Photo By Capt. Joselyn Sydnor | Forty-three newly inducted Soldiers recite the Non-commissioned Officer Charge during...... read more read more
FORT BLISS, Texas - Forty-three, mostly Army Reserve Soldiers, were inducted into the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps March 30, 2019 by Command Sgt. Maj. Ted L. Copeland, U.S. Army Reserve Command command sergeant major, and Command Sgt. Maj. Mario Canizales, 210th Regional Support Group senior enlisted advisor.
This Non-Commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony is a welcoming and affirmation of the inductees into the ranks of the NCO Corps, the backbone of the Army.
Several of the inductees have worn the rank of sergeant for at least a month, years in some cases, but the induction ceremony made wearing the rank special.
“To me, it’s more of like an official thing,” said Sgt. Sharonda A. Mealey of the 7412th Troop Medical Clinic. “Now that I’ve been inducted, it’s official. I am now a sergeant.”
Mealey was promoted the month prior to the ceremony.
Sgt. Terrance Deganne, a 7412th TMC sergeant, received his promotion to sergeant seven years ago, but the induction still means just as much for him.
“It’s one of those traditions that is getting lost in the military,” he said. “Some of those traditions make a big difference for us seeing it for the first time.”
Canizales and Copeland saw this as opportunity to introduce the induction ceremony to new sergeants and reintroduce the tradition to the NCOs who have been around for a while and know what the ceremony means.
“Becoming a sergeant is a big step; probably the biggest step in your military career,” said Copeland during his speech. “We are the action cohort,” he said. “If it’s going to be done, it’s because we make sure it’s done.”
He reminded the newly inducted sergeants that as NCOs it is a core obligation to care for Soldiers and “do the hard right”.
“We care for our Soldiers and ensure they get the proper training, mentoring and education so they can fight and survive on the battlefield,” said Copeland.
Copeland's career spans more than three decades with much of that as a member of the NCO Corps, and one of his proudest moments today still stands as the day he was promoted to sergeant.
The ceremony was a momentous occasion for the sergeants both newly promoted and those already seasoned. Some found significance because of their participation in a time honored, if infrequently invoked, tradition.
“I think carrying on Army traditions… like the NCO Induction Ceremony, was good for me personally” said Sgt. Leon McRae II of the 653rd Regional Support Group. “Good to see how it’s done and be a part of it.”
And others found special significance in the ceremony because of Copeland's participation.
“It’s not something you’d expect,” said Mealey. “You expect our regular command sergeant majors, but for him to come, that was a big deal. It makes it even more apparent, it makes us feel even cared about, seriously. So, that was awesome.”
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.10.2019 18:58 |
| Story ID: | 317652 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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