MSG Promotion Ceremony at FT Knox USAREC HQ's

2015-06-08T10:14:19-04:00

What a great day. To watch another one of former Soldiers get promoted to E-8. Over the years that was the driving factor throughout my career watching your Soldiers get promoted to the senior NCO ranks spaks highly of the leadership you instill in your Soldiers. There is nothing better as a leader then to see them get promoted form E-7 to E-9 and know that played a major part in their career and life.

Salutes and Congratulations MSG Jeff Crane. Well deserved and I know you will carry the torch of leadership and instill the same in your Soldiers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZumNApKofE

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 8 at 2015 10:15 AM

2015-06-08T10:15:18-04:00

Congratulations to all!

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 8 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-06-08T10:24:48-04:00

I wish there were more leaders like you in my past. When I made E-8, I was kind of floating out there alone...my promotion ceremony was not by the book, or any book I ever read.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jun 8 at 2015 10:33 AM

2015-06-08T10:33:01-04:00

Absolutely ... Congratulations. Seeing soldiers you mentored achieve success is one of the highest rewards of leadership.

While I was attending the Battalion/Brigade Pre-Command Course at the Military Police School several years ago, before taking command of a brigade, I was asked to speak to the Military Police officers attending the Military Police Officer Advanced Course about leadership, etc. Following my comments, there was a question and answer period. I was asked what my definition of a "successful career" was. Was it selection for battalion or brigade command, promotion to general officer, or what? I told the audience that my definition of success was to see the soldiers, NCO, and officers who had served under me succeed. I mentioned that, in the previous week, the Battalion Command List had been released by the Army and I was extremely happy and proud to see that, of the eight MP officers on that list, seven had served under me as a company commander and/or battalion S3 or XO. To see them be selected for battalion command, a major accomplishment for an MP officer, did more to speak of my success as an officer than anything else I could think of. I said that, not to be pompous or anything, but to point out that, as a leader, I took it as a serious mission of mine to teach, lead and mentor those officers and that I would like to think that, in some small way, my efforts helped them meet this significant milestone in their careers. (As an aside, all seven later became colonels; five became brigade commanders; and two became general officers, one of which, the first LTG/0-9 Military Police officer in history to achieve that rank)

Be proud of the people you mentor and share in the excitement of their success. If you did your job as a leader, you helped them get there and have the right to celebrate their success as success on your part, as well.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jun 8 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-06-08T12:18:46-04:00

When my name came out on the promotion selection list was the attainment of a goal I had made as an E-1 in Basic Training. My TF Commander wanted to be a visitor at the promotion ceremony, but I asked him to do the honors since he had been a mentor while I was acting as a platoon leader when we deployed.
I have had Soldiers who made E-7, and one who became our company 1SG after I had retired, it is a good feeling thinking I had been influential, whether good or bad. As I had a mentors, I hope the younger generation will be mentors to their Soldiers.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 10:34 PM

2015-06-08T22:34:19-04:00

It was a great day indeed! He is doing a great job and will reach more people then ever now!