NCOs inducted into Sergeant Morales Club
Story and photos by U.S. Army Sgt. Samantha Parks
4th Public Affairs Detachment
S
trong soldiers developed by
strong leaders, strong teams
compromised of strong soldiers,”
said U.S. Army Command Sgt.
Maj. David S. Davenport Sr., U.S.
Army Europe Command Sergeant
Major and a Nashville, Tenn. native.
Davenport, along with commanders,
peers and soldiers from Multinational
Battle Group-East, attended the
Sergeant Morales Club induction
ceremony at Camp Bondsteel Dec. 17
as 11 noncommissioned officers from
MNBG-E were recognized for their
hard work and dedication to the Army.
“It’s about making our noncommissioned
officer corps stronger,” Davenport said.
“I think these 11 NCOs are a perfect
example of fit, disciplined and welltrained soldiers that work hard every
day to improve their piece of the Army
profession and to take care of soldiers
and their families.”
According to the club’s history, the
Sergeant Morales Club was established
in 1973 by then commander for
USAREUR, Lt. Gen. George S.
Blanchard, to “promote the highest
ideals of integrity, professionalism and
leadership for the enlisted force serving
in Europe.”
Davenport said NCOs who become
members of the Sergeant Morales Club
exemplify a special kind of leadership
characterized by general concern for
the needs, training, development and
welfare of soldiers.
“These noncommissioned officers
being inducted today, stepped up and
endured the rigorous and competitive
process to become members of this
exclusive club,” Davenport said. “They
emulate and contribute the attributes of
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. David S. Davenport Sr., U.S. Army Europe Command Sergeant
Major and a Nashville, Tenn. native, places the Sergeant Morales Club medal on U.S. Army Sgt. 1st
Class Charles Hipple, a noncommissioned officer with Joint Regional Detachment-East and a native
of Pittsburgh, during an induction ceremony at Camp Bondsteel Dec. 17.
Sgt. Morales in their units day-in, dayout, whether in garrison or deployed,
on or off duty. They lead from the
front. They show genuine true care and
concern for soldiers and their families.”
The inductees were put through
multiple review boards and an Army
Physical Fitness Test in their pursuit of
joining the prestigious club.
“The process was a lot of studying,”
said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles
Hipple, a Pittsburgh native and the
noncommissioned officer in charge of
Liaison Monitoring Team 4. “The E-4
and below that I have in my platoon
helped me study. We had a lot of [group]
study halls with all the people attending
the board. It was a big group effort
and [provided] a lot of professional
development from senior leaders.”
Hipple said he spent a lot of time talking
to fellow NCOs and