 for contributions to the development of their NCO Corps and leadership in advancing the duties and responsibilities of non-commissioned officers across Europe. The Sergeant Morales Medallion was established in 1973 by the then-user commander, Lieutenant General George S. Gledger, to promote the highest ideals of integrity, professionalism, and leadership for the illicit force serving Europe. Sergeant Morales Medallion recipients exemplify a special kind of leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare of soldiers. The Sergeant Morales Medallion recognizes and rewards distinguished non-commissioned officers whose leadership achievements merit special recognition and who have contributed significantly to developing a professional non-commissioned officer corps and a combat-effective army. At this time, I would like to ask Lieutenant General Campbell and Command Sergeant Major Davenport to please move to the podium for the Sergeant Morales Medallion presentation. It is my honor to ask Command Sergeant Major Dominic Bond to please come forward and join the user command team up front. Cool. Come on. I just want to say that when you hear that narrative of what a Sergeant Morales Medallion member wears and what it stands for, I can't think of a better example of the first Sergeant Morales medal than Sergeant Major Bond. Sergeant Major Bond not only has focused on his country's development of non-commissioned officers, he has truly taken a leadership role within the Adriatic Five to put them on the right path to build their NCL Corps. And personally, in the first year of doing this job as a user Sergeant Major, I can't think of a better wingman or a buddy or a confident person to offer me advice than Sergeant Major Bond. So Sergeant Major Bond, it's my honor to nominate you to my commanding general as the first recipient of the Sergeant Morales Medallion. Cool. Cool. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise. Command Sergeant Major Bond joined the Croatian Army on September 16, 1991, at the beginning of the Croatian homeland war for independence. Since then, Command Sergeant Major Bond has served in every enlisted leadership position in his army, from infantry team leader to his current position as the Croatian Land Forces Sergeant Major. For his dedication to professionalism, his leadership, and his genuine concern for the needs, development, and welfare of the soldiers of the Croatian Land Forces, Command Sergeant Major Bond is hereby awarded to the Sergeant Morales Medallion, effective this 22nd day of May, 2013. Signed, Command Sergeant Major David S. Davenport Sr. and Lieutenant General Donald M. Campbell Jr. Generals, dear friends, my colleagues, CSMs, Sergeant Major, NCOs, I don't know how to say anything after that, but I will start with, you know, last two days, we've been discussing, we've been working on issue how to decrease stress. And I must say, David, this performance doesn't reduce stress, my stress is pretty high now, but... This is good stress, and without jokes, it's great honor for myself, but not only for myself, it's for all my soldiers and NCOs from Croatian Army, but not only from Croatian Army, it's also for Croatian Armed Forces, because all of them are hard workers to improve our NCO core, and not only our NCO core, then all other, our friends, specifically in the neighborhood, but also whenever, or whenever somebody meets us. It is real honor to be first one from foreigners to receive this medal, and I'm really proud, and once again, thank you a lot, sir, and this is the great sign that our commitment to build professional, well-trained NCO core, that this is the right way for all NCOs, not only in Europe, but in all alliance. Once again, thank you very much.