KNOXVILLE — Sgt. Daniel Backus, a Tennessee National Guard Soldier from Knoxville, was recently promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was among the first Task Force Raptor soldiers to ever be inducted, or ceremonially welcomed, into the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. The event was historic for the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Soldiers of Task Force Raptor, where soldiers of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. and Tennessee National Guard are currently deployed, were recently promoted to the rank of Sergeant. This is the first ever NCO Induction ceremony for Task Force Raptor. This series includes interaction between inductees, a prayer, the National Anthem, ceremonial representations, the playing of Taps, honoring the fallen, a speech by CSM David Clark of 4th Infantry Division, sponsors introducing inductees and their hometowns across the U.S., soldiers walking through the NCO archway, the Army Song, the cutting of the cake, and words by SGM Tillman of 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Backus talks about the ceremony, his work in Afghanistan, being an NCO, and his loved ones.