Promotion to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant: A bucket list pinning ceremony in Ghana

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ACCRA, Ghana - U.S. Army Sgt. Brielle Marman, a dental assistant with the North Dakota National Guard, was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant during a special ceremony at 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana. The promotion was officiated by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, the commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) at the time, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Reese Teakell, command sergeant major of SETAF-AF, during their visit to the hospital.

Brig. Gen. P.K. Ayibor, director general of the 37th Military Hospital, Ghana Armed Forces, co-promoted Marman.

Marman hails from Mandan, North Dakota. She enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in July 2012. Marman attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in the summer of 2013, followed by advanced individual training (AIT) at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated as a dental specialist in October 2013. After AIT, she was assigned to the North Dakota State Medical Detachment in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she has served for 12 years.

"As noncommissioned officers (NCO), we are in the people business," emphasized Teakell. "It is the role of the staff sergeant to teach, mentor and coach soldiers on tasks and to be better at what they do. It is one of the most important positions as an NCO in the U.S. Army. It's an important day. Congratulations on your promotion and I am super excited to be a part of it."

Marman's team participated in a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX), planned and executed by SETAF-AF, which is a program allowing military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners.

The fact that Marman's promotion occurred during exercise African Lion, in the host nation of Ghana, was especially rewarding for all involved in the ceremony.

"This promotion gives us a chance to showcase our traditions in the NCO corps to our Ghanaian partners and to recognize the professionalism and potential of our future leaders," said Wasmund. "Staff Sgt. Marman exemplifies what it means to serve not just in the civilian world, but also in the U.S. Army. In everything that we do, in the U.S. Army and in SETAF-AF, we do it better when we have good NCO leadership."

The promotion comes at a unique time for all entities involved. SETAF-AF is celebrating the 20th year of U.S. Africa Command's multinational exercise African Lion. Additionally, both North Dakota and Ghana are celebrating 20 years of their State Partnership Program (SPP).

The SPP's purpose is to foster mutual interests and establish long-term relationships across all levels of society. This National Guard Bureau program encourages the development of economic, political and military ties between U.S. states and partner nations.

Ghanaian leadership also expressed their sentiments during the promotion ceremony.

"The partnership between the U.S. and Ghanaian military medical teams has been mutually beneficial," said Ayibor. "Staff Sgt. Marman's promotion here is a testament to the strong cooperation and the shared commitment to improving health care for our people."

The promotion is the most recent of Marman's achievements. In March of this year, she was selected above her peers to submit her packet to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command board for direct commissioning as an officer.

Marman has attended various military and civilian schools, including U.S. Army basic leader course, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale course, as well as advanced cardiac life support.

The training benefits her civilian career as well, while she currently serves as a travel nurse in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from North Dakota State University and an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts and Science from Minnesota State Community and Technical College of Moorhead, Minnesota. Marman is a registered nurse and a registered dental assistant in the state of North Dakota.

"A special thank you to Maj. Gen. Wasmund and Command Sgt. Maj. Teakell," said Marman. "For taking the time to give me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being promoted to staff sergeant not only in Ghana, Africa, but also in the presence of both U.S. and Ghana military service members."

As U.S. and Ghanaian counterparts took a pause during the medical exchange, Marman had time to reflect on her special moment.

"It's a dream come true," she said.

About MEDREX

MEDREX is a partner lead, U.S. enabled program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allows military health professionals from the U.S. and African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF providesU.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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