JMTC Soldier's experience at sea helped him become a better NCO

By Maj. Jennifer R. Johnson, 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command Public AffairsNovember 2, 2009

Sgt. 1st Class Israel Walker
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Sgt 1st Class Israel Walker

Age: 32

Current Unit: HHC, JMTC Combined Arms Training Center

Current Position: Mobile Training Team Coordinator

Component: U.S. Army

Current Location: Vilseck, Germany

Hometown: Albany, GA

Years of Service: 13

VILSECK, Germany - After 13 years, Sgt 1st Class Israel Walker is intimately familiar with what it means to be a leader in today's Army. As a Mobile Training Team Coordinator for the 7th U.S. Army Joint Multinational Training Command Combined Arms Training Center, Walker plays a pivotal role in resourcing and coordinating training for units who have recently redeployed from combat operations.

In his words, setting the example is an integral part of being an effective Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). It is a credo he is passionate about.

"I think what makes being a good NCO is just being able to set the example and lead by example," Walker said. "Just being able to show the Soldiers, yes, I will get down and dirty with you. I will get up under that HMMWV and change tires and get up oil spills and things of that nature.

Lesson, such as these, are not pulled out of the air. They are passed on as part of a proud NCO tradition of Senior NCOs mentoring junior leaders in the art of being an NCO, the backbone of the army.

"Back in the day, when it was called the Primary Leadership Development Course, my senior small group leader...always instilled in us to do the right thing and just lead by example. He always showed a good example."

Walker learned from his small group leader to never let your personal life interfere with your job.

"If he was in a bad mood, we didn't see it. He always stayed professional in front of us. Regardless of what was going on with him, personally or job-wise. He never showed it. And I think seeing that just kind of made me say 'Wow'. I want to be like that. He was a very good mentor."

The lessons he learned from his mentor stuck with him and affected his leadership style as an NCO.

"One of the things I love about being a leader is being active in junior Soldier's everyday lives, their everyday duties and responsibilities, showing the guys the right way over the wrong, and just being there."

During his latest deployment, Walker served as the sole Army representative in a sea full of strangers.

"My most recent deployment came last year. I went on to the individual augmentation assignment to work with the Navy for 12 months," said Walker. "That job entailed me being a ground liaison officer. What that job entails is me providing close air support from a Navy carrier to the guys on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was the only Army guy on a carrier of 5,000 personnel."

Walker said he believes in the traditions of the NCO Corps. With aspirations of becoming the Sergeant Major of the Army, Walker has a few words of wisdom to share with young Soldiers and future NCOs.

"If I could offer any advice to the junior leadership, junior Soldiers and junior NCOs, is to stay professional...You no longer have junior Soldiers looking at you. You also have your peers, as well as senior NCOs, expecting more of you because you are part of a tradition that goes back many, many years."