Photo By Spc. Allison Churchill | CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Spc. Daniel Zupan (left), radar repair, Battery A, 26th Field...... read more read more
By Spc. Allison Churchill
Fires Bde. PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
BAGHDAD - Ambitious junior enlisted Soldiers from Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division faced four of their top enlisted leaders March 7 at brigade headquarters in a bid to join the noncommissioned officer corps.
Appearing before the board in full "battle rattle," the Iron Gunners answered a wide range of questions - from the history of the brigade to demonstrating the proper functions check on their M-16A2 rifles.
"You're going to be setting the standard now," Command Sgt. Maj. Gilbert Canuela, Fires Bde., told the three perspective NCOs standing before him.
The Soldiers first appeared before the promotion board as a group with their sponsors. After the introduction of the board, the Soldiers, Cpl. Christopher Fernandez, personal security detachment, Fires Bde.; Spc. Dan Zupan, radar repair, Battery A, 26th Field Artillery; and Spc. Tiffany Gray, transportation coordinator with 18th Transportation Detachment out of Hawaii, faced the board individually.
The Soldiers said they spent more than a month preparing for the board but admitted to being nervous when their turns finally came.
"I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in the past 36 hours," said Zupan, who noted that he had the added complication of equipment difficulties, which interfered with his plans for a "final cram."
Zupan said he faced a "pre-board" two weeks prior that he found helpful in tailoring his areas of concentration. He was advised to change his study focus from escalation of force issues to leadership and counseling knowledge, he said.
Gray, who is currently assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's rear operations center, said facing a board of unfamiliar faces was stressful. She did not depend on standard study guides, she said, since the preparatory information from the board encouraged her to place more emphasis on having a thorough knowledge of basic Soldier skills.
Both leadership and Soldier skills are important, said Canuela, adding that units need to focus on building a strong NCO Corps and ensuring troops are equally efficient in their military occupation specialty and warrior skills.
The ability to face a promotion board with professionalism is far from being the sole determining factor as to whether Soldiers will become good NCOs, but it is a "rite of passage" and helps leaders see how a Soldier will appear to his or her subordinates, said Canuela.
He advised Soldiers to pay close attention to detail when appearing before the board. Some examples, he noted include failing to stand at parade rest while addressing the board or having a uniform that is not completely up to standard. These details are noticed and immediately corrected by the board, which leaves a lasting impression for the members that the Soldier may not be ready to assume responsibilities as an NCO.
Soldiers who do not pay enough attention to detail "would have a hard time enforcing standards," when they become NCOs, Canuela said, because the Soldiers serving under them would not be able to use them as an example of what is right.
Canuela said he plans to have Soldiers continue to report to the board in the full battle dress uniform they wear for combat operations in Iraq, but their dress uniform will continue to be inspected by platoon leaders.
The NCOs who sponsored the Soldiers appearing before the most recent board said they noticed differences between this and their own experiences.
"I think that it was easier when I went through," said Sgt. Joshua Turner, Personal Security Detachment NCO, who sponsored Fernandez. He said he did not recall as much having been asked of himself and the other Soldiers who went before the promotion board during the 4th Infantry Division's first deployment to Iraq in 2003.
Turner said he spent about six weeks helping prepare Fernandez for the board. He said he believed their shared experiences on the personal security detachment helped enforce Fernandez" tactical knowledge.
Mentoring relationships, such as the one between Turner and Fernandez, are good for Soldiers and help build a strong future NCO Corps, said Canuela.
"Some day, one of those Soldiers will be a first sergeant, command sergeant major or even sergeant major of the Army," said Canuela. "That's a reward in itself, to be part of training a future senior NCO."
In addition to Canuela, other members of the board were 1st Sgt. Brian Bruce, Battery A, 26th Field Artillery; 1st Sgt. Kenneth Carmickle, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery; and 1st Sgt. Allen Braswell, 324th Network Support Company.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2006 11:48 |
| Story ID: | 5795 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 310 |
| Downloads: | 191 |
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