FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - May 5, 2009 - Sergeant Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston took the lead to honor Fort Campbell's newest noncommissioned officers during a ceremony Monday that promoted 39 Soldiers.
"NCOs are the glue that binds the Army together," Preston told the leaders and everyone else who crowded Wilson Theater to support them.
Preston's presence at the induction ceremony was the highlight of his afternoon visit to the installation. He and 101st Sustainment Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Sanchez presented the Soldiers with their certificates of promotion and made speeches of commendation.
The ceremony featured dramatic recitations of the NCO Creed and history as a celebration of the Army's Year of the NCO. The 2009 theme is intended to give first-line leaders the attention they deserve.
Throughout the event, NCOs were lauded as topnotch professionals, conveying such qualities as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
Sergeant Anthony Barth, one of 39 promoted, said his squad leader inspired him to become an NCO. He hopes to grow in his ability to make good decisions.
Preston charged the promoted men and women to embrace the responsibility of teaching Soldiers the discipline that is essential for operations. The nation-building and security roles U.S. forces bear right now in Iraq would not be possible without competent NCOs.
"When you get in a forward deployment area and you don't have a disciplined force, you can't fix yourself," Preston said.
Preston said NCOs can expect more events in their honor throughout the year. NCO's will have more opportunities to be spokesmen for the Army and more training for the many hats that they must wear.
Preston has observed high retention rates as evidence of a rising satisfaction among Soldiers. Still, he worried about the effects of stress factors.
When Preston met with President Barack Obama last January, he tried to give the commander in chief a detailed picture of dwell time.
"Soldiers are not sitting at home watching television," Preston said.
Instead they stay busy with homefront tasks such as reintegration, change of commands, recruiting, drilling, certifications and then packing for deployment. Meanwhile, other Soldiers might have to move their families and adjust to a completely different community.
"And we call that taking a knee," Preston said with amusement.
Preston urged senior NCOs in the audience to take the recently promoted Soldiers under their wings.
He recalled it was personal mentoring that enabled him to succeed as an NCO in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Since Preston joined the service in 1975, he steadily climbed the ranks to the highest enlisted position in the Army. He was appointed SMA in 2004.
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