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7th Engineer Battalion welcomes 20 Soldiers into Noncommissioned Officer Corps
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Photo by Spc. Bradley Clark
Twenty members of 7th Engineer Battalion confirm the oath of charge as they are inducted as newest members of the NCO Corps.
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – United States Forces-Iraq Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson and 7th Engineer Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Federico Boyce inducted 20 new sergeants into the Noncommissioned Officer Corps during a ceremony Jan. 22 at Memorial Hall here.
The ceremony began with a video to highlight the history of the Noncommissioned Officer.
Wilson, the guest speaker, spoke to the new sergeants about what is expected of them and the new challenges they will face as NCOs.
“You must live the Army values, and teach them to the warriors underneath you,” he said. “You have to mentor, teach and coach your Soldiers. The backbone of our Army is our NCOs, and the 20 Soldiers here today are the future of our Army.”
He went on to provide further guidance to the new leaders.
“You must give your warriors everything that they need to survive in the battlefield, both in peacetime and wartime. Once you have the respect of your warriors, they will die for you.”
Wilson encouraged the sergeants to adapt a leadership style that fits them, and to go on and do great things.
After Wilson’s remarks, Forward Support Company 1st Sgt. Donald Starr instructed the new sergeants to raise their right hand as he led them in reciting the NCO Charge. The new leaders then prepared to walk through an engineer arch that symbolized the passage from being a junior-enlisted Soldier into becoming a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers.
Boyce addressed the Soldiers and their sponsors.
“Who will sponsor these Soldiers into the ranks of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps?” he asked.
As Soldiers stood up, their sponsors responded proudly, indicating that they were in full support of their Soldier becoming an NCO.
After the last Soldier was inducted into the Corps, they all stood together and recited the NCO Creed, led by Staff Sgt. Michael Dixon.
Three junior Soldiers then acted out a monologue in which they each made request to all of the new sergeants. Soldiers made a request for guidance and training so that one day, they too can become NCOs.
Before the closing of the induction ceremony, Wilson addressed the new sergeants for one last time telling them, “Take heed to what these warriors said. They want to be trained, they want to be you. Train them from the heart; if you do that, they will keep the Army Strong.”
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