Retired Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston slated to attend March 8 session
By Dawn Arden
Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Feb. 28, 2019) – Dates have been announced for Fort Leonard Wood’s NCO Calls throughout the end of 2019, with each slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Pershing Community Center’s Blackjack Bar and Grill.
“It’s an event that has been around for a while, but was forgotten,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Breckinridge, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood. “We wanted to bring it back and provide noncommissioned officers with an opportunity to get together after duty hours. This will be a time for junior NCOs to interact with senior NCOs from different organizations and various Military Occupation Specialties throughout all branches. They can learn from one another while gaining life lessons, ultimately making them better NCOs.”
The following dates have been scheduled: March 8, April 5, May 10, June 7, July 11, Aug. 16, Sept. 12, Oct. 25, Nov. 14 and Dec. 13.
Each date corresponds with significant events, such as installation retirement ceremonies, Sergeant Audie Murphy Club inductions and MSCoE Quarter Board days, in order to highlight and introduce those being honored to the NCO community, said Sgt. Maj. Joel Zecca, MSCoE Noncommissioned Officer Academy commandant.
The monthly events began in January with the most recent one held Feb. 8 in conjunction with the MSCoE quarterly board, where the drill sergeant, NCO, Soldier and joint-service member of the quarters were identified.
Breckinridge invites noncommissioned officers past and present to attend each of the monthly events.
“These events are open to all NCOs, regardless of branch — active or retired,” Breckinridge said.
He said sharing sharing knowledge is a vital part of these events.
“We as NCOs have a huge responsibility to ensure we pass down knowledge to our next generation, and the NCO Calls are one way to get after this,” Breckinridge said. “I would encourage everyone to come out, meet someone new and share a story or two. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Zecca said he hopes to see more retired NCOs in attendance for future events.
“It’s an opportunity for us to talk to retirees and get some lessons learned about when they were in,” Zecca said. “It brings all of the NCOs together for camaraderie and fellowship, and it’s just overall a time to relax after a hard week and to think about what we can do for each other to help each other out.”
Retired Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston is scheduled to be in attendance at the March 8 event following an NCO Professional Development session at Abrams Theater.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 82,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps and Air Force detachments on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission.