FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov. 21, 2013) -- Soldiers, families and friends of the 214th Fires Brigade gathered in Sheridan Theater Nov. 14 to recognize and support 14 newly promoted sergeants in a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony.
The ceremony was the Leaders Brigade's first brigadewide induction ceremony, and was an opportunity to spotlight its newest leaders while instilling a sense of pride and honor.
"This NCO induction ceremony was an opportunity to ensure that these new NCOs take charge and fully understand their responsibility in accepting the rank of sergeant, while showing our junior Soldiers who the standard bearers are," said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Aaron, 214th FiB CSM.
The theater's dim lighting gave the ceremony its solemn ambiance, while the formal color guard injected a sense of discipline and honor as the newly promoted NCOs took the Charge of the Noncommissioned Officer and passed through the archway, crossing the threshold of authority. Of this hallowed ritual, Sgt. Jacob Garling, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery said, "it is the rite of passage, where we went from being sergeants to true NCOs."
The event's guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Michael Bills, 4th Infantry Division acting senior commander, reminded the new sergeants of their duties as leaders.
"Leading Soldiers is the most important, responsible and rewarding thing you can do; and as an NCO, you owe it to your Soldiers to be proficient and teach them," said the general.
As stated in the Creed of the NCO, the basic responsibilities of an NCO are the mission's accomplishment and the welfare of Soldiers. These responsibilities were stressed in the ceremony and not lost on the inductees.
"The induction ceremony is a reminder of an NCO's roles. It is a tradition that reminds us of our responsibility to our Soldiers and the Army," said Sgt. Skyler Sundown, C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery.
With right hands raised, the oath was sworn in booming voices: "I will discharge carefully and diligently the duties of the grade to which I have been promoted and uphold the traditions and standards of the Army." These traditions and the NCO Corps' history were highlighted during the event, Soldiers in historic uniforms marched toward their new leaders reciting the Soldier's Request.
"Treat me with respect, Sergeant. For no heart in the entire world is more loyal than the heart of an American Soldier," yelled one of the ceremony's participants who wore BDUs and an old style rucksack.
The NCO Corps, known as the "backbone of the Army," is held together by the professionalism and traditions of its members. By instilling traditions such as the induction ceremony, new NCOs are reminded of their place in the Army's history and their importance to the nation, knowing that they are to someday replace those above them, and that their Soldiers must be trained to someday replace them.
Sgt. David Sequeira, C/2-5th FA, said, "We [the inductees] know that we are recognized and that now we must focus on our Soldiers. It is no longer about us and we must now pass on this tradition, courtesy and pride to our Soldiers."
Aaron said the brigade put on a great ceremony.
"We planned for months and it was all worth it in the end to give these new sergeants and their families the recognition they deserve for their hard work and dedication to our nation," he said.
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