BAUMHOLDER, Germany Aca,!" With this being the ArmyAca,!a,,cs Year of the NCO, Master Sgt. Terry Montang, tells upcoming Soldiers to prepare themselves for leadership and not to be afraid to step out and lead.

Aca,!A"Make long strides,Aca,!A? said Montang, noncommissioned officer in charge of the U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder Chapel. Aca,!A"Step out. We are still yet today in need of strong leaders. DonAca,!a,,ct be afraid to step out and follow your heart, and follow your head. Get that education. Continue to grow. Go to the schools. Go to the boards. Be a leader.Aca,!A?

Montang explained that it is not enough to hold Soldiers to a standard. The NCO himself or herself must not only meet that standard but exceed it.

Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs hard to hold a Soldier to a certain standard if the NCO does not already exceed the standards. If the standard is 10 pushups an NCO should be doing 11 pushups. That way they can encourage support and mentor their Soldiers to achieve the standards of 10 or more. So as an NCO our job is to train, mentor, guide our younger Soldiers,Aca,!A? said Montang.

Aca,!A"The NCO, for the United States Army, to coin a phrase, is the backbone of the Army. IAca,!a,,cm not sure who initially said it, but he or she took in 100 percent of the truth,Aca,!A? said the master sergeant.

Aca,!A"As NCOs,Aca,!A? he added, Aca,!A"we are responsible for the day to day operations, such as anything from mail pickup, mail postings, to setting up training, initiating training, meaning we actually do the training with the Soldiers. WeAca,!a,,cre responsible for the highest standards. We set the standards as an NCO.Aca,!A?

An experienced NCO, Montang not only talks the talk, he also walks the walk when it comes to being prepared to mentor and lead Soldiers.

Aca,!A"I have had classes on everything from train the trainer in suicide prevention, to counseling to Seven Habits, to Links (local retreats for families and Soldiers). IAca,!a,,cve had just about all the training I can possibly get and I continue to train. But because of that wide variety I can be very sympathetic of both the Soldier down range as well as the family member here. Because of that I can get involved in assisting them Aca,!A| I try to get involved as much as I possibly can,Aca,!A? said Montang.

Not everyone has all the answers though, and Montang realizes that.

Aca,!A"I may not always answer their question but I can point them in the right direction or link them up with a person that can help them arrive at a beneficial solution,Aca,!A? said Montang.

Montang admits duty in the ChaplainAca,!a,,cs Corps is not for everyone.

Aca,!A"In the ChaplainAca,!a,,cs Corps we are held to a different standard. We have our own additional code of ethics. Where some Soldiers can do or say certain things, thatAca,!a,,cs not necessarily so in the ChaplainAca,!a,,cs Corps,Aca,!A? said Montang. Aca,!A"We are held to the Aca,!A| highest standards of ethical and principal and moral actions, words and deeds.Aca,!A?

His overall experience as a Soldier serves him well in meeting the standards of the ChaplainAca,!a,,cs Corps.

Aca,!A"My first 12, 13 years I spent in Aca,!Eoe11 bang bangAca,!a,,c Aca,!" 1l infantry, and I loved the infantry,Aca,!A? said Montang.

Although the infantry was his life for some 13 years, Montang decided back then to grow and expand his knowledge, as he tells young NCOs today. Aca,!A"I chose at that point to switch to Aca,!A| the ChaplainAca,!a,,cs Corps. I chose to go back to school and continue to grow in an area that I felt I was being called to perform in and so consequently IAca,!a,,cm here because actually I wish to be here,Aca,!A? said Montang.

Aca,!A"I am what is called a DIMA, a Drilling Individual Mobilized Augmentee,Aca,!A? he noted.

Aca,!A"This is something that I want to do,Aca,!A? he said, referring to being on active-duty status. Aca,!A"I come from a military family. All my family has served as far back as I can remember. I lost an uncle in World War II, my grandfather served at Guadalcanal in World War II. I am the baby of seven and with the exception of one, my sister, all six of us boys have served in the United States military and we continue to serve yet today.Aca,!A?

The senior NCO said he does not serve for myself; Aca,!A"I serve for my family and for my loved ones back home, as well as those who came before me and those who will come after me.Aca,!A?

Aca,!A"Those that came before me have set a standard,Aca,!A? he added. Aca,!A"I wish to honor them by meeting that standard if not someday exceeding that standard. And for those who follow me, they should also have somebody to look up to like I have and have had over the years.Aca,!A?