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United States Army Europe’s top NCO expects all Soldiers to be fit, disciplined and well trained and expects leaders to enforce those standards. That was the message of Command Sgt. Maj. David S. Davenport Sr., the USAREUR command sergeant major, during an interview immediately following his visit to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command as the guest speaker for the Sergeant Morales Club and Sergeant Audie Murphy Club induction ceremony Feb. 1.
Question: How important are clubs like Sergeant Audie Murphy and Sergeant Morales going to be in the future?
Answer: These clubs are so valuable; you really cannot put a monetary price on it. These clubs are a place where Soldiers can gather together as masters of their craft. They get to know one another, share ideas, network. Those experiences are just invaluable.
Question: Would you comment on the partnership programs in Europe?
Answer: It’s funny you should mention partnerships, because our partner countries can now become members of the Sergeant Morales Club as well. We want to recognize their noncommissioned officers who set the standard for their soldiers. They have to go through the same process as our Soldiers, but it is achievable. Morales members are a great example to our partner countries, they show a standard of what a professional noncommissioned officer is and what they can do to prepare and train Soldiers.
Question: What is the way ahead for our forces in the areas of fitness, training and discipline?
Answer: Fit, disciplined and well trained is something I expect U.S. Army Europe Soldiers to be and I expect leaders to enforce. Fitness of course is the foundation. It is the first training event of the day, and I think our Army is going to continue to move on with Physical Readiness Training. I think we will see a new fitness test sometime late this fall.
Discipline is doing the right thing when no one is watching, and if you are a leader, it’s holding Soldiers accountable to those standards. Again, this is a fundamental foundation for our Army, so I don’t see that going anywhere. I do believe leaders need to do more to enforce standards and hold Soldiers accountable. Also, Soldiers need to understand their responsibility in understanding the standards and being held to those standards.
As for being well trained, the Warrior Leader Course is a great place to get trained here in Germany. We have 324 Soldiers per class, and we are always looking to get one more.
Question: Do you have any more thoughts you would like to convey to U.S. Army Europe and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command?
Answer: I think that our Army needs to have more of these kinds (Sergeant Morales Club and Sergeant Audie Murphy Club) of ceremonies. We need to clearly demonstrate the prestige and importance of becoming a non-commissioned officer and, once you are a non-commissioned officer and you exceed the standard, becoming a member of the Sergeant Morales Club.
