Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Timothy Watson, the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment,...... read more read more
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By Capt. Brett Walker
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Regiment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – During the past 200 years, the 4th Infantry Regiment has demonstrated a unique propensity for creating exceptional leaders. Throughout its storied history, four United States Presidents - Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant and William Henry Harrison - once served in the ranks of the 4th Inf. Regt. before being appointed commander-in-chief.
Upholding a history of tradition, the "Warriors" of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Inf. Regt., proudly bestowed the title of company commander upon two officers raised within its own ranks during a promotion ceremony Aug. 29, 2008 at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq.
"Capt. Ryan Edwards and Capt. Emiliano Tellado are great leaders," said Lt. Col. Timothy Watson, commander of the 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., currently attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in support of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Ryan Edwards, of Neoga, Ill., reported to the 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., as a second lieutenant, where he served as a platoon leader in 2005. As a first lieutenant and early in his grade of captain, he served as a company-grade executive officer.
More than a year into his rank, Edwards assumed command of Company B, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt.
Edwards said that he is excited for this opportunity to take command and he feels that his familiarity with the people and the leadership of the battalion will prove to be helpful during his command.
"Given that artillery batteries, engineer companies and tank companies are currently executing the same missions across MND-B, any combat arms officer could command any of these types of formations," explained Watson.
Edwards, an infantry officer, began his military career with the 75th Ranger Regiment in 1996. After four years with the Rangers and the successful completion of Ranger School, he accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy School, where he earned a Bachelor of Science. After completing a series of tactical leadership courses at Fort Benning, Ga., he reported to the Warrior Bn. at Fort Polk, La.
Capt. Emiliano Tellado, of Orlando, Fla., reported to 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt. as a first lieutenant assigned as company fire support officer in 2006. A field artillery officer, he was specifically selected to command Co. A, a light infantry company in the Warrior Bn.
"Artillery units are serving as battle space owners charged with the same responsibilities as an infantry battalion," Tellado agreed.
Tellado was a prominent member of the Corps of Cadets during his four years at Norwich University. Upon graduating in 2003, he commissioned into the field artillery branch, attended several leadership training courses, including Ranger School and then reported to 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Polk, La.
Originally assigned to 5th Bn., 25th Field Artillery Regt., Tellado was later transferred to 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt.
Up until this point, Tellado has been adeptly serving as the battalion fire support officer and said that he feels that his experience in battalion staff will prove to be an advantage during his time in company command.
"Sometimes the companies are not aware of the linkage between themselves and various battalion assets as well as all of the (other government) agencies that are working to support them," Tellado explained. "Having served on battalion staff, I am aware of these different agencies and feel that I have the connections necessary to introduce them to the company leadership."
Watson agreed that the unique opportunity to take command in the same battalion in which you served as a lieutenant has some great benefits.
"Capt. Edwards and Capt. Tellado have a strong advantage in taking command in a battalion in which they have served for an extended period," stated Watson. "They are separated from the lieutenants now serving in the battalion by their combat experience in Afghanistan."
Both Edwards and Tellado served the Warrior Battalion with distinction during the battalion's previous deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Edwards led his platoon through a battle resulting in the first time use of artillery howitzers as direct fire weapons since Vietnam and was later commemorated in the battalion's official Battalion Print.
Tellado participated in the first successful clearing of the Chora Valley, a historic insurgent hold-out, which had managed to repel British forces in the early 1900s, the Russian forces in the 1970s and previous American attempts in the early 2000s.
The two commanders are not the first members of 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., to progress from platoon-level leadership to company-level leadership.
Another example of homegrown leadership is 1st Sgt. Lawrence King, who developed and thrived within the ranks of the Warriors Bn., 4th Inf. Regt.
King, of Great Falls, Va., served as a platoon sergeant and then an operations noncommissioned officer in the Warriors Bn. for almost three years before being assigned as the first sergeant for "Blackhawk" Co.
Having spent approximately one year as the senior NCO for Co. B, and having demonstrated proficiency therein, King was sent to the battalion's headquarters company. He noted that progressing to the rank of first sergeant in the same battalion in which he had previously served as a platoon sergeant did have advantages.
"I knew the people I was working with, their capabilities, personalities, likes and dislikes," he said. "It was easier moving in as a new first sergeant because I was already familiar with the systems in place."
King also offered advice to Edwards and Tellado regarding a few potential pitfalls they might encounter during their new commands.
"The downside is that the Soldiers ... do not receive fresh perspective on leadership," he explained.
King also elaborated on the complexities inherent in assuming a leadership role over people who were previously your peers.
As the battalion presses into its tenth month of deployment in Baghdad's Rashid District, the 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., continues to carry future leaders of the Army and the country behind its guidons.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2008 06:37 |
| Story ID: | 23355 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 339 |
| Downloads: | 85 |
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