Dec. 30, 2006
SR# 123006-01
By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
BAQUBAH, Iraq – The Soldiers of the 3rd “Grey Wolf” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were treated with a visit from the Multi National Corps – Iraq command sergeant major, Command Sgt, Maj. Neil Ciotola, Dec. 28.
Ciotola made a trip to Forward Operating Base Warhorse to speak with the enlisted Soldiers of the brigade, meet and interact with the leaders he hadn’t met yet and take some time to recognize some of the brigade’s hardest working individuals.
After his arrival to the FOB, Ciotola quickly headed to the Wood Dining Facility to share lunch with the leaders of Grey Wolf, an event Ciotola said was very important to him.
“I think the sergeant majors and first sergeants need to be reminded that are the linchpin to this operation here in Iraq,” said Ciotola. “When it comes to whose going to push, pull or shove in an operation, it’s a non-commissioned officer.”
“The success or failure of an operation sometimes comes down to the NCO who, day-in and day-out, gives everything they can to their unit,” he continued. “I think it’s very important that they understand that I think they are doing a good job.”
Ciotola also said one of his purposes in the lunch was to open up the floor to the leaders to tell him what they thought needed to change or happen around their area of operation.
“My main purpose for coming was to subject myself to the scrutiny of the senior NCOs,” Ciotola said. “If they need something that I can help them with, I will do my best to see that things get changed or that something productive will happen.”
This event also provided Ciotola the chance to meet the new leadership he hadn’t met back in garrison.
“I wanted to introduce myself to those I don’t know so when I come back, I can place myself in one of their units to go on patrols, get to know their Soldiers and do what needs to be done,” he said.
“Its one thing for someone to come in and give a speech to everyone but it’s another to actually go out there and work and sweat with those Soldiers,” Ciotola added.
After spending time at the Combat Logistics Patrol point, led by the Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Ciotola made his way back to the DFAC to have a meal with some of Grey Wolf’s finest lower enlisted Soldiers. Once there, Ciotola took the time to meet with the Soldiers and to let them know he was proud of their hard work and dedication to the brigade’s efforts in combat.
“The foundation of this operation might be vested in the ability of the senior [NCOs] or in the officers, but the success or failure of this effort ultimately rests squarely on the shoulders of our young Soldiers and young sergeants,” said Ciotola.
“They are the ones walking the streets,” he continued. “They are the ones exposing themselves to the hostile nature of this environment that we have to conduct operations in. They have to deal with a lot of pressure that others might not understand.”
“Any opportunity an [NCO] gets to recognize a Soldier…and to let them know that we believe in them needs to be taken,” Ciotola added.
“A few hard-working Soldiers were invited to have dinner with Command Sgt. Maj. Ciotola,” said Pfc. Latoriya Jones, an Aviation Operation Specialist for 3rd BCT. “I was invited because I am a private first class filling a sergeant first class’ position.”
“It was for Soldiers who have gone above and beyond expectations,” she continued. “We were all coined for our efforts.”
Jones said she was glad to have the chance to meet Ciotola and to share some of her experiences with him.
“He surprised me a lot because he was more about the Soldiers than anything else,” she said. “He was interested in getting to know us personally and finding out what we did at our jobs.”
“He really took the time to learn about who we were as people, not just Soldiers,” she said. “It made me feel important. He gave us the opportunity to talk directly to him.”
“He wanted us to know that he was there for us,” Jones added. “Any questions or concerns we had, we could ask him.”
“These Soldiers lift me up, they are amazing,” Ciotola said. “They do so many things that are profound.”
Ciotola said he wanted the Soldiers to remember their efforts out here were not going un-noticed. The Soldiers are making a difference in Iraq everyday, he said.
“The Soldiers need to remember that even when American fought for our own independence, it took time,” Ciotola said. “Things do not happen over night. They need to remember they are making a difference. They are making the lives of the Iraqi people so much better.”
“Since Sadaam’s [Hussein] reign has ended, 64,000 new businesses had opened,” he continued. “The American Soldiers have already helped make a difference in the economy of the Iraqi people.”
“I think the economy in Iraq is going to get greater through time,” he said. “But none of these things could have happened without security provided from the Soldiers.”
Ciotola took one last opportunity to speak with the leaders of Grey Wolf to share his appreciation of what they do everyday for their country. He challenged them to uphold standards and take the time to spend quality moments with their Soldiers.
He also hoped the Soldiers of Grey Wolf would be proud of themselves for their efforts and contributions to their units and to Iraq.
“When they leave Iraq, I hope they think to themselves, ‘I did what I swore I would do, I did it to the best of my abilities and I did what others would not see fit,’” Ciotola said. “‘I did my best.’”
Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Felt, command sergeant major of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, command sergeant major of the Multi National Corps – Iraq, speak with each other about current and future operations throughout the brigade’s area of operation. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
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