Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan S. Kernen, commandant of the Fort Stewart Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Stewart, Georgia, addresses a group of senior noncommissioned officers July 31, during Fort Stewart's first Master Leader Course graduation ceremony. Although the Army has been developing and refining the MLC for the past two years, it became a requirement for sergeants first class to be promoted to master sergeant under the Select, Train, Educate and Promote (STEP) policy on January 1, 2017. During the historic event 26 senior NCOs graduated from the intensely demanding two-week course. (Official U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent C. Powell)