"No one is more professional than I."
The first line of the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Creed makes it clear that professionalism is paramount to being an NCO. Every NCO memorizes the creed when they become an NCO, and tries to live the creed throughout their career.
Elite, perhaps, among this group of professionals is Sgt. Maj. Juanita Krueger, senior enlisted advisor for 1st Area Medical Laboratory, 20th Support Command (CBRNE).
Krueger's Soldiers praise her professionalism.
"Being a female in the Army is hard," said Sgt. Elizabeth Thompson, preventative medicine specialist. "There are so many bad examples. It's refreshing to see a female who is a great NCO."
Thompson was recently named the Aberdeen Proving Ground NCO of the Year. She cited Krueger for helping her prepare for the boards, saying her performance is a direct reflection of Krueger's leadership.
"Maybe one day I can be like her," she said.
"She makes me want to better myself," Thompson continued. "She's been in so many situations a Soldier can be in -- a junior NCO, a mother with a husband deploying. She knows what it's like being an enlisted Soldier.
"She expects the best out of all of us. She is fair and understanding, like all leaders should be," Thompson added. "I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient."
Krueger has worked in the Army medical field more than 20 years. Few Soldiers attain the level of technical and tactical proficiency she has in medical laboratory technology.
She said her love for laboratory science came from watching a television show as a youngster.
"There was a show about a forensic pathologist called 'Quincy, ME'," Krueger said. "It inspired me to become a forensic pathologist.
"I joined the Army as a lab tech in order to become a forensic pathologist," she continued. "My career never went that way, but I've gained a lot of experience working in many different labs.
"Working in a lab is my niche," she said. "This is important work. I teach my Soldiers that they're working on the test results of daughters and sons, brothers and sisters. The results mean something. Patients and their Families need to know the test results are valid and accurate.
"The medical lab is the backbone of a hospital," Krueger said. "When you go into the emergency room, the doctor can say this and that, but until we confirm it in the lab, the doctor doesn't know. He has an idea, but he doesn't know until he gets the results back from the lab.
The Creed continues, "Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my Soldiers."
"Krueger not only mentors NCOs, she consciously works to support the NCO culture," said Col. Margaret Carter, 1st AML commander.
"She might be talking with a Soldier about a problem. She will listen and give specific advice about that Soldier's situation, but then go on to make a general statement about how NCOs should behave or what they should be thinking," Carter explained. "The Soldier not only goes away with some good individual advice, but also knows they are part of the NCO Corps, with a greater understanding of the Corps' culture."
Carter talked about Krueger's counseling skills.
"The thing I treasure about Sergeant Major Krueger is the way she mentors Soldiers," she said. "She makes sure they not only understand what's going on around them, but that they must also take actions on the spot to make things right. Every time they step up to an important action, they develop better judgment and confidence.
"It's hard to estimate how much time and trouble it saves our unit when NCOs make good judgments and prevent accidents, to take care of Soldiers and act on behalf of our team," Carter added.
Krueger said the NCO-officer relationship is critical to success.
"NCO's are the 'backbone of the Army' because we make it happen," she said. "We do make it happen. Officers are going to implement policies and procedures and whatever, and we [NCOs] are going to execute. No matter where you look, no matter what you look at, NCOs are behind the scenes making it happen."
"I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike," states the Creed.
Krueger has been loyal to her fellow Soldiers and has been a devoted wife to her husband and mother to her two children.
"Without my Family's support, this couldn't happen," she said of her commitment to Army life. "It's hard if you don't have Family support to go home to. You have to be right with them as well as with your Soldiers at work.
"If someone were to ask 'What comes first, your Family or the Army'' that would be difficult to answer. I love both my Family and the Army. Unless there is an emergency at home, the Army will come first," Krueger said.
"I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders."
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