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The senior enlisted leader of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command was welcomed into the Rheinland-Pfalz Sergeant Morales Club as an honorary member during a lively induction ceremony May 19 at the Wagon Wheel Theater on Smith Barracks in Baumholder.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney J. Rhoades was inaugurated into the organization during a ceremony that also welcomed three other NCOs as new members.
Maj. Gen. John R. O’Connor, the commanding general of the 21st TSC, presided over the ceremony, delivering remarks and inducting his commanding sergeant major and other new members.
The Sergeant Morales Club is an organization that promotes the highest ideals of integrity, professionalism and leadership for the enlisted force serving in Europe. Membership into the organization is selective and achieved through a rigorous, competitive process.
“The Sergeant Morales Club, that stood up 42 years ago to promote leadership and honor among NCOs, today has strengthened their numbers with the induction of our newest members so that our great NCOs are better postured to lead the way in Army enlisted leadership, better serving the European community,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor went on to name seven priorities he expects the new members to think about in their new role. He charged the new members to take care of their Soldiers and continue to build the Army profession and its characteristics of trust, military expertise, esprit de corps, honorable service, stewardship and teamwork, to name a few.
Following the remarks, O’Connor presented the three new members with their coveted Sergeant Morales Club medallions and certificates of membership. The members awarded were Staff Sgt. Ray Davon Holmes-Brown of the 500th Engineer Company, 15th Engineer Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade; Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Foldenauer of the 181st Signal Company, Enterprise Satellite Communications Gateway; and Sgt. 1st Class Keith L. Michaud of the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade.
“It feels great,” Holmes-Brown said. “It was a long journey for me to be able to accomplish this, but when all is said and done, I’m feeling great right now.
“Now that I’ve been inducted I’m going to continue the same things that I’ve been doing and hope that my Soldiers are inspired to become outstanding noncommissioned officers,” Holmes-Brown continued.
Once the new members were inducted, Rhoades was presented with his honorary certificate of membership into the organization. Organization leaders, in turn, presented O’Connor with his own honorary certificate of membership, making the commanding general the first officer inducted into the Rheinland-Pfalz chapter.
Following the ceremony, the new inductees, including O’Connor and Rhoades, cut a cake with the traditional NCO sword. Afterward, attendees congratulated the NCOs on their induction.
“I’m honored to be part of this terrific event and proud to be a member of the Sergeant Morales Club,” Rhoades said. “I’m very grateful to General O’Connor and Sergeant Major Davenport for their role in this, but I’m equally grateful to the team of outstanding, dedicated professionals that make this such a vibrant, engaged organization day in and day out.
“This organization embodies all that is best in the NCO corps,” Rhoades continued. “The SMC inspires professional excellence, leadership and mentorship every day. Morales Club professionals engage communities, families and students as well as Soldiers. Our Army is better because of them; our communities are better because of them. I’m proud to stand in their ranks.”
