Posted on 04/06/2005 7:46:44 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - One hundred seventy-seven right hands were raised together April 3 at the airfield in Taji, Iraq, as Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's Aviation Brigade re-enlisted in a mass ceremony.
Gen. Dan K. McNeill, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, administered the Oath of Enlistment. Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, accompanied McNeill.
Division officials said the mass re-enlistment was the largest for the active-component in the Iraqi theater of operations. The 101st Airborne Division, which re-enlisted 158 Soldiers on July 4, 2003, held the previous record.
A total of 256 National Guard Soldiers of the 256th Brigade Combat Team, attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, extended their service during a mass re-enlistment March 29 at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
The 177 Soldiers 3ID's aviation brigade pledged a total of 990 years of additional service to the Army and will receive a total of nearly $1.8 million in bonuses. Some 121 re-enlistees received stabilization and education options in their contracts to stay with the 3rd ID.
The key to organizing so many soldiers was finding out their needs, wants and desires, then working hard to make sure they could be fulfilled, said Master Sgt. James R. Jay, the aviation brigade's reserve-component senior career counselor.
"Most of the soldiers who re-enlisted … didn't do it for money or anything like that. They wanted to volunteer to continue serving their country, and it meant a lot to them to do it here in the war zone with General McNeill giving the oath," said Barry S. Norris, the brigade's senior active-duty career counselor. "Many of them have told me it gives them a great feeling of camaraderie."
During the ceremony, the brigade received the Presidential Unit Citation for its service in Operation Iraqi Freedom I, and McNeill and Webster promoted Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sezandra Pinckney, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion. Pinckney's husband, Sgt. Maj. Allen Pinckney, and son, Pfc. Allen Pinckney Jr., accompanied her. All three members of the Pinckney family serve in the 3rd Infantry Division.
Hooah!
Now that brings a tear to the eye doesn't it? God bless them richly every one.
BTT!
I stand in awe.
Thank You each and every one.
Bet this one will not make it to any L/MSM announcment. I to stand at attention and salute each one of them. Once upon a time esprit de corps. was only practiced amoung officer ranks. In todays American military branches, we find a spendid and responsible group of people! I salute them all.
And yes I salute every vet who served their country willingly and not so willingly when drafted but yet did their part.
God Bless them every one!
I'm convinced that the current generation is at least as great as the "Greatest Generation".
I presume the headline writer meant "en masse".
Anyway, big ups to these guys!
Awesome. Great thread. BTTT.
click here LARGE FILE WARNING!
3rd Infantry Division walkin the walk!
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