. Maj. Robert Parker, who serves as the III Corps Provost Marshal Office operations sergeant major, spoke to the Soldiers about the responsibility that comes with their new rank.
“We are held responsible for what we have,” Parker said. “In many cases it can be our authority, position, leadership and knowledge.”
Parker told the Soldiers how, as leaders, they were now expected “to use this role to benefit others.
“You may ask, ‘Well, what is expected from me?’ Well, a lot. And it’s not always cut-and-dry either.”
Parker outlined the four important aspects of being a competent and confident NCO.
First, it is expected that each of the NCOs live and die by your integrity. Second, they are expected to be confident. Third, as leaders they must have empathy. Lastly, each of the new NCOs need to recognize how each of them has “been entrusted with America’s most precious resource, people.
“Leadership is an honor that often requires scarifies,” Parker said. “This honor is now given to you.”
One of the newly inducted NCOs, Sgt. Justin Chance, who serves as a signal support systems specialist with the 401st MP Co., was promoted on Nov. 1 and has already begun to feel the effects of his new rank.
“Since becoming an NCO, I have noticed more respect and more responsibility with people looking up to (me),” Chance said.
Although already possessing the rank of sergeant for three months, marching through the arch and receiving a copy of the NCO Creed and Charge of the NCO from his senior NCO leadership would prove to be an everlasting memory that he would carry throughout his Army career.
“The ceremony was significant to me because it allowed me to feel as though I was officially part of the Corps actually,” Chance said.
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2015 09:23 |
| Story ID: | 153021 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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