45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield

By Sgt. 1st Class Sean Riley, 45th SB-CMRE Public AffairsOctober 25, 2014

45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 45th Sustainment Brigade CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element Chaplain Assistant, Staff Sgt. David Ribar, recites the invocation during the Noncommissioned Officer Induction Ceremony, Oct. 11, on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Cl... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of the 45th Sustainment Brigade CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element, representing the ranks of the noncommissioned officers, recites the duties of each rank during an NCO Induction Ceremony at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. (Photo by... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bell, the Command Sergeant Major for the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), addresses the audience and offers his 27 years of service and expertise to advise the inductees on what it means to be an effective noncommissi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
45th SB-CMRE hosts NCO induction ceremony at Kandahar Airfield
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 26 inductees from battalions scattered across Afghanistan gather for a photograph with 3rd Sustainment Command's (Expeditionary) Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bell (far left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Dana Mason Jr. (far right, front), 45th Sustainment Br... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

It's a tradition near as old as the Army itself. A tradition steeped in ceremony, pride, and legacy. A tradition the senior noncommissioned officers of the 45th Sustainment Brigade CENTCOM Materiel Recovery Element have not forgotten.

On Oct. 11, the NCOs of the 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE conducted a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony at the FEST Tent on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

The ceremony celebrates the addition of newly promoted sergeants to the NCO Corps and serves to officially welcome Soldiers to their new life and responsibility as NCOs.

"It is a rite of passage to be inducted into the NCO Corps. It is a symbolic gesture when those leaders pass through the NCO arch and into a world where they are no longer referred to as Soldiers - they are considered leaders who are now entrusted with our sons and daughters whether in peace or at war," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dana Mason Jr., command sergeant major of the 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE and host for the ceremony. "The intent of having NCOs participate in these types of events is to show them what right looks like and basically, you are giving them the answers to the test. As they mature into senior NCOs, they will be able to go back to this induction ceremony in Afghanistan and be able to glean portions of it and adopt it as their own."

The NCO induction ceremony is a traditional celebration of the newly promoted joining the ranks of a professional NCO corps. The ceremony also serves to honor the memory of those men and women of the NCO Corps who have served with pride and distinction. It serves as a rite of passage and allows fellow NCOs of a unit to build and develop a cohesive bond, support team development, and serves as a legacy for future NCOs.

"I believe it is essential that organizations at battalion and higher echelons conduct events like these to preserve NCO traditions since they have taken a backseat to an Army that has been at war 13-plus years," Mason said. "More importantly, we must teach this new generation of young leaders to uphold these traditions. Right now we have a population of sergeants first class and master sergeants who were denied these types of ceremonies when they first entered the NCO ranks because combat operations were the priority and Army traditions were placed on the back burner. Inevitably we are now teaching two generations these important traditions simultaneously. Investing in our NCO Corps' future is vital as we continue to grow and develop leaders that will fight our nation's wars."

Mason explained that pride and ownership are two critical pieces to the complex puzzle that is military leadership at the enlisted level.

"Hopefully, these new NCOs take away two simple words that I've found carry a lot of meaning and will help set these young leaders up for success if they choose to use them; pride and ownership," Mason said. "Pride in being part of an NCO Corps that traces its lineage back to America's first Inspector General, Baron Von Steuben, - the man who instituted the 'Blue Book,' our Army's first regulation that addressed good order and discipline. An individual who takes pride in something is far more likely to take ownership of whatever endeavor they are involved in. By taking ownership, these young NCOs will automatically take pride in everything they do. As you see, pride and ownership work hand-in-hand. I consider those two ideals key components in building a solid leadership foundation."

Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bell, the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) command sergeant major, and guest speaker for the event, feels the ceremony is an essential part of being a noncommissioned officer.

"Now is your time to reflect on your past and commit to the future," Bell said.

The ceremony contained several unique rites of passage, including a candle-lighting event and then allowing the inductees to pass through a large arch signifying their entrance into the NCO Corps.

Bell encouraged the new initiates to seek help, guidance and mentorship from senior noncommissioned officers.

"You are the backbone of the Army; the lifeblood of the organization and the foundation of standards and discipline," Bell said. "Our purpose as NCOs is to always take care of our team and that means to teach, coach, and train to the standard, lead by example, hold your Soldiers accountable, and most importantly; be compassionate and know your Soldiers."

Bell said the ceremony was about entering into a time honored corps; one that is desired by every free nation around the world.

"Inductees, you can make a difference," Bell said. "You can make sure that standards and discipline are your watchwords so your squad, your section, your platoon, your company, your organization is the best. Our challenge in sustaining excellence does not ride with the lower enlisted private, the private first class, and the specialist; (NCOs) are the gatekeepers of discipline. We have always been there and always will be there when our nation calls. Be the best at what you do and remember; people skills and building relationships will always override talent."

The 26 junior noncommissioned officers being welcomed into the NCO Corps came from bases and outposts throughout Afghanistan to participate. Newly promoted sergeants from the 315th Engineer Battalion, a Missouri Army National Guard unit; the 877th Eng. Bn., an Alabama Army National Guard unit; the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, an active duty unit based in Alaska; and the 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, were inducted in the day's ceremony.

Sgt. Jesse Roux, from the 45th Sust. Bde. CMRE spoke about his most memorable NCO mentor, Staff Sgt. Joshua Beals. "It's one thing to memorize the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer, but it is another to live by that creed. When it says that 'I know my Soldiers and will always place their needs above my own,' he takes it to heart. To me, being an NCO means the Army trusts in me to take care of its Soldiers and mission in my sphere of influence. The Army trusts me to be trained, to be fit, to be resilient, and to be selfless. It places me in a position to make sure that whatever the mission is, that I will make sure it gets done, that its Soldiers are taken care of, and are as trained and as bright as I am or better."

As the ceremony drew to a close, the inductees stood before the brigade and recited in unison the Oath of the Noncommissioned Officer led by the 45th Sust. Bde. operations sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Paul Blanchard.

Mason admitted the success of the ceremony was due to the team of NCOs that provided their years of leadership experience and expertise to make it happen.

"I want to thank my team who did most of the heavy lifting and helped pull off an outstanding event," Mason said. "My Ops Sgt. Maj., Sgt. Maj. Blanchard, and my battalion Command Sgts. Maj., Command Sgt. Maj. Jacqueline Williams, with the 17th CSSB; Command Sgt. Maj. Knute Weick, 315th Eng. Bn., and Command Sgt. Maj. Bobby Treece, with the 877th Eng. Bn. I want to give a special thanks to Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bell for taking time out of his busy schedule to impart words of wisdom to the newly inducted Lightning Support NCOs."