Courtesy Photo | Capt. Natalie Vanatta speaks to officers during a career seminar she developed, in...... read more read more
Subscribe
by Sgt. Jacob McDonald
50th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — The former commander of 228th Signal Company is just one of the many Soldiers supporting the Third Army mission, but she is not just the Average Jane. She left an impression on junior leaders across Kuwait with creative and informative training.
Capt. Natalie Vanatta, recently left Kuwait to pursue her doctorate in applied mathematics at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif., after serving in the Middle East for two years. During her time here she created a professional development seminar that affected and influenced junior officers throughout Kuwait.
A self described Army brat, Vanatta grew up with both parents in the military. She said she loved it and wanted to be a part of it.
"It was the greatest experience," she said. "I could see just with the interaction of the people my parent's worked with the caliber of person the Army could churn out. I wanted to serve my nation."
She said she went straight from being a dependent to a cadet to an officer. In college she went through the ROTC program. Following her commission she was assigned to Germany. She deployed from there to Iraq. Since then she has spent all her time either in Germany, Iraq or Kuwait.
During her tenure in Kuwait, Vanatta began a professional development program with her junior officers. The monthly training provided her lieutenants an opportunity to learn about a variety of military topics.
For one of her last monthly classes Vanatta wanted to show them some of the opportunities in the Army. She said young officers don't understand all the opportunities, all the money, all the schooling opportunities, and all the training opportunities that the Army will let you do as a captain.
"There are some really cool programs," She said. "Most people don't know what they are so they don't know to ask for them. If you don't talk to your branch manager soon enough, as a lieutenant... your time line is all out of whack and you are not going to be able to do it."
With that purpose in mind, Vanatta began to plan the training. The original plan involved three or four presenters, based on her platoon leaders' strengths, coming in to talk about their programs and how to get involved. She sent out some emails, and it bloomed into something much larger.
In the end, 32 officers from almost every different functional area and program came and spoke about the opportunities available to company grade officers. Speakers from the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait and officers passing through from Iraq contributed to the knowledge pool. Junior officers from all over the installation attended the conference.
It was mostly lieutenants, but a few captains attended. The officers came away with points of contact and info. It was an opportunity to meet people and talk to them about careers and opportunities, Vanatta said. This was an opportunity to learn about continuing education, the military decision making process. It opens their minds so when it comes time to make some of these decisions, they have already been thinking about it.
"Sometimes they need a reminder that there is more to the Army than what is here," Vanatta said. "Too many people get out after their initial obligation because of their job."
"I didn't know about all the career field designators outside the basic branches," said 2nd Lt. Micah Bushouse, officer in charge, Earth terminal complex (satellite communications), who attended the conference. "It was interesting to find out how each path led to a lot of experiences and opportunities."
Bushouse said each presenter opened doors of communication and information that let the attendees compare how to develop in each one.
"It got me off worrying about the next month and picking a career field," said 2nd Lt. Sarah Frederickson, platoon leader, 385th Signal Company. It lets you plan out further. People are not always happy with where they are, but the Army provides opportunities and outlets for people outside of their basic branch, she added. You want the people working for you to be happy, she said.
Despite the fact she has left Kuwait, Vanatta said she hopes someone will continue to develop this program and provide opportunities for junior officers to learn, grow and develop in the Army.
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2007 08:34 |
| Story ID: | 12130 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 466 |
| Downloads: | 115 |
This work, Former 228th Signal Company commander leaves lasting impression, by Jacob McDonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
