FORT GORDON, Ga. -- (Oct. 12, 2011) Baron Friedrich Von Steuben's regulations have been the foundation for noncommissioned officer duties and responsibilities since 1778, which is still followed.
The 706th Military Intelligence Group welcomed 14 newly promoted sergeants into the Noncommissioned Officer Corps during an induction ceremony held Oct. 12 at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Fort Gordon.
An NCO induction ceremony is a celebration of the newly promoted joining the ranks of a professional NCO Corps, emphasizes, and builds on the pride shared as members of an elite corps and a rite of passage as it states in Field Manual 7-22.7.
"Every NCO selects a mentor," said Command Sgt. Maj. Lisa Clair, 706th Military Intelligence Group command sergeant major. "Some of us get first sergeants assigned, sergeants major assigned, platoon sergeants assigned, squad leaders assigned, they are all assigned and you don't have a choice; but every NCO and Soldier will usually go out and find a mentor, somebody they want to emulate, somebody they look up to, somebody they want to be like as a noncommissioned officer."
Newly inducted NCOs selected mentors who were presented, which Clair mentioned is a great honor to be a mentor and emulated.
Some famous names individuals may emulate and look up to include Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, Sergeant Audie L. Murphy, yet not many knew about Master Sgt. Dianette O. Morales' mentor, who she looked up to when she was just a private first class, she said during her speech.
Morales remembered her sergeant who has made a difference in her life. She thanked her mentor Oct. 1 after selection to attend the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. Morales' mentor sat with her when she was going through problems even if it meant spending the next 21 hours while Morales was having a baby when her husband wasn't present.
"To be a good leader and a good mentor you have to have it in your heart that you want to influence somebody to the point where 18 years later you are going to know their name, you are going to know where they are … they are going to be back in your life," said Morales.
No longer lower enlisted each NCO has to separate themselves from their friends who are now their subordinates, she said. Those subordinates are going to be looking up to their NCOs, and the top is lonely. NCOs are looked at to do the right thing in and out of uniform.
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