The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council and the Manhattan Ara Chamber of Commerce Military Relations Council put together a joint effort in hosting the 2016 Victory Week Breakfast for the 1st Infantry Division’s Victory Week celebrations on June 8 at Riley’s Conference Center.

This year’s guest speaker, Command Sergeant Major Joseph Cornelison spoke on the importance of the Non-Commissioned Officers and more specifically the role of the Sergeant

Major.

“The NCO core of the US Army gives our army flexibility and strength that no other army has,” said Cornelison.

Cornelison says that currently there are 480,000 soldiers in the US Army and less than 6,000 are at the E9 level of Sergeant Major.

“As a Command Sergeant Major [you] are charged with discipline, health, welfare off all [your] enlisted [soldiers].”

Cornelison shared his own personal experiences as CSM in the 1st Infantry Division and that with a strong NCO core in every level is essential in a strong army.

“Victory week is the birthday week of our great 1st Infantry Division – 99 years old – and we have a storied history  over the last 99 years of our Non-Commissioned Officer core inside the Big Red One, contributing to the victories that this Division has attained. It’s just a great legacy/history and it’s a pleasure and honor to be at the top of the NCO core in this division, especially during this historic week.”