VOLUNTEER TRAINING CENTER, Catoosa Ga. -"No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers". The first line of the Army noncommissioned officer creed sums up what the Georgia National Guard expects of its NCOs. This creed is drilled daily at all levels of the NCO education system throughout the U.S. Army. But what about Soldiers who have not been to Basic Leader Course yet?
The Georgia Army National Guard conducted its first NCO Induction Course at the Volunteer Training Center, located in Catoosa, Ga., Aug 21-14. Nineteen Georgia National Guardsmen from across the state representing multiple military specialties received the training. The course develops junior NCOs who have not been to the Basic Leader Course to meet the professional military education requirements for their promotion.
The course was developed and sourced by the Georgia National Guard Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations and Training).
The training focuses on junior-level NCO development and places each student in a leadership role from team leader, the first level of direct supervision to a platoon leader, the Soldier overall in charge of the element of Soldiers.
"The training shows these young NCOs what responsibilities a junior team leader actually has," said Sergeant Major Joseph Shirer, G3 Operations Sergeant Major, Georgia Army National Guard. "They are starting to realize the amount of work and responsibilities sergeants have."
Over the course of five days, the students trained on the numerous responsibilities of a team leader: troop leading procedures, Army Values, preventative maintenance checks and services, patrol base operations, land navigation and training and testing on various firearms.
Time management was an implied task throughout the course, since there are numerous assignments, which need to get accomplished throughout the training period. The Soldiers were responsible for completing them all. If a leader did not ensure meal times were scheduled, the training didn't halt for lunch.
"We are expanding on the Select, Train, Educate, Promote (STEP) enlisted promotion system, " said Shirer. "The purpose of the course is to give these young NCOs an idea of their responsibilities before actually filling the position."
The attendees of the course were excited about the overall experience.
"The training is everything I joined to do," said Sgt. Alan B. Caldwell, a military policeman with the 179th Military Police Company, Fort Stewart, Ga. "During drill weekends we don't get the opportunity to train on this."
The training benefitted the instructors as well.
"One of the assumptions senior NCOs have to make is that young sergeants are completely prepared for the roles they are responsible for," said Sergeant 1st Class Jakob Raven, G3 Operations NCO. "Over the course of this training, the seniors NCOs are learning the young sergeants need their knowledge base improved as well."
Upon completion of the course, the guardsmen participated in a NCO induction ceremony officiated by Georgia Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major Phillip A. Stringfield who inducted the soldier's into the NCO Corps.
He stressed the importance of their future in the future leadership of the Georgia Army National Guard. "You are the future of this organization," he said, "The graduates of this course will be the next platoon sergeants, first sergeants, and sergeant majors in the state of Georgia."
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