I Will Not Forget, Nor Will I Let My Comrades Forget, That We Are Professionals!
So the other day I got smallpox. Not really, but I got the smallpox injected into me, so it's basically the same thing. I have to change the band-aid all carefully and dispose of it in a baggie and wash my hands all the time. It's crazy, and if I mess up and rub my face or something after I've touched my arm I could become gross looking or lose an eye. So I'm taking this pretty seriously.
In other news, I screwed up at work, but not too bad. Basically my new Sgt. had me memorize a few things a couple weeks ago, one of which was the 'NCO Creed'. After I got quizzed on it, I did a memory dump, to save some HDD space in the ol' noggin, you know? Well, Monday he has me redo them...and I can't. It's like trying to recover the files after you've deleted them from the Recycle Bin. I mean, it's like now I have to get special software just to recover the files now, sort of.
Anyway, enough with the analogies or metaphors or whatever. Either way, two days later I owe my Sgt. a 500-word essay (which was way easy, and I even snuck in a secret message), and the NCO Creed word-for-word. So that two days is here, and I've been listening to this stupid .mp3 of the NCO Creed all night and when I drive. Hopefully I'll do aight this afternoon. So long. You can click here to hear this ncocreed.mp3 or just read the quote for today.
"No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.
Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!"
--The NCO Creed--