Photo By Spc. Jazz Burney | Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Kiefer, command sergeant major, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field...... read more read more
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By Spc. Jazz Burney
3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 25th Infantry Division
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – The non-commissioned officer corps in the United States Army continues to shape and mold today's Soldiers to uphold the duty of protecting our nation.
As part of continuing that tradition in Iraq, 44 sergeants of 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division participated in a non-commissioned officer induction ceremony Jan. 16 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
"The ceremony itself gave the Soldiers a better glimpse of how the quantum leap from the specialist rank into the non-commissioned officer corps should go while exposing them to the responsibilities they will be tasked to perform," said 1st Sgt Darrell Moore, first sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Bn. 7th FA Regt.
The induction ceremony is steeped in Army tradition, and not even a deployment to Iraq will stop it from happening. The event, overseen by Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Kiefer, the battalion command sgt. maj., included the reading of the non-commissioned officer history; the Soldier's request, which described the expectations of a non-commissioned officer's leadership in the life of a Soldier; the creed of the non-commissioned officer; the lighting of candles that symbolized the eternal flame which burns in every non-commissioned officer's spirit; a fallen Soldier tribute; the weathering of rank, in which senior non-commissioned officers used water on the new rank of the sergeants to create the look of a rugged and ready leader; and the cutting of cake using an antique sword from the 1840's.
The origin of the non-commissioned officer can be traced back to the Roman legions. When Roman commanders found the tactical and administrative requirements of drilling and fielding a successful army absorbed all their time, they turned to the enlisted ranks for assistance. They selected exceptional Soldiers to be enlisted leaders of men, assistants to commanders and to perform administrative and logistical tasks.
As the Army has adapted to changing global conditions over the years, the non-commissioned officer corps has had to change its leadership style to adapt to new generations of Soldiers, but has always set the standards and positively instilled them in the Soldiers they instruct.
"If you take the 11 principles of leadership, the one I value the most is 'lead by example' -- this is a truth that transcends the generations of the Army," said Moore. "Granted, your audience dictates your leadership style, but the common denominator in both having a good or bad audience is the fact if you lead by example that is the biggest value you can instill in Soldiers," he continued.
A Soldier promoted to be a non-commissioned officer holds a position of responsibility and authority that is given based upon demonstrated aptitude, performance and future potential. Non-commissioned officers are an essential part of the effective operation of a unit.
"An ideal facet of a non-commissioned officer is one who has had situations that were overcome both in their military career and in their personal life, which has prepared them to deal with the many circumstances that comes with having Soldiers—this needed aspect shows that not only can he execute to fix them, he can also relate and have the compassion toward handling his Soldiers efficiently," said Staff Sgt. Willie Pricebrooks, food service non-commissioned officer, Co. G, 3rd Bn., 7th FA Regt.
The sergeants who participated in the induction ceremony described their personal focus and mental changes necessary for being an effective non-commissioned officer.
"My main focus in training my Soldiers is to get them ready to surpass my accomplishments and position them for the next level of their military career," said Sgt. Michael West, light-wheel vehicle mechanic, Co. G, FSC, 3rd Bn., 7th FA Regt.
"The biggest mental change is to realize the higher level of responsibility with knowing the right answers to your Soldier's questions," said Sgt. Jeremiah Carrington, fire control sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Btry, 3rd Bn., 7th FA Regt. "At this level of duty we are supposed to be the subject matter expert in being a Soldier or the beginning of it," he added.
The battalion will conduct non-commissioned officer inductions every quarter during their deployment.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.07.2009 01:58 |
| Story ID: | 29750 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 651 |
| Downloads: | 306 |
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