FORT SILL, Okla. (Aug. 3 ,2017) -- Families and friends gathered to witness the graduation of 66 Soldiers from the Fort Sill Noncommissioned Officer Academy's Senior Leader Course (SLC) and Advanced Leader Course (ALC) July 28, at Sheridan Theater.
Noncommissioned officers from around the country and world attended the courses.
In addition to their classwork, the Soldiers graduating from SLC and ALC were required to complete a capstone project with other students, as well as participate in physical fitness testing and complete independent research.
After the invocation and playing of the national anthem, Soldiers from the graduating classes stood to recite individual lines from "The Soldier's Creed." All 66 stood to recite the final line, "I Am an American Soldier."
The guest speaker for the graduation was 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schomaker. He enlisted in the Army in 1997, and has held a variety of positions during his career. He is a recipient of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and is a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
In his remarks, Schomaker reminded the graduating Soldiers that it is "privilege, not a right" to wear the uniform of the American Soldier.
He asked the Soldiers if they will truly uphold all of the standards of the Army, not just the ones they agree with or are easy to follow.
"I was going to try to write this all-inspiring speech in hopes of reaching and inspiring you. Instead, I simply turned to TC 7-22.7, the Noncommissioned Officer Guide, and found exactly what I was looking for -- the charge of the NCO. The charge, along with our creed, sums up everything we do as leaders in this profession," he told the audience.
In part, the charge commands noncommissioned officers to uphold the standards of the Army.
Schomaker asked the graduating Soldiers if they are up to the task of maintaining these standards.
"How will you lead? Will the Soldiers underneath you follow you because of how you lead? Will they obey because they know the directives you're giving them are in their best interests and for the good of the organization? Or will they obey because they have to? You decide."
Schomaker reminded the graduating Soldiers that teamwork is an integral part to making the Army work as a unit and that they should consistently attempt to be the best leaders possible.
"Strive to be perfect. Your Soldiers deserve it," he said.
The newest graduates will return to their installations worldwide and take on new levels of responsibility. Schomaker reminded them to welcome the opportunity to lead no matter the situation.
He called on Soldiers to accept this charge daily for the motivation it seeks to impart in, not just because it was into a manual they had to read.
"As you go back to positions of increased responsibility and leadership, remember that how they lead and how you execute the task will have direct effects and indirect effects of how Americans view our mission and how we lead Soldiers."
In closing, Schomaker reiterated his sentiment that the Army needs good leaders.
"If every Soldier was an APFT [star] or had the characteristics of an Audie Murphy, we wouldn't need leaders. The Army needs you, leaders of character, to possess and display the attributes of a great leader. Our Soldiers deserve the very best," he said.
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