Spc. Verna Oates (left), from Texarkana, Texas, serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, receives a framed copy of the Non-Commissioned Officer's Creed from 1st Sgt. Ron Novio, senior enlisted leader for HHC, 56th IBCT, during a promotion ceremony held at Camp Victory on March 14. Oates, promoted under the battle field promotion system which selects deserving, eligible Soldiers for promotion to either sergeant of staff sergeant, served for nine years on active duty, with nearly seven years in Germany. Following a break in service, Oates joined the Texas National Guard in July 2001 and is now serving in her second tour to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.