Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Debra Richardson | The 1/201st Field Artillery, West Virginia Army Guard Command Sgt. Major Bobby Cales...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — “War is fought with sophisticated technology and weapons, but they’re won with soldiers who are led by noncommissioned officers,” remarked Sgt. Maj. Woodrow Ishman, Base Support Battalion-North Sgt. Maj., during a Noncommissioned Officer Induction ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. While the history of the NCO Corps dates all the way back to Roman times, the Army merged British, French and Prussian army traditions to form the modern NCO structure.
“You are about to officially enter a fraternity known as the backbone of the Army,” said Ishman stoically to the NCO inductees. “This ceremony symbolizes pride, honor, respect, history and the tradition of the NCO.”
The formal ceremony calls for all inductees to sit on one side of the room while current NCO’s sit on the other. After the newly inducted NCO’s have received their plaques, they cross to the other side of the room, to sit among their fellow soldiers, as a leader.
After hearing the history of the NCO creed, Ishman explained a few simple tasks that are not only expected of NCO’s, but demanded of them.
“Soldiers are the backbone of our army and they are entitled to outstanding leadership. You must train your soldiers to be technically and tactically proficient. You must always keep them informed. Lead by example. Hold your soldiers accountable to the standard. Be loyal with those to whom you serve and always consider yourself a work in progress.”
The induction ceremony, a first this year for 1/201st Field Artillery, West Virginia Army Guard, was more than just upholding a tradition. The unit has been filling its ranks with new, highly motivated sergeants over the past year and the soldiers are being depended on to train and lead the lower enlisted on a daily basis.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ishman and 201st Command Sgt. Maj. Bobby Cales presented plaques to each of the 47 inductees.
“You are NCO’s,” Ishman told each inductee as they patiently waited to receive their plaques. “I feel confident in each of your abilities to lead our Army into the future. Remain at the tip of the spear and carry on the flame of the tradition, legacy and the decorated history of the NCO corps.”
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2011 04:55 |
| Story ID: | 64978 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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