MNC-I Command Sgt. Maj. visits FOB Hammer

Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciolola, senior noncommissioned officer of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, speaks to Soldiers of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team July 31, at FOB Hammer

Story and photos by Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd HBCT, PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The Multi-National Corps – Iraq command sergeant major told Benning Soldiers that being deployed is hard, but being around Soldiers makes it all worth it.

MNC-I Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciolola, spoke to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers on the importance of the United States Army and what the Army is accomplishing in Iraq, July 31 at FOB Hammer. He also let Soldiers in on his personal feelings.

“I’m tired of this, I’m tired of the heat, I’m tired,” he said. “But if I could do it all over again, I would do it all over again. My sanity is you all. I am here to bring you up, but don’t think for a minute that you don’t bring me up just as much”.

Senior noncommissioned officers of the 3rd HBCT sat down with Ciolola for a luncheon at the Hammer Dining Facility. When the meal was finished, Soldiers with the rank of staff sergeant and below took their place at the table to meet with Ciolola for a town hall meeting.

“You have to remember who you are talking to,” Ciolola said. “The problem with some NCOs is that we forget where we came from.”

After a short speech, Cioloa opened the floor for questions.

Pfc. Charlotte Lynch, of Crestview, Fla., administration specialist, 3rd HBCT, asked Cioloa what is to be expected for the future of the Army.

“Is this the Army?” she asked. “Is this what I will continue to do if I decide to stay in?”

“This will be the Army for the next seven to 10 years,” Cioloa responded. “Half of the Army is over here right now, and what do you think the other half is doing?”

Almost the entire audience responded with, “Getting ready to deploy.”

In addition to his predictions of the Army’s future, Cioloa reassured troops that the plan is not for Soldiers to be deployed for more than 15 months. His statement echoed that of Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston, who spoke to Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, at Combat Outpost Cleary July 16. Both leaders stated that.

The meeting was relaxed and comfortable as Cioloa explained that Soldiers’ efforts and accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.

“Every one of your successes we cheer and applaud every evening at our update brief,” Cioloa said to the Soldiers.