Photo By Spc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile | Staff Sgt. Stephan Bulwinkle, the squad leader of 2nd Platoon, B Company, 1st...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq - A deployment pushes teams and leaders to their limits. With various challenging situations, deployment often shows the effectiveness of certain leadership styles. The style that has inspired the Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division has been from one ambitious non-commissioned officer.
"Staff Sgt. Stephen Bulwinkle's (a native of Richmondhill, Ga., and the squad leader for 2nd Platoon, B-Company, 1-37 Arm. Reg.), actions displayed strong leadership and reliability among his fellow Soldiers," said 1st Sgt. Craig Nettles, the first sergeant for B-Co, 1-37 Arm. Reg.
"Bulwinkle is a great inspiration to our Soldiers because of his strong leadership style," said Nettles. "His leadership style always ensures that his Soldiers understand every task that they are given and he builds them up so that when they get a mission, their confidence level is over the top to make sure it gets done right."
His mission in Iraq truly emphasizes his ability to lead patrols, where insurgents are known to exist, and help to assist and train the Iraqi army and police forces, according to Cpl. Ryan Goggin, a team leader with B-Co., 2nd Plt., 1-37 Arm. Reg.
"He is a true leader," said Groggin. "He has the ability to adapt to adapt to any situation, even when there is an absence of orders and gets the job done."
A situation that most of the Soldiers in 1-37 Arm. Reg. remember was when some Soldiers in B-Co. were in a vehicle roll-over, according to Groggin. Not only was he the first one on scene, but he also was climbing through the turret pulling Soldiers out, then getting accountability of all that were in the vehicle.
"Staff Sgt. Bulwinkle has done an outstanding job," said Nettles. "His experience has been invaluable and his leadership qualities have helped shape this platoon into the effective team that we are now, he is the glue that holds 2nd Platoon together."
Bulwinkle believes that much of a unit's success can be attributed to good leadership on all fronts. He has been receptive to many different leadership styles that have changed him personally, all starting with his former team leaders.
"Good leaders need confidence—a lot of confidence," said Bulwinkle. "They need to have experience, be aware of everything going on, and have a lot of empathy for their guys."
A leader must know what his Soldiers are going through, what pressure is on them, according to Bulwinkle. It's a leader's job to keep morale up, to put their needs above your own.
"My Soldiers are my priority," said Bulwinkle.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2009 13:08 |
| Story ID: | 43253 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 295 |
| Downloads: | 182 |
This work, The glue of a platoon, by SPC Jessica Luhrs-Stabile, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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