More than 500 USASMA NRC students earn diplomas

DAVE CROZIER
USASMA Public Affairs

Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum

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Filling the seats of Soldier Hall at Fort Bliss Friday, more than 500 Sergeants Major Nonresident Course students ended an educational trek at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy that took almost two years to complete.

The ceremony marked the culmination of long-distance instruction that parallels the resident course curriculum, but is designed for master sergeants, first sergeants, sergeants major and command sergeants major whose jobs or career paths made it difficult to complete the nine-month resident course. With more than 80 percent of the student body of Class 01-04 consisting of the Reserve Component (Army Reserves and Army National Guard) the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, felt it important to make the trip from the Pentagon to speak to the graduating class.

“It means a great deal for me to be here in a couple of ways. Number one is there are a lot of busy active duty, mostly special operators, who can’t get away because of the op tempo demands on their time to be able to come to this course [in residence]. So, some of the best, very brightest and most professional NCOs in our Army have come to this course [instead],” Blum said in his opening remarks. “The fact that they go through the course with some of the best, brightest and most professional of our senior NCOs who have demands on the outside or who have deployed, or are presently getting ready to deploy, and had to take this non-resident course, speaks volumes about them because this is a tougher way to do it.”

Blum continued, saying he wouldn’t say the course was tougher or that the Soldiers got a better outcome, but said the progress to graduation is more difficult because of the greater sacrifice the Soldiers must make of their personal time and family time is greater.

“The family is denied time while that Soldier is working this course whereas other Soldiers have time to come to the [resident] course for nine months [with their families which] makes it a lot easier,” the general said. “So I think it speaks volumes about [nonresident graduates] because it is a lot tougher, frankly.”

Blum said the second thing that made it important for him to speak to the class is the fact that the graduation of so many Reserve Component Soldiers in the course show that “we have one Army, finally.” He continued saying the fact that active and Reserve Component Soldiers go through the course together lends itself to greater bonding and an understanding of how each component fits into the total Army.

“So I think this whole experience here is a positive one and something the Army should treasure, keep, nurture and develop, because it is a very powerful model, a future model, of what I think our Army is going to look like,” Blum said. “I think our Army five or 10 years from now will be much more integrated, wholly integrated and a blending of the components where they will be interoperable. Modularity will help take us there and innovations in the schools like this one will get us there.”

Blum continued by giving his thoughts on the future of the National Guard. He said one of the things the Guard cannot take their eyes off is homeland defense and that along with the Reserves and active Army, the defense of “terra firma” should never be minimized.

When it is all said and done, homeland defense is going to be done here on the ground, where the people live and that sounds like an Army mission to me,” he said.

Blum concluded his remarks to the class by thanking their family members for their sacrifices before turning his final thoughts to the graduates.

“Today ought to be a source of great pride because you got through this course the hard way,” he said. “This is a very different Army than I have ever seen in the 37 years I have been in uniform. The Army has finally come together as part of a team. This is the first time we are an Army. We fought together, we talked, said the right words and we are walking the walk. Four out of every 10 Soldiers in Iraq with boots on the ground are from the Reserve Component. It is because of you, the NCOs, they have all been trained to the Army’s way, so when the nation needed them, they are interchangeable parts, able to defend this country in a way we have never been able to before. We now fight as a team.”

Following the general’s remarks, USASMA Commandant Lt. Col. John Kirby, and Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Dale, were joined by USASMA Company A Commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Sergio A. Riddle and National Guard Bureau Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. A. Frank Lever III, to pass out the diplomas.

The NRC consists of two phases. Phase One consists of six correspondence modules for a total of 53 lessons. There is a comprehensive exam at the end of each module and each module exam is proctored locally by a warrant or commissioned Test Control Officer and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.

Phase Two is the resident phase held at USASMA. Students who satisfactorily complete Phase One requirements are eligible to attend the 17-day resident phase. While at USASMA, students will complete the final graduation requirements and become graduates of the Sergeants Major Course.

NRC graduates

CSM EARL W. SMITH (Bn Cdr)
CSM CHARLES E. JONES (Bn XO CSM)
CSM RONALD M. DEAN (MO CO CSM)
CSM FRANK A. ESCOLOPIO (LD CO CSM)
CSM GEORGE D. JONES (Treasurer)
CSM ARMANDO M. ALFARO (Ironperson)
CSM JAMES R. ASHWOOD
CSM MICHAEL W. BEKAERT
CSM GRANT L. BENNETT
CSM BRIAN J. BENVIE
CSM NELSON BIGAS
CSM HAROLD J. BODENSCHATZ
CSM VICKI L. BRIGGS
CSM JOSEPH R. BROWN
CSM DANIEL J. BUCKLEY
CSM BRADFORD W. CHASTAIN
CSM GARY B. CHRISTENSEN
CSM FELIPE A. COLON
CSM RICHARD A. CONKLIN
CSM HERVEY E. CONSTANTINE
CSM KEITH C. DAWSON
CSM JOHN F. DEARING
CSM FRANK F. DELGADO
CSM HARRY W. DELORENZO
CSM STEPHEN R. DENMARK
CSM JANE A. DENNIS
CSM MICHAEL DONOHUE
CSM DONALD J. DOYLE
CSM RAY G. DUNLAP
CSM WILLIAM R. DUNLAP
CSM PAUL J. EDWARDS
CSM WILLIAM J. ELLIS
CSM RAUL G. ESPINOSA
CSM KIM P. FELL
CSM RONALD F. FLUBACHER
CSM RICHARD FRANCESCHI
CSM SHELLY M. FUCHS
CSM PHILLIP D. GEARLDS
CSM ERIC K. GORDON
CSM THOMAS W. GORDON
CSM KRISTA J. GRIFFITH
CSM CLINTON G. HALL
CSM CRAIG M. HARRIS
CSM DOUGLAS K. HAUSER
CSM LUIS A. HERMINIA
CSM JEFFREY H. HILL
CSM TIMOTHY S. HIPPEN
CSM DUWAYNE E. HOBSON
CSM SKIPPY W. HOCUTT
CSM ROBERT M. HOSFORD
CSM CHARLES M. INGRAM
CSM ERIC C. JAMES
CSM CHEYENNE M. JOHNSON
CSM STEVE JOHNSON
CSM RONALD E. JORDAN
CSM BENJAMIN M. KELLAM
CSM RAYMOND E. KENNY
CSM RICHARD H. LAFOND
CSM DENNIS E. LAW
CSM ARTHUR J. LEAK
CSM EARL E. LEE
CSM RONALD A. LEE
CSM MALLIE G. LOVETT
CSM WILLIAM E. MABEN
CSM JERRY L. MARTIN
CSM DIANE MAY
CSM JEFF D. MAY
CSM LAWRENCE G. MAY
CSM DONALD R. MCGLASSON
CSM ANDREW J. MCKENNA
CSM PATRICK S. MCNAUGHTON
CSM MICHAEL A. MCVICKER
CSM GARY R. MILLER
CSM EDWARD S. MILLS
CSM CALVIN L. MONROE
CSM JOHN M. MORGAN
CSM WENDELL B. MORRIS
CSM DAVID MYLES
CSM CAROLYN J. ODOJEWSKI
CSM JOHN W. OWENS
CSM MICHAEL P. PACHECO
CSM JOSEPH E. PADGETT
CSM RONNIE L. PATRICK
CSM DENNIS G. PECK
CSM RANDY A. PINKOWSKI
CSM DAVID A. PIWOWARSKI
CSM BARRY N. PLESHEK
CSM RANDY S. POUND
CSM ROBERT J. RAMIREZ
CSM EDWARD A. RAMSDELL
CSM JERRY A. REICK
CSM TRAVIS D. ROBINSON
CSM DANIEL W. RUST
CSM LANCE T. RYGMYR
CSM BRIAN S. SANN
CSM HERMAN SANTIAGO
CSM PATRICK T. SCANLON
CSM WILLIAM SCHLINGMAN
CSM APRIL Y. SCHNEIDER
CSM SUSIE SEWELL
CSM BURDETTE S. SHIELDS
CSM GARY F. SIROIS
CSM CEASAR S. SMITH
CSM STUART A. SMITH
CSM TERRI L. SMITH
CSM WILLIAM SMITH
CSM MICHAEL W. STAFFORD
CSM WILLIAM M. STOKES
CSM EDWARD STOTTS, JR.
CSM CLINTON STURDEVANT
CSM ROY TAYLOR
CSM FRANCISCO J. TORRES
CSM CARLOS TORRESDIAZ
CSM PAT R. TOWLE
CSM BERT M. TRIBBLE
CSM KATHLEEN A. VELASQUEZ
CSM LUIS M. VILA
CSM JEFFERY A. WALDIEN
CSM ADAM B. WALKER
CSM ELIGA A. WALKER, JR.
CSM JEFFREY D. WALTHERS
CSM MIKE W. WATKINS
CSM LONNIE P. WEBSTER
CSM LEO D. WELLS
CSM RICHARD O. WILLIAMS
CSM SCOTT S. WILLIAMS
CSM TONY C. WILLIS
C SM TIMOTHY J. ZAENGLE
SGM DANIEL R. AGERS
SGM PAMELA J. AINSWORTH
SGM RONDA P. ALEXANDER
SGM LORRIA P. ANDERSON
SGM ORLINO S. ANTOLIN
SGM JOSE L. APONTEQUINTONES
SGM SANTOS R. AQUINOMULERO
SGM LARRY R. ARFLIN
SGM ALLAN BARBER
SGM THOMAS L. BARON
SGM THEODORE R. BEARD
SGM RONNIE L. BEATTY
SGM CARL D. BEATY
SGM SANDRA A. BEAUCHESNE
SGM RANDY R. BECK
SGM CARL F. BEENE
SGM THEODORE BENNETT, JR.
SGM BRIAN BERNARD
SGM PAUL F. BLACKWELL
SGM SHERYL L. BLY
SGM NILS R. BOUMA
SGM DONALD E. BOWERS
SGM TAMI BOYLE
SGM COLIN K. BREDE
SGM RICHARD N. BROOKS
SGM RICHARD S. BROWN
SGM DANIEL L. BRUMMER
SGM MARK H. BUCHANAN
SGM RUFUS J. BURDETTE
SGM STENA M. BUSHNELL
SGM JULIA A. CAMARDA
SGM LAWRENCE A. CANTY
SGM DANA R. CARRIER
SGM PASCUAL S. CARTAGENA
SGM PAUL R. CASEY
SGM MARK A. CATER
SGM MARK A. CHOATE
SGM MARILYN F. CLARK
SGM ROBIN K. COLE
SGM DONALD J. COLLINS
SGM ANTHONY W. COPPER
SGM SILVER L. CRAWFORD
SGM DALE L. CROSSETT
SGM MENDEZ R. CRUZ
SGM FRANK J. CURRY
SGM ROBERT B. DASHMAN
SGM ROSARIO I. DECKER
SGM OSCAR H. DENSON
SGM DONALD J. DIAMOND
SGM JESUS L. DIAZ
SGM RONALD A. DRAPER
SGM VELORA A. DUMAS
SGM DANIEL E. DUPONT, SR.
SGM BRUCE K. DURHAM
SGM GREGORY J. EDDY
SGM CATHERINE M. EMERLING
SGM MARK R. ESPINOZA
SGM SANOMA J. EVANS
SGM WILLIE EVANS
SGM JOHNNY J. FELTON
SGM PAUL T. FETTER
SGM PATRICK B. FINLEY
SGM RONALD B. FISHER
SGM RAMON M. FLORES
SGM MICHAEL FOX
SGM JAMES W. FRANKS
SGM THOMAS S. FREUDENTHAL
SGM PATRICK J. GALLACHER
SGM ALEX R. GARCIA
SGM SALLY L. GARDNER
SGM ADOLPH M. GEORGE
SGM RUSSELL J. GIBBONS
SGM PATRICIA A. GOLDTHREATE
SGM IBRAHIM GONZALEZGARCIA
SGM BRUCE T. GOSS
SGM HUGH M. GRADY
SGM WENDELL M. GRAHAM
SGM CONNIE W. GRANT
SGM DAVID E. GREEN
SGM JAMES R. GREEN
SGM DANIEL L. GRIFFIN
SGM CHRISTOPHER L. GRIM
SGM LISA Y. GUICE
SGM MALLIE C. HALL
SGM NORMAN C. HAMPTON
SGM RICKY M. HAMRICK
SGM JACK L. HANCOCK
SGM CARLTON HANDY
SGM HELEN R. HANNA
SGM DAVID M. HANSEN
SGM JAMES M. HARMON
SGM BERNARD HARPER
SGM MARK J. HASELHORST
SGM MARK G. HAWKINS
SGM LEON HAYMON
SGM CYNTHIA L. HEDGEMON
SGM RANDALL D. HEFNER
SGM SCOTT H. HENDERSHOTT
SGM JOHNNY R. HERZBERG
SGM KENNETH A. HINCKLEY
SGM JOHN A. HOLLANDSWORTH
SGM JACKIE A. HORTON
SGM DOUGLAS A. HOWARD
SGM GLENN K. HOWELL
SGM MATTHEW G. HUGHS
SGM DOUGLAS A. IMFELD
SGM RUBEN P. INOCENCIO
SGM CLINTON L. JACKSON
SGM DAVID L. JARRETT
SGM LAVERNE V. JARRETT
SGM DAVID C. JARVIS
SGM MATTHEW N. JENKINS
SGM JEFFREY W. JENNINGS
SGM PAMELA V. JOHNSON
SGM ROSEMARY JOHNSON
SGM STEVEN R. JOHNSON
SGM EDDIE J. JONES
SGM NICHOLAS M. KAMPF
SGM WILLIS D. KERVIN
SGM MARCUS K. KING
SGM SHARRIE T. KING
SGM LARRY KINSEY
SGM LAUNA A. KLIMOWICZ
SGM TY C. KNOX
SGM KAREN A. KREIDER
SGM TIMOTHY J. KUEHL
SGM KAREN M. KUFFREY
SGM JOHN F. KUKLIS
SGM CHRISTOPHER KURINEC
SGM AUGUST M. LAZZARA
SGM NED LEE
SGM EDWIN LEWIS
SGM MICHAEL LEWIS
SGM ROBERT L. LIGHTY
SGM KATHLEEN M. LINSCHOTEN
SGM THOMAS E. LOGAN
SGM JOY H. LOLLAR
SGM ROBERT M. LONERGAN
SGM ROBERT D. LOUSBERG
SGM DIMPSEY L. LOVELL
SGM KENNETH T. LUNDY
SGM TED V. LYLES
SGM MYRNA MAGAPAN
SGM TERESA MAGUIRE
SGM TINA MANNS
SGM CHARLES L. MARSH
SGM THOMAS K. MARSHALL
SGM ALDO M. MARTINEZ
SGM JEFFERY L. MCCLURE
SGM MYRON T. MCCORMACK
SGM JANIE B. MCCOY
SGM ANDREW E. MCGUIRE
SGM JACQUELINE G. MCKENNIE
SGM REBECCA J. MEDICUS
SGM CHARLES V. MEEHAN
SGM CHESTER L. MILLER
SGM GERALD L. MILLER
SGM FLOYD L. MIRELES
SGM JOSHUA J. MITCHELL
SGM CONNIE A. MOORE
SGM ROLANDO MOORE
SGM ANTHONY G. MORENO
SGM GARY L. MORGAN
SGM RICHARD B. MORGAN
SGM RICHARD MORRIS
SGM MATTHEW D. MULLINS
SGM BRADLEY W. MURFITT
SGM DAYTON J. MYERS
SGM JOHNNY MYERS
SGM BRUCE D. NALLY
SGM DAVID M. NICHOLS
SGM CHARLES C. NICKERSON
SGM MICHAEL A. NUDING
SGM RICHARD S. OEHMEN
SGM STEPHEN R. OLSEN
SGM ROCK A. OROZCO
SGM YONG K. PARK
SGM CHARLES H. PARTIN
SGM DONALD W. PENHALE
SGM CARLOS S. PERALTA
SGM ALLAN L. PERKINS
SGM DAVID A. PHILLIS
SGM BRADLEY T. PIRMANTGEN
SGM CHARLTON G. PITTER
SGM DAVID L. PRICE
SGM PAMELA J. PROPER
SGM KEVIN P. QUINN
SGM DONNA K. RING
SGM DONALD R. ROBERTSON
SGM CECILIO RODRIGUEZ
SGM WIDISVALDO ROMANBAEZ
SGM FRANK R. ROSIE
SGM RICHARD L. ROUSE
SGM ROBERT F. ROY
SGM RUSSELL S. RUTLAND
SGM LEVI A. SAMUELS
SGM JOSEPH M. SAVERINO
SGM REMY R. SCHOTT
SGM MICHAEL J. SCOTT
SGM BRIAN SEARCY
SGM BRYAN K. SENKIRIK
SGM MICHAEL D. SETTLES
SGM WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN
SGM ANTOINETTE SMALLS
SGM ALLEN C. SMITHEE
SGM HAROLD E. SOMMERFELDT
SGM SCOTT T. SPENCER
SGM JAMES E. STALLWORTH
SGM ARTHUR C. STEWART
SGM BRUCE L. STOWE
SGM FRANK F. TAUANUU
SGM DAVID C. TAYLOR
SGM DEBORAH A. TAYLOR
SGM KENNETH D. TESKE
SGM WILLIAM F. THETFORD
SGM KEVIN A. TIMMONS
SGM IRENE M. TORKILDSON
SGM PETER T. TROTTER
SGM WALTER VENTURA
SGM BARRY L. VERTNER
SGM TIMOTHY J. VESTER
SGM STEVEN WADE
SGM ROBERT N. WAGNER
SGM CHARLES T. WALKER
SGM EDWARD J. WALSH
SGM RICHARD L. WATERS
SGM BERNARD WATSON
SGM WAYNE F. WEHRHEIM
SGM DENNIS F. WESTER
SGM KEITH L. WHITE
SGM ROBERT E. WHITE
SGM WILLIAM E. WHITE
SGM RICHARD B. WIGGINS
SGM DENNIS L. WILKEN
SGM CALVIN T. WILLIAMS
SGM TIMOTHY C. WILLIAMS
SGM WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS
SGM ERNEST C. WILLIAMSON
SGM PATRICIA A. WILLIAMSON
SGM DON M. WILSON
SGM ISIAH J. WILSON
SGM MARK A. WILSON
SGM NATHAN E. WILSON
SGM ROBERT E. WILSON
SGM WILLIAM F. WILSON
SGM CAROLYN D. WINGARD
SGM CARATRELLA WOODBERRY
SGM EDWARD J. WOSIAK
SGM WILLIAM C. WRIGHT
1SG SCOTT A. ANZIVINO
1SG KERRY J. AVERETT
1SG JOHN W. BARR
1SG ROBERT H. BRICKLEY
1SG ROGER D. CHIN
1SG MYRON J. CREECY
1SG VERNON FRANKS
1SG JAY V. GOVAN
1SG LARRY W. JARVIS
1SG MARK R. KNOBLOCH
1SG ANTHONY A. KRESTA
1SG CHARLES LA MALFA
1SG LEO S. MARSHALL
1SG JAMESPETER M. MATTHEWS
1SG WILLOUGHBY K. MERCER
1SG RICKEY L. METCALF
1SG DANA L. MORGAN
1SG STINES MUCKENFUSS
1SG DAVID C. NEWTON
1SG WESLEY PINCKNEY
1SG ALBERT L. RIGGINS
1SG LONNIE D. RODEN
1SG PETER J. RUNNING
1SG BARRY R. SOTTOLANO
1SG PATRICK J. THOMPSON
1SG EARNEST L. WHITTEN
1SG LARRY D. WILLIAMS
MSG TIMOTHY S. ADAM
MSG DAVID M. ALEXANDER
MSG MARK S. ALEXANDER
MSG JAMES J. ALTIER
MSG JAMES J. BARNETTE
MSG PEGGY A. BATES
MSG JOHN M. BAUER
MSG BRUCE A. BELANGER
MSG LEROY J. BENAVIDEZ
MSG JAMES L. BILBERRY
MSG JAMES B. BIRCHEM
MSG ROBERT D. BRAND
MSG GREGORY N. BRISCO
MSG STEVEN W. BRISCOE
MSG ARLIE R. BROADWAY
MSG RONALD A. BROOKS
MSG SUSAN A. BROWN
MSG WILLIAM D. BUCK
MSG KENNETH R. BURROWS
MSG REBECCA J. CORLEY
MSG VALERIE R. CORSER
MSG ROBERT M. COSSEL
MSG HUBERT E. CRISEL
MSG ESTER L. CROCKETT
MSG KEVIN W. DAGG
MSG CHARLES J. DANIELS
MSG CARTHRONE DAWKINS
MSG OTEY M. DEAR
MSG WANDA I. DEJESUSFERNANDEZ
MSG JOHN M. DOBRANSKI
MSG VICTOR J. DORAZIO
MSG YVES A. DUBE
MSG SHERI L. EALEY
MSG ETHEL L. ELLIS
MSG RICK G. ERNST
MSG RAFAEL R. FERNANDEZ
MSG STEVEN W. FINE
MSG GUY A. FLUMMERFELT
MSG JOSEPH GOLOMBOSKI
MSG BRYAN H. GRAN
MSG JENNIFER A. GREEN
MSG TED L. GUENTHER
MSG RAYMONDE E. HALL
MSG BRENDA J. HARRIS
MSG ELAINE A. HILL
MSG RONALD M. HOWELL
MSG FRANKLIN R. HUFF
MSG DENNIS H. INDERDAHL
MSG PETER H. JENSEN
MSG TERRY B. JONES
MSG MAURICE B. KING
MSG CARL H. KOON
MSG ALLEN KURTZ
MSG DENIS W. LENGER
MSG MICHEAL R. LEWIS
MSG CHERYL T. LIGHTCAP
MSG JOSEPH A. MALCOM
MSG ROBERT T. MARSH
MSG RODERICK O. MATHER
MSG GEORGE F. MCCARTHY
MSG TERRY L. MENAGH
MSG ROBERT L. MIHELIC
MSG AUGUSTO A. MINARDI
MSG MARCOS MONTES
MSG WALTER J. MOORE
MSG DANIEL J. MORALES
MSG JAMES E. NASH
MSG ROBERT L. NORMAN
MSG EDWARDS C. O’KANE
MSG PATTY A. PAGELDAY
MSG KEVIN N. PAIGE
MSG MARION V. PARHAM
MSG JERRY L. PERSHICA
MSG ELIZABETH J. PETTY
MSG ROY A. QAADIR
MSG JOHN T. RAETZ
MSG DAVID A. RICKERS
MSG ANIBAL RODRIGUEZ
MSG BOBBY L. ROLLINS
MSG WILLIAM A. ROMASCO
MSG MARK T. SAXON
MSG RICHARD T. SCHOENBERGER
MSG JEROME M. SKEIM
MSG FRANKIE W. STAPLES
MSG THOMAS P. STEARNS
MSG LARRY W. STEGALL
MSG JOHN D. STINSON
MSG KIM S. STRINGER
MSG JOHN H. SWART
MSG BERNADETTE L. TISDALE
MSG DAVID B. TRAUGOTT
MSG DAVID A. TRIMBLE
MSG BECKY R. VLASAK
MSG VERNON D. WALKER
MSG JAMES A. WALLACE
MSG NINA K. WALLS
MSG DAVID B. WETZBARGER
MSG BOBBY L. WHITEHEAD
MSG LARRY S. WIMBERLEY
MSG JAMES J. WOLFE
MSG JOHN W. YOST