Shortly we will start another battle with “Mother Nature”. Some of the experts predict this year to be a bad one. I know what you are probably thinking to your self; “That is what they said last year and the years before”, while this is true,  you must not let your guard down. The odds are in “Mother Nature’s” favor, we are going to be hit hard again and we   must be ready.  In preparation for the upcoming Hurricane season, I attended an EMITS class at a local EMA office.

    I want to update you on the progress of some of the items that I find important not only for the NCO Corps but for the entire ASDF:

·         Training Command Courses:  The ASDF Training Command has been established to ensure that all training throughout the state is uniformed. Course below are currently being offered:

Ø    NCOES Courses:  1SG/MSG and CSM/SGM

Ø    Warrant Officer Courses:  Warrant Officer Basic Course

Ø    Officer Courses:  Officer Commissioning Course and Officer Basic Course  

Ø    Miscellaneous Courses:  Map Reading, Guard Duty, Radiology and Radio Phonetics
 

·         "SGT Dixie" Club:  The "SGT Dixie" Club has been established to recognize the elite noncommissioned officers (NCOs) who have demonstrated performance and inherent leadership qualities and abilities. A group that reflect the total leader concept. "You take care of your soldiers, you provide for their families, you develop them, you lead them, and you train them." The "SGT Dixie" Club is a privilege earned by a few exceptional noncommissioned officers. Battalion Boards will be scheduled for October of this year follow by Brigade and the state Boards.

      I encourage everyone in the SDF in the Great State of Alabama to earn their MEMS Badge. If you have your Basic Badge, then work on your Senior Badge, and then your   Master Badge. If you have your Senior and/or Master Badge, then use your knowledge and teach courses and help other that do not.

We cannot forget, that as a nation we are still at war, a war on terror that is expanding and growing. We are being tasked to send more of our Troops in "Harms Way" and that is affecting our Alabama Nation and Air Guardsmen. We must be prepared to meet any threat aimed at our state and her people. Our missions are not negotiable. We are now full partners in this war that is expected to last a generation. Many people need only to look at their own family members or friends who have deployed, are deploy, or will be deployed again in the future to support the war on terrorism to remind them of the cost.

        We may forget the price that many of our countrymen across the state and nation have paid. But they like past generations who have went in "Harms Way" to keep us free, do so willing and with a resolve to complete the mission. While they are gone, we must be ready to take care of business here at home to help ease their burden. Life as we know it continues, the blessing of freedom continues; our biggest concern is the weather or who will win the next game. Unlike many communities in our country, our schools remain safe and have not been touched by the carnage of a madman. We honor and respect our Policemen and Fireman who laid their lives on the line everyday, especially those who make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Now as in the past, the Alabama National Guard and Air Nation Guard continue to deploy to far off lands in defense of our freedoms. We must continue to support the members of our military and our citizen soldiers, whither we support the administrations policies or not. These men and women are sacrificing portions of their life's for us, along with family members who are left behind carry an awesome burden of remaining strong and counting the days until their loved ones return.

       With the challenges we face in today's society, the need for a professional NCO corps becomes more and more a requirement. We need to rededicate ourselves to being the best we can be.
 

·         Seek Out Responsibility:  Seek responsibility and take responsibilities for your actions...........Enough Said.
 

·         Let Me Know:  I want to hear from the NCOs in the field. I want to hear their ideas, no matter how "out of the box." I want to hear about things that go right but more importantly, I want to know about things that we need to improve on. I serve the state and more importantly, I serve the enlisted Corps of the ASDF.