The 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery leadership inducted sixteen Soldiers as Noncommissioned Officers during a ceremony Sept. 20 at the Post Theater.

3-6 NCO induction ceremony

The 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery leadership inducted sixteen Soldiers as Noncommissioned Officers during a ceremony Sept. 20 at the Post Theater.

The NCO induction is a time-honored tradition that welcomes the newest members of the NCO Corps during a ceremony that symbolizes their change from being a follower to a leader.

The newly inducted NCO officers are Cpl. Darius Allen, Cpl. Nathan Balley, Cpl. Carlos Comacho, Sgt. Jacob Anthony, Sgt. Jerome Bautista, Sgt. Sylvester Blue, Sgt. Braden Cox, Sgt. Trent Hubbard, Sgt. Sammi Ikhmais, Sgt. Lemuel Illastron, Sgt. Colin McGhehey, Sgt. Marquise McKinney, Sgt. Ryan Prokesch, Sgt. David Smith, Sgt. Kyle Southern, and Sgt. Caleb Wade.

The ceremony included the NCO Charge, the Soldier’s Request and reading of the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.

Guest speaker Sgt. Maj. Albert Fletcher III shared a few things that helped him over the years.

“I found I was expected to produce more and I discovered that everything I touched must be well vetted and researched before I use it. Whether it be instructions to your team or the execution of your personally assigned tasks you must be deliberate. People care is at the top of the list of things to do. This includes family members, Soldiers, and everyone we encounter on a regular basis,” Fletcher said.

“Don’t wait to be told what to do, be fearless yet not reckless in decision making.”

The Charge of the Newly Promoted Noncommissioned Officer: “I will discharge carefully and diligently the duties of the grade to which I have been promoted and uphold the traditions and standards of the Army.

I understand that Soldiers of lesser rank are required to obey my lawful orders. Accordingly, I accept responsibility for their actions. As a noncommissioned officer, I accept the charge to observe and follow the orders and directions given by supervisors acting according to the laws, articles and rules governing the discipline of the Army. I will correct conditions detrimental to the readiness thereof. In so doing, I will fulfill my greatest obligation as a leader and thereby confirm my status as a noncommissioned officer.”

Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs