Fort Bliss Monitor

New NCOs gather for traditional dining in

Command Sgt. Maj. Evelyn Hollis
and Spc. Duane Fish
31st ADA Bde.

Newly promoted NCOs from 1-1 ADA raise their right hand while taking their charge at 1-1 ADA Dining In and NCO Induction Ceremony.

“I will discharge carefully and diligently the duties of the grade to which I have been promoted and uphold the traditions and standards of the Army,” stated 23 newly promoted NCOs at the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery dining in and noncommissioned officer induction ceremony on Jan. 21.

More than 175 NCOs in 1-1 ADA came together to participate in the tradition of a battalion dining in, followed by the induction of newly promoted NCOs into “the backbone of the Army.”

The tradition of commemorating the passing of a Soldier to a noncommissioned officer can be traced to the Army of Frederick the Great. Before one could be recognized in the full status of an NCO, he was required to stand four watches, one every four days. At the first watch the lower enlisted Soldiers appeared and brought a gift of bread and brandy. The company NCOs came to the second watch with beer and tobacco and the first sergeant reserved his visit for the third watch, when he was presented with a glass of wine and a piece of tobacco on a tin plate.

The ceremony was presided over by Command Sgt. Maj. Evelyn Hollis, command sergeant major of 1st Bn., 1st ADA. As their battery first sergeant introduced each new NCO to the assembled guests they walked through the “arched sabers.” As the NCOs crossed under the two polished sabers they symbolically crossed over and became leaders of Soldiers. The new sergeants appeared to be ready for the new challenges they will face as noncommis-sioned Officers.

When the last battery first sergeant named off the new NCOs of his unit, Hollis then issued the charge to the newly inducted noncommissioned officers.

Upon completion of the meal retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gavin Tunderman, the regimental command sergeant major for 1-1 ADA, spoke to the crowd. The guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. William White II, command sergeant major for 31st ADA Bde., closed out the evening with a thought for the new leaders, “Leadership is your ability to motivate Soldiers to accomplish tasks that they would not do under normal conditions or circumstances. You do this by providing them with purpose, direction and motivation. You must lead them from the front, setting the example and never, I stress this, never ask them to do anything you have not already done or will not do yourself.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 3, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	New NCOs gather for traditional dining in Command Sgt. Maj. Evelyn Hollis and Spc. Duane Fish 31st ADA Bde. Newly promoted NCOs from 1-1 ADA raise their right hand while taking their charge at 1-1 ADA Dining In and NCO Induction Ceremony. “I will discharge carefully and diligently the duties of the grade to which I have been promoted and uphold the traditions and standards of the Army,” stated 23 newly promoted NCOs at the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery dining in and noncommissioned officer induction ceremony on Jan. 21. More than 175 NCOs in 1-1 ADA came together to participate in the tradition of a battalion dining in, followed by the induction of newly promoted NCOs into “the backbone of the Army.” The tradition of commemorating the passing of a Soldier to a noncommissioned officer can be traced to the Army of Frederick the Great. Before one could be recognized in the full status of an NCO, he was required to stand four watches, one every four days. At the first watch the lower enlisted Soldiers appeared and brought a gift of bread and brandy. The company NCOs came to the second watch with beer and tobacco and the first sergeant reserved his visit for the third watch, when he was presented with a glass of wine and a piece of tobacco on a tin plate. The ceremony was presided over by Command Sgt. Maj. Evelyn Hollis, command sergeant major of 1st Bn., 1st ADA. As their battery first sergeant introduced each new NCO to the assembled guests they walked through the “arched sabers.” As the NCOs crossed under the two polished sabers they symbolically crossed over and became leaders of Soldiers. The new sergeants appeared to be ready for the new challenges they will face as noncommis-sioned Officers. When the last battery first sergeant named off the new NCOs of his unit, Hollis then issued the charge to the newly inducted noncommissioned officers. Upon completion of the meal retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gavin Tunderman, the regimental command sergeant major for 1-1 ADA, spoke to the crowd. The guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. William White II, command sergeant major for 31st ADA Bde., closed out the evening with a thought for the new leaders, “Leadership is your ability to motivate Soldiers to accomplish tasks that they would not do under normal conditions or circumstances. You do this by providing them with purpose, direction and motivation. You must lead them from the front, setting the example and never, I stress this, never ask them to do anything you have not already done or will not do yourself.”