Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/2016

 123STA T . 1 9 9 6PUBLIC LA W 111 – 61 — AU G .19 , 2 0 09 PublicLaw1 11 –6 1 111 thCongres s J oint R esolution Recogniz ing th e s e rv ice , s a cri f ice, honor, an dp rofessiona l is m of the N oncommis - sioned O fficers of the U nited S tates A rm y.Wher e ast he Nonc o m m i ssione dOf ficer ran k s , name ly cor p orals and ser g eants, date b ack more than 230 years in U nited S tates A rmy history, beginning w ith the birth of the C ontinental Army in 17 7 5 and highlighted in the westward e x pansion of the United States, the Ci v il War, World War I , World War II, the K orean Conflict, the V ietnam Conflict, the liberation of K u wait, and the current G lobal War on T error Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are accomplished military professionals who have combined civilian and military education opportunities to become the Army ’ s preeminent body of leader - ship; Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ‘ ‘backbone of the Amer- ican Army’’ and are the standard keepers for the Army in the training, leading, coaching, and mentoring of soldiers; Whereas Noncommissioned Officers have provided invaluable service and have made great sacrifices in the line of duty, a virtue held most high, and they have continually proven their dedication and a willingness to make great sacrifices on behalf of the United States; Whereas Noncommissioned Officers recogni z e their role in training young soldiers to become future leaders, and they also recognize that an important part of their j ob is caring and looking out for the welfare of junior enlisted members and their families; Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ‘‘eyes and ears’’ of the commander, and have a well-earned reputation for having oper- ational and strategic awareness to interpret and issue orders as necessary within their duties and in the absence of commis- sioned officers; and Whereas the United States Army is an institution rich in cultural, ethnic, and gender diversity, and Noncommissioned Officers are outstanding role models for all Americans and are exemplary representatives of the moral character and strength of the United States Now, therefore, be it Resolv e dbyth e S e na te and H o u seo f Re pr esentat i ves of the U nited States of Am eri c ain C on g ress assembled , That Congress —( 1 ) recognizes the service, sacrifice, honor, and profes- sionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the United States Army; Aug.19,20 09 [H . J. Res . 4 4 ]