Military News
398th CSSB celebrates year of the NCO
By 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs
Jun 14, 2009 - 7:15:28 PM

Blackanthem Military News

Soldiers of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, raise their right hands as they repeat the Noncommissioned Officer's charge.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - "No one is more professional than I.  I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as 'The Backbone of the Army'."
   
Newly promoted NCOs of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, held their heads high with pride as they repeated the NCO Creed during the start of the 398th CSSB's NCO Induction on June 2.
   
Twenty-two Soldiers from units under the 398th CSSB were inducted into the NCO Corps.  These Soldiers received guidance and words of encouragement from first sergeants and command sergeants major, who fall directly in their chain of command.

Command Sgt. Maj. Allen G. Fritzsching, the 10th Sustainment Brigade command sergeant major and Houston native, was selected as the honorary speaker during the ceremony.
   
"It is an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to share some thoughts, leader to leader, sergeant to sergeant, about your new role as a Noncommissioned Officer.  Our service members are truly the best Warriors our great nation has to offer and our Army has ever had," said Fritzsching.
   
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Merritt, a Rockville, Md. native, and the senior enlisted Soldier of the 398th, believes "these Sergeants joining our NCO Corps are the best that the U.S. Army has ever had.  They are working with highly advanced equipment, supervising four to 12 Soldiers, working independently with their squads away from the command elements on numerous austere remote sites.  I feel proud and fortunate that these Soldiers have recognized and accepted the responsibility of being leaders of Soldiers."

Sgt. Kevin Powers, a native of Stone Mountain, Ga., and an inductee from the 503rd Maintenance Company said, "I am very proud to be a part of this honored corps. Plus, to have the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and the 10th Sustainment Brigade command sergeant major in here to induct us is a day I will never forget."

In closing, Fritzsching said, "I am especially proud of the technical skills and outstanding leadership I see in our Noncommissioned Officers.  The 10th SBDE NCO Corps has raised the bar of excellence.  Every Soldier has a Sergeant and all a Soldier ever needs is one good Sergeant.  NCOs Lead the Way!  Supporting the Climb!"

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

The senior enlisted Soldier of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Merritt, a native of Rockville, Md., stands tall as he begins the induction ceremony of newly promoted sergeants throughout his battalion. Command Sgt. Maj. Merritt said that, "Inducting these fine Soldiers into the NCO Corps while down range is a very memorable occasion. Because we are deployed, this time-r6honored tradition formally marking the passage of a Soldier into the NCO Corps is of greater importance."

1st Sgt. Antonio Martinez, the first sergeant for the 590th Quartermaster Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, and a native of Philadelphia, had the chance to provide guidance to the newly inducted noncommissioned officers. Martinez advises these NCOs, "As leaders in today's Army, we face adversity daily, and it takes many forms. It may be a Soldier who can't pass his or her Army Physical Fitness Test. It may be a vehicle that breaks down while in a convoy. It may be executing orders when you strongly disagree with the decision that was made. However, we must remember that we are professionals in the United States Army. To quote the NCO Creed - ‘No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of Soldiers.' "

(From left to right) Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Tennant, the command sergeant major for 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Pleasantville, N.J. native, Command Sgt. Maj. Allen G. Fritzsching, the 10th Sustainment Brigade command sergeant major and Houston native, Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Merritt, the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion command sergeant major and Rockville, Md. native, 1st Sgt. Chester Hannah, a native of Memphis, Tenn. and 503rd Maintenance Company first sergeant, and 1st Sgt. Antonio Martinez, a Philadelphia native and the 590th Quartermaster first sergeant, were just a few of the distinguished guests present during the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Noncommissioned Officer Induction ceremony. "These expert leaders and standard bearers coming out to support this event clearly define our camaraderie, solidarity and commitment to support the Soldiers within the NCO Corps. When a Soldier sees their entire NCO Support Channel, from the first line leader to the ESC command sergeant major, with senior NCO leadership from other commands, it sends a clear message that we speak in one voice - that there is no substitute for meeting established standards," said Merritt.

Inductees of the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, Non-commissioned officer Induction ceremony, sit at the position of attention while they receive words of encouragement and guidance for first sergeants within their battalion.