The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy ceremoniously recognized the academic accomplishments of the 38 international students of Sergeants Major Course Class 64 June 5, by awarding them the International Military Student Badge. The Academy also recognized the service of three of its Military Professional Exchange Program instructors and inducted three former international military students into the International Military Student Hall of Fame.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rory L. Malloy, commandant, thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and honoring the international students.
"What a great day in the history of our academy as we formally recognize the leadership achievements of our international students by awarding them the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy International Military Student Badge," he said. "Class 64 international students have represented their country and their military very well. Your accomplishments during this course as well as your contributions to not only the academy but also our community have been recognized on numerous occasions."
Malloy said he also wanted to recognize the recognize the service of three of the Academy's Military Exchange instructors who will be going back to their home countries after Class 64 graduates.
"Each has contributed much to our program over the past three years. So to Warrant Office One Gregory Burns from the Australian Army, Chief Warrant Officer Martin Cartier from the Canadian Army and Command Sgt. Maj. Jorgen Stark form the German Army, we wish you the best in your future endeavors as you return home," he said. "it has truly been an honor having you as a part of our academy family over the past three years and certainly has been a distinct pleasure getting to know you and certainly your families as you have become a part of our family."
Following Malloy's remarks, the academy awarded the international students their student badges and then turned their attention to the Military Professional Exchange Program Instructors by awarding them certificates of appreciation as an interim award for the Meritorious Service Medal for their work and contributions at the Academy.
Many of the international students who have attended the Sergeants Major Course have gone on to make significant contributions to the lineage of their own NCO corps and education systems, but only a few have assumed the position of their respective country's or armed forces senior enlisted advisor, a position similar to that of the U.S. Army's Sergeant Major of the Army. The Academy recognized three individuals who have done just that by inducting them into the International Military Student Hall of Fame. Malloy assisted each of the honorees to unveil their induction plaques.
The first honoree was Command Sgt. Maj. Davor Petek of the Croatian Armed Forces and a graduate of Class 52. Master Sgt. Filip Petricusic of the Croatian Army and a member of Class 64 thanked the audience on behalf of Petek who could not make the trip to the United States for the ceremony. He read a statement from Petek.
"The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy is one of the best examples of an institution where hundreds of years of experience come together," Petricusic read. "t is not the lesson that are important, it is sharing the knowledge between different services and nation units and senior noncommissioned officers with a [varied] background at this institution that makes us all better leaders and noncommissioned officers once we graduate."
The next honoree was the Sergeant Major of the Estonian Defence Forces Sgt. Maj. Siim Saliste graduate of Class 57. Sgt. Maj. Siim Vark of the Estonian Defence Force and a member of Class 64 thanked the audience on behalf of Saliste who could not make the trip to the United States for the ceremony. He also read a statement from Saliste.
"I would like to thank USASMA for this great privilege and honor. I would like to thank all of you who sit here in the master bedroom. Here in the Sergeants Major Course you are experiencing something that will come to you a few years later," Vark read. "The trigger for our success is USASMA. It taught me confidence and introduced me to different tools of leadership. I learned that all militaries have the same problems despite the population, budget, or history. NCOs are always between generals and Soldiers. The question is do we know how to speak to both of them? Again thank you for this honor."
The final inductee was the Command Sergeant Major of the Hungarian Defense Forces Istvan Kriston who is a graduate of Class 58.
"Thank you very much I am so honored and it is my privilege to be here today. … Thank you very much for the commandant and the staff, for the IMSO and the faculty, because USASMA means a lot to me," he said. "If anybody asks me what USASMA means to me, it is our home. We have the same heart, we are not just comrades, and we are friends forever. Thank you very much for this training, for this education. The fact that I graduated from the sergeants major academy gave me the power, strength and knowledge to become the command sergeant major of the Hungarian Defense Forces."
Following the ceremony the inductees were taken to the International Military Student Hall of Fame area to be shown where their plaques would be put on display among the other honorees of years past.
For more photos of the ceremony and Hall of Fame Induction visit USASMA's website at https://usasma.bliss.army.mil/ and click on the link "USASMA Photo Archive."
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