Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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Pvt. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – The Multi-National forces – Iraq command sergeant major visited with units within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Feb. 28-29.
"It's always a privilege and an honor to be able to come back and visit units who are a part of the 101st," said Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill. "It's especially gratifying to be able to spend time with the prestigious Rakkasans."
The MNF-I command sergeant major spent four tours with the 101st throughout his career. His final tour was in 2004 as division command sergeant major, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-05.
Hill said every time he left an assignment with the 101st, people always asked if he served with the Rakkasans. "It is what people look for when you say you served with the 101st," he said.
Hill also spent time with the Screaming Eagles as an infantryman with both 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 327th Infantry Regiment, as the 1st Battalion, 502nd Inf. Regt. command sergeant major.
During his two-day visit, Hill watched demonstrations from 3rd Special Troops Battalion's improvised explosive device and route-clearance team, 626th Brigade Support Battalion's fire-response truck, witnessed the firing of a live howitzer by the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery.
He also took part in a promotion ceremony at the Rakkasan headquarters and a mass re-enlistment ceremony held at Patrol Base Dragon, with Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. He handed out coins to Soldiers whose leadership said they had distinguished themselves from their peers.
"Whenever I visit a unit, I like to recognize outstanding Soldiers for what they are," Hill said. "It's not important that I am recognizing them, but that their noncommissioned officers appointed over them are doing so."
Hill's whirlwind tour of the Rakkasans' operational environment gave him a brief glimpse into how the 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) conducts business.
"It's always important to get a view on the whole picture and see how everybody is contributing to the fight," said Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton, the 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) command sergeant major.
Hill stressed repeatedly that success in the mission starts at the lowest level, and works its way up.
If you take care of your troops, they will return the favor and do what you ask of them, Patton said.
"The war we are fighting is on the shoulders of our specialists and sergeants," Hill said. "It takes good leadership to successfully go out and do what these Soldiers are doing on a daily basis. I can see that the Soldiers in this brigade have that good leadership."
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2008 14:25 |
| Story ID: | 16950 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 653 |
| Downloads: | 614 |
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