KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — It’s a very defining moment for enlisted soldiers who experience it. With two silver swords simultaneously raised in opposite directions, many soldiers step through an arch and officially march into the non-commissioned officer corps.
Nearly 40 soldiers from the 45th Sustainment Brigade shared this moment with one another, June 8, during an NCO Induction Ceremony in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The event began in traditional Army fashion by introducing the official party, followed by an invocation and the national anthem.
Next, the soldiers learned a bit of NCO history before conducting a special presentation for the audience. Junior ranking soldiers marched to the front of the crowd, sounding off loud and thunderous with their requests to all NCOs spread throughout the service. Their requests were to be trained properly; to be taken care of; to not be mistreated, and to be trained to become sergeants themselves one day.
NCOs followed suit, marching to the front and sounding off with their promises to the young soldiers. This part of the ceremony is known as The Soldiers Request/NCO Response.
“The greatest commodity in the Army is soldiers,” said guest speaker Command Sgt Maj. Karl Roberts Sr., command sergeant major of the Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan. “You know what the standard is. You know what the standard looks like. We don’t have to go out here every day and look for it. It’s in this room,” said Roberts.
The highlight of the day came during the presentation of inductees. Each soldier waited behind a custom built arch, decorated with NCO ranks and the 45th Sust. Brigade’s custom branding. The new NCOs then marched through after hearing his or her name called. This was their official ‘Rite of Passage’ into a new world of responsibility.
“I thought the NCO induction ceremony was well put together,” said Sgt. Lauren Coleman, NCO inductee and cable installer maintainer for the 45th Sust. Bde. “I was happy to be a part of something special.”
These soldiers the Army’s newest sergeants. With their new rank, they are expected to lead, train, communicate and take care of soldiers every day.
“All I ask you to do is live the [Army] Values; live the code; respect the [soldiers] Creed and respect one another,” said Roberts. “You are the future.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.14.2012 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 89965 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 322 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 45th SB NCO Induction Ceremony welcomes Army’s newest sergeants, by SFC Maurice Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
