Speech

COL____________

LTC __________

CSM __________

CMDR’S, 1ST SGT’S, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FAMILIES AND SOLDIERS

GOOD MORNING

TODAY IS A DAY TO BE PROUD AND ALSO A DAY OF CELEBRATION. CLASSES ________________________ YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADVANCED LEADER COURSE.

I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH A QUOTE FROM SMA WILLIAM G. BAINBRIDGE “ THE GOAL OF THE CORPS OF NCOS, WHOSE DUTY IS THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF RUNNING THE ARMY SO THAT THE OFFICER CORPS HAS TIME TO COMMAND IT, IS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR ARMY AT EVERY TURN. WE WANT TO LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT. REGARDLESS OF THE KIND OF UNIT YOU'RE IN, IT OUGHT TO BE AN "ELITE" OUTFIT, BECAUSE ITS NCOS CAN MAKE IT ONE.”

DURING YOUR TENURE IN THIS COURSE YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING NEW OR HAD SOME INFORMATION REFRESHED IN YOUR MIND, IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH THIS INFORMATION THAT IS IMPORTANT. PASS ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS SO THAT THE ENLISTED SOLDIERS AND NCOS BECOME MENTALLY STRONGER AND IN TURN STRENGTHEN THE NCO CORPS. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO COMPREHEND THE EFFECT THAT WE AS NCOS HAVE ON A UNIT, WITHOUT GOOD NCOS TO UPHOLD STANDARDS THERE WOULD BE NO STANDARDS. ULTIMATELY IT’S UP TO US TO MAKE THE CHANGES REQUIRED TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL UNIT AND COMPLETION OF THE MISSION. EMBRACE THIS GREAT EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION, BY CONTINUING TO IMPROVE YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU.

I CAN NOT FORGET THE FAMILIES OF THESE FINE SOLDIERS. WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT THE POSSIBLE WOULD SEEM IMPOSSIBLE. THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MAKE ON A DAILY BASIS IS INMEASURABLE AND YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALWAYS BE NEED FOR OUR ARMY AVIATION FAMILY. I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

So, as I wrap up my comments, and allow us to get on with the presentations of the diplomas, let me share a quote with you from Sergeant Major of the Army, Julius W. Gates, he said: “A Noncommissioned Officer’s job is not easy and we expect a lot from those who are selected to lead, train, and care for the best...