Leaders' battalion hosts NCO Induction Ceremony

By Story by Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Jo Bridgwater, 7th Sustainment Brigade Public AffairsOctober 19, 2011

Leaders' battalion hosts NCO Induction Ceremony
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Willie C. Tennant Sr., command sergeant major, 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Knox, Ky., and guest speaker for the 24th Transportation Battalion's NCO Induction Ceremony, addresses the audience of NCOs and Soldiers ab... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Leaders' battalion hosts NCO Induction Ceremony
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sergeant Shaneel Wilson, 24th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade stands center stage at Jacobs Theater after walking through the Noncommissioned Officer's arch Oct. 13 during the battalion's NCO Induction Ceremony. (U.S. Army photo by ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Leaders' battalion hosts NCO Induction Ceremony
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sergeant 1st Class Ronald Daniels, detachment sergeant, 24th Transportation Battalion, stands center stage at Jacobs Theater after walking through the Noncommissioned Officer's Arch Oct. 13 during the battalion's NCO Induction Ceremony. (U.S. Army ph... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Leaders' battalion hosts NCO Induction Ceremony
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Willie C. Tennant Sr., command sergeant major, 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Knox, Ky., and guest speaker for the 24th Transportation Battalion's NCO Induction Ceremony, addresses the audience of NCOs and Soldiers ab... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Noncommissioned Officers of the 24th Trans. Bn. "Leaders" took time to pay homage to what is commonly referred to as, "The backbone of the Army" by hosting an NCO Induction Ceremony Oct. 13 at Jacobs Theater.

The group of 42 inductees with a combined service of 316 years walked across the stage to receive a certificate recognizing them as leaders and to make the ceremonious march through the NCO arch decorated with the rank of corporal to command sergeant major. Their sponsors, a group of seven senior NCOs, stood in attendance welcoming each inductee into the corps.

First Sgt. Jade M.W. James, acting command sergeant major, 24th Trans. Bn. and the ceremony host, introduced guest speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Willie C. Tennant, Sr., command sergeant major, 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Knox, Ky.

The Michael Jackson song, Man in the Mirror played as Command Sgt. Maj. Tennant readied himself at the podium, offering the appropriate lead for his opening remarks.

"Take a look at the Soldier in the mirror," he challenged. "Ask yourself, are you a good person, a good Soldier, a good leader? Are you going to make a change in the life of your Soldiers?"

During his address, Command Sgt. Maj. Tennant shared the obstacles and successes of his career, and asked the inductees and audience to remember the Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice; to remember those we've lost, and said, "Think about them when you're having a bad day." He closed his speech with three questions directed at the inductees. Questions, he said, he asks himself at the start of each day.

"What will I teach my Soldiers today; what have I learned from yesterday; and, do I truly "know" my Soldiers and their families?"

The ceremony ended with NCOs, both on stage and in the audience, reciting the NCO Creed, and singing the 3rd ESC Song, the Transportation Song, and the Army Song.

Related Links:

3rd ESC Website

Fort Knox Website