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A 21st Theater Sustainment Command NCO Induction Ceremony was held for
27 Soldiers throughout the command July 27 at the Galaxy Theater on Vogelweh Military Complex.
Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin L. Hill, the command senior enlisted leader for International Security Assistance Force, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, was the guest speaker for the event that included reciting the Soldier’s Creed, candle lighting, oath of induction and Creed of the NCO, and a cake cutting.
“It is an event that allows the leadership and community to know that these noncommissioned officers have crossed the line between being one of the Soldiers to a leader,” Hill said.
Sgt. Tiffany Johnson, a parachute and systems inspector/tester with the 5th Quartermaster Detachment, said the ceremony was awesome, and it felt great to be recognized.
“I now get to put everything I have learned to good use,” said Johnson, a native of Hillsborough, N.C. “I will uphold and maintain the standards … do exactly what the NCO Creed means in the way of taking care of Soldiers.”
Sgt. Joseph Podunavac, a driver for the deputy commanding general of the 21st TSC, said he was impressed with the ceremony and that it made him recognize he has to take more responsibility and accountability for the things he does.
“Being an NCO has changed my whole outlook on the Army,” said Podunavac, a Logan, W. Va., native. “Being a young Soldier, you don’t see how things come together and are not part of the decision-making process. People look at me different and give me more responsibility. There is now more of a trust and respect value.”
Hill said now is the time the new inductees need leadership, mentoring, nurturing and encouragement.
“They’re going to go out and make mistakes … tomorrow,” Hill said. “We need to be there to pick them up and encourage them after they’ve made their mistakes. If they’re not making their mistakes, chances are they’re not doing anything. We want NCOs that do stuff.”
NCOs inducted at the ceremony were:
• From the 16th Sustainment Brigade, Deandre Clay, Markanthony Gutierrez, Angel Hernandez, Christopher Moore, Garett Russ and Steven Smith.
• From the 18th Engineer Brigade, Brent Bowers, Fatisha Clark, Ronald Martin and Bradford Smoot.
• From the 18th Military Police Brigade, Azizdin Azizdeen, Jordan Kearney, Bradley Mester, Jeffrey Meyer and Eric Villarreal.
• From the 21st Special Troops Battalion, Michael Helton, Christopher Brown, Joseph Podunavac, Kathrine Genavia, Eric Meneses, Tiffany Johnson, Aaron Leake, Francisco Zavalza, Stacy Cook, Teresa Canales, Angelina Ramirez and Joshua Thompson.
