By R.J. Oriez
GUIDON staff

While addressing the gathering of several hundred noncommissioned officers attending a Year of the NCO presentation at Nutter Field House last week, Staff Sgt. Michael Espejo said what most heroes say.

“I was just doing my job,” said the Silver Star recipient.

On Sept. 27, 2007, Espejo was the team leader of a squad of Military Police on patrol out of Forward Operating Base Torkham in Afghanistan when his squad came across a burning vehicle on the side of the road. Telling his driver to stay in their vehicle, Espejo got out to investigate.

He found a man in an Afghan National Police uniform lying in the road. While helping the man to a safer location, Espejo discovered the “victim” was wearing a suicide vest.

Espejo threw the man aside, took cover and ordered the man in Pashtu and English to raise his hands. When it appeared the man was attempting to detonate his vest, Espejo terminated the threat.

Espejo used his story to stress the need for realistic training.

“We must continuously push our Soldiers to the limit,” he said. Our job as NCOs isn’t to be liked. It is to train.”

As Espejo wrapped up his remarks, he reminded his audience “As NCOs, we must set the example at all times.”

Army senior leaders declared 2009 “Year of the NCO” with a year-long set of initiatives to enhance training and utilizations of the NCO Corps.

“We will showcase the NCO Story for the Army and the American people to honor the sacrifices and celebrate the contributions of the NCO Corps, past and present,” said the letter announcing the program signed by the Secretary of the Army, the Army Chief of Staff and the Sergeant Major of the Army.

Medal of Honor recipient, retired 1st Sgt. Nick Bacon, also talked to the gathering, Nov. 9.

The Vietnam War veteran reminded the attendees that, often, the first person a Soldier meets on active duty is an NCO — the basic training platoon sergeant.

Bacon received his Medal of Honor for his heroics and initiative when, among other things, he took command of two platoons after the platoon leaders fell in battle.

“We are one of the few armies in the world where you take out the chain of command and the next guy takes over,” Bacon said. He cited this ability as one of the strengths the United States military had over the former Soviet Union.

“You never forget the time you spent in the military. You never forget your friends,” Bacon said, acknowledging the title of the presentation hosted by the 14th Military Police Brigade, “Pride in Service.”