Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Retired sergeant major of the Army speaks with New York NCOs By Eric Durr
                New York National Guard
 LATHAM, N.Y.— Young sergeants are not only the "backbone of the enlisted force" but they're a strategic asset as well, retired Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston told 80 New York Army National Guard noncommissioned officers (NCOs) during a leadership workshop on Sept. 21. Pointing to a "patch chart" that indicates the Army's worldwide mission, Preston emphasized that the Army missions in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and in African countries rely on trained NCOs to conduct important training and logistics missions. "It's at the sergeant and staff sergeant level where those missions are being done," Preston said. "Small tactical units and convoys are out there being led by sergeants and staff sergeants." Preston was one of the guest speakers for a two-day New York Army National Guard Enlisted Professional Development Workshop led by New York Army Guard Command Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski, Sept. 21 and 22. During his remarks, Preston, who served as sergeant major of the Army from 2004 to 2011, emphasized the need for officers and senior NCOs to work to "grow sergeants" in their platoons. The Army realizes the importance of the noncommissioned officer corps and is working to make the system for training NCOs more like that used to train officers, he told the groups. Sergeants will be moved into assignments where they can learn new skills and prepare for greater responsibility while taking time off to attend formal training to prepare for the next level of responsibility. Preston now serves as the vice president of NCO and Soldier programs for the Association of the United States Army. The purpose of the two-day workshop, Piwowarski said, is to broaden the perspective of future leaders who are currently in the ranks of corporal to sergeant first class. The attendees were picked by their leaders as NCOs who have displayed leadership and should move up in rank, he said. It's also a chance for him and other senior NCOs to hear what the noncommissioned officers out in the field are thinking, Piwowarski said. This helps him do his job of advising the New York Army National Guard leadership, he added, "The workshop helps leaders understand a bigger picture than what they get at the unit level," Piwowarski said. "My intent is for these Soldiers to return to their units and talk about what they learned at the workshop and share information." He invited Preston to speak because of the great experience the retired sergeant major had at the highest levels of Army leadership, Piwowarski said. Preston talked about the things a junior NCO needs to focus on to prepare for a successful career, Piwowarski explained. Sgt. Rene Banks, a full-time NCO in the New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, said the workshop was a great way to "develop yourself as a leader." She would also make sure to pass what she learned on to her Soldiers, she added. Sgt. Matthew Llewellyn, a traditional Guard Soldier in the 222nd Military Police Company, said he came away from the workshop with a broader perspective on how the New York Army National Guard works. "There's a lot I didn't know," he said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Michigan Guard, Liberia Conduct Casualty Response Exercise
 By Capt. Andrew Layton,
  134th Medical Company Joins Combined Resolve Exercise
 By Capt. Christopher Booker,
  New Hampshire Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker to Safety
 By National Guard Bureau
  More
 New Hampshire Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker to Safety Guard News • yesterday
 New York’s 109th Airlift Wing Begins 2024 Greenland Missions Guard News • 2 days ago
 Vermont Air Guard Tests Weapon Systems in Florida Exercises Guard News • 2 days ago
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 6 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 6 days ago
 2024 (163)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil