Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan holds NCO induction ceremony

By J. Elise Van PoolOctober 24, 2011

reciting the creed
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Andrew R. Garcia recites the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer with his fellow inductees at the Joint Sustainment Command -- Afghanistan Non-Commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony held at Kandahar Airfield, Oct. 20, 2011. The induction cer... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Walking through swords
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Cassandra Adams was formally inducted into the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps, Oct. 21, 2011. She participated in the ceremony held by Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan and attended by the command sergeant major of the Army Reserve, Command... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
cake cutting
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Jonathan Brown and Master Sgt. Michael Whitten participate the traditional cake cutting by the oldest and youngest Soldier. The cake cutting was part of a Non-Commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony held by Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Oct. 22, 2011) -- Joint Sustainment Command --Afghanistan held a non-commissioned officer induction ceremony, here, Oct. 20, 2011.

The ceremony attended by the command sergeant major of the Army Reserve, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Schultz, was to formally welcome newly promoted sergeants and staff sergeants to the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps.

After being announced individually, Schultz spoke with the newest members of the NCO Corps. He reminded them that their two top responsibilities are, "mission accomplishment and taking care of Soldiers."

Continuing, Schultz said the ceremony marked the Soldiers, "Metamorphosis from follower to leader."

Schultz also told the Soldiers being an NCO is about ownership. "Ownership is all about owning that platoon, company, squad and detachment or that section that you're in right now. And every Soldier in that section or squad, you own them and you own their families. From the time you take that position till the time you leave the door."

Schultz reminded them that being an NCO is also about making things happen.

"Action, making it happen," said Schultz. "Giving that tough love to some of our Soldiers, because our two main responsibilities are accomplishment of the mission which may mean you have to take that hill sometimes. It may mean you have to go out on that convoy."

He closed by saying that it's up to NCOs to train and develop Soldiers, "It's up to you to talk them through it, walk them through it and show them through it."

Following Schultz's speech Command Sgt. Maj. Travis William, JCS-A command sergeant major, lead the new sergeants through the Creed of the Non-commissioned Officer. Then each Soldier was presented with a plaque marking their induction.

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