USARAK welcomes new noncommissioned officers

  • Published
  • By SSgt. Matthew E. Winstead
  • 4-25th ABCT PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Eighty students of the Warrior Leader Course at the Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Brevard Noncommissioned Officer Academy graduated in a ceremony at the Richardson Theater, 
Jan. 28.

The new noncommissioned officers, from Army units across Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, walked the stage and completed the formal requirements of being recognized as trained and ready leaders.

Three members of the student body were honored for outstanding accomplishments and professionalism.

Spc. Jorge Webb, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, was named Distinguished Honor Graduate for outstanding accomplishments and superior academic achievements in at least three of four rated areas of assessment.

Spc. Wesley Arrowood, of B Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, earned the Distinguished Leadership Award and was presented a standard issue cavalry saber.
The Iron Warrior Award was presented to Army Sgt. Stevie Harman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment for demonstrating a superior level of physical fitness.

In addition to recognition for the three students, Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Sawyer, a small group leader at the academy, was named Instructor of the Cycle.

WLC prepares new leaders and NCOs for military leadership.

Some of the new duties that a graduate is prepared for include counseling junior Soldiers, leading physical training in accordance with Army regulation, and understanding of the importance of their new role as part of "the backbone of the Army."

"New team leaders and squad leaders like you are the ones that will take that 'well conceived plan' and get the job done," said Command Sgt. Maj. Bernie Knight, command sergeant major of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, guest speaker for the event.

Graduation from WLC is a requirement for promotion to the rank of staff sergeant and is intended to instill and refine leadership skills considered vital to decision making processes at junior leadership levels, according to academy officials.