Former SMA visits, addresses NCOA grads

By Russell Sellers, Army Flier Staff WriterOctober 6, 2011

Former SMA visits, addresses NCOA grads
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FORT RUCKER, Ala. (October 6, 2011) -- A former Sergeant Major of the Army told the more than 100 members of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy graduates of classes 11-004 and 11-005 that he didn't get into the Army to become a leader.

At the time of his enlistment, retired Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Kidd, the ninth Sergeant Major of the Army, only intended to serve for three years, he said. But, he wound up being in for 34 years.

"I did not manage my career to become the Sergeant Major of the Army," he said. "When I came in, the position of Sergeant Major of the Army didn't exist. I got in to be all I could be, even for just that three-year period."

Kidd added that the way he was able to be successful was to make and follow three rules: Do everything you do to the best of your ability, take advantage of every opportunity, and learn from both good leaders and bad leaders.

"Some people say, 'I don't pay attention to a bad leader,'" he said. "I say that's a mistake. If you watch bad leaders, many times they will save you from falling in a hole. Let them fall in it, and you check it off."

He continued by advising the new NCOs to be mindful of how they act once they are in those leadership positions.

"I have noticed that it's kind of strange how people are in leadership positions sometimes," he said. "When someone would get one of those positions, you'd hear others saying 'this person doesn't know what they're doing.' Strangely, when those people get into leadership positions, they do the same things. Learn from that and don't do the same things the troops don't like."

Kidd told the NCOs and the audience what he thought makes a good leader, and it all started with one word.

"I think the word 'Hooah' is a special word," he said. "It's always positive. Everything from 'yes' to 'give me the task and I'll do it.' Love being a Soldier; love being around Soldiers; love leading, training and caring for Soldiers and their Families; be dedicated, motivated, physically fit, mentally alert, morally straight, believe in yourself, believe in your Soldiers, believe in your Army, believe in your nation, want to be all you can be and, if in a leadership position, want the same thing for all of those in your charge."

Staff Sgt. Robert Redmond, Moleaneli Tower training supervisor and NCOA graduate, said having Kidd at the graduation ceremony was a special honor and one he would remember for the rest of his career.

"I first met him back in 2000, and I thought he gave a great speech today," he said. "He was the sergeant major when I first joined the Army."