Posted on 04/03/2009 4:20:11 PM PDT by SandRat
DIYALA — History was made as the first joint U.S. and Iraqi Army (IA) Non-Commissioned Officer ceremony was held at Forward Operation Base Faylok here, March 27.
Soldiers from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division joined with Soldiers of the 20th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division to officially induct their newest members into the NCO Corps.
Of the 27 Soldiers inducted in the ceremony, 18 were members of the 21st Inf. Regt. and nine were members of the 20th IA Brigade.
Though the ceremony is not required for Soldiers to become NCOs, the ceremony is a time-honored tradition displaying the pride and respect Soldiers have for the Corps.
“It’s a great honor. I know when I came up as a sergeant, this was pretty much the tradition and the norm, but due to all of the deployments it has kind of went away," said 1st Sgt. Richard Beaver of 21st Inf. Regt. "So it is good to see it come back and to see the Soldiers get to participate.”
The ceremony began with the playing of the U.S. and Iraqi national anthems, symbolizing the bond the two groups have created with each other.
“We have united over the last few years. Last deployment we didn’t joke around or talk to them [Iraqi Army] very much, but now we interact with them quite a bit,” said Sgt. Melvin Gibson, an NCO inductee with the 21st Inf. Regt.
During the ceremony, the Soldiers from each respective nation stood and recited their service’s NCO creed. Each creed was then interpreted to the other’s language so all could acknowledge the creed being recited.
“This is something I’ll always remember; the biggest reason is because of the IA. It just shows that every day we are getting closer to the Iraqi people and the Iraqi Army,” said NCO inductee Sgt. Jessie Calvillo, Company C, 3rd Bn., 21st Inf. Regt.
The historical event was a defining mark in the relationship between the two nations working together to bring peace to a nation.
(Multi-National Division – North)
Which list? Afghanistan List, Iraq List, or the All List?
You can try and catch up by searching on the keword FRWN.
I will do so. Thanks for the information. : )
I’ll not put you on any list, until I hear back from you on which list you wish to be on.
I would suggest the All List to start out. It’s not really high volume but Sand does provide a real good cross section of the news from both areas of operations.
And, OT a sec, the NCO corps is the foundation of any military organization. Solid NCOs, strong structure. Weak NCOs, structure sure to fail.
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