3-1 Cavalry honors 23 NCOs during ceremony

By Nick DukeFebruary 24, 2015

usa image
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 25, 2015) -- 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, honored 23 NCOs Feb. 12 during an NCO induction ceremony.

Unit leaders said the induction ceremony was the first of its kind to be held within the unit in several years.

Sgt. Maj. Stevie Jones, the operations sergeant major for the unit, said the ceremony had been in the works for more than eight months.

The ceremony was the culminating event of a week of leader development focused on improving the unit's NCO corps. Leader development events included classes on physical fitness, nutrition, counseling, mentoring and training.

The 23 NCOs who were recognized were all promoted to sergeant within the last year.

During the ceremony, NCOs were inducted by their troop's first sergeant, and walked through an NCO arch. They also received a framed copy of the NCO creed and were given the NCO charge by squadron Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Pinion.

"Officers have a commissioning ceremony and a first salute but when does the NCO truly have their ceremony and rite of passage? It is the induction ceremony." Pinion said. It tells the Soldiers and officers in front of them that they are ready for the challenge of being a leader and an NCO."

"It commemorates how hard we've worked, and you have such a deep sense of pride once you cross that threshold," said Sgt. Joshua Muller of D Troop, one of the inductees.

The event's guest speaker was Henry A. Caro NCO Academy Commandant Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Metheny, who Pinion said was an ideal choice.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Metheny just epitomizes what you want to be as an NCO, so to have him as the guest speaker was perfect," Pinion said.

"It's important to recognize promotions and achievements," said 1st Sgt. Sean Jarvis, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. "The amount of work these Soldiers put into becoming an NCO is surreal. Soldiers may never know the amount of work a sergeant has put into getting to where he's at, but to have this ceremony shows that we're willing to put in work to recognize them, and that means a lot to these sergeants. ... There's so much more we could do for these leaders to let them know we're proud of them. This is the least we could do."

Jarvis said the induction ceremony is something the NCOs will remember for the rest of their careers.

"After more than 18 years in the military, I can't tell you what my promotion to staff sergeant looked like or what my promotion to specialist looked like," he said. "I can't tell you the when or the where. But, the day I got promoted to sergeant was in 1999 in Kosovo. ... I remember that day because it was the day I crossed that threshold from enlisted to a bonafide leader. They were charging me with the responsibility of taking care of Soldiers and Families. That's a big deal to me, so I remember that day. That day was important."

Sgt. Michael Hill of A Troop was one of the 23 inductees, and said the ceremony was one of his personal highlights.

"As a newly promoted NCO, I felt like of all the ceremonies I've been in in my life, whether it was graduating from high school or college, this ceremony topped them all," he said. "You have to go to Warrior Leader Course, you have to work hard for promotion points - you have to do a lot to become an NCO. So, to walk across that stage and walk through that arch, it was mind blowing."

Pinion also said the ceremony was one he would remember for years to come.

"I have witnessed and observed several of these ceremonies, but was never a part of one until this one and I will cherish that moment forever, and hope it is the same for those 23 NCOs," Pinion said.

Jarvis said the week was important not just for the inductees, but for all the unit's NCOs.

"Doing the NCO Academy showed the sergeants that they can be students again outside of just the NCO education system," Jarvis said. "You are capable of learning something on a daily basis. Become a student, learn more and become a better teacher."

Pinion said the week of NCO-focused events would not have been possible without the support of the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Paul Gunnison.

"Lt. Col. Gunnison really made this his No. 1 priority for the week," Pinion said. "He showed how much he cares about these NCOs in his heart."

The squadron plans to hold NCO inductions quarterly from now on.