Photo By Spc. John Irish | Sgt. Lionel Flores with the 597th Quartermaster Company, based in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Sgt. Lionel Flores, a Las Piedras, Puerto Rico native and a shower/laundry and clothing repair specialist with the 597th Quartermaster Company from Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico is a leader who gives to his Soldiers as much as the Army Reserve has given him, and more.
Flores has been an Army Reserve Soldier for eight years, but he recently had his first experience as a noncommissioned officer in charge. In September 2017 his unit was activated to support humanitarian operations in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Flores and his unit set up their operation at a San Juan convention center intended to be a shelter for families fleeing from Irma. Little did he know when he arrived, nature had another natural disaster in store for Puerto Rico. That disaster was Hurricane Maria and she was about to release another wave of destruction on the island.
“It was scary,” Flores said. “The way they brought it down to us was ‘Guess what guys, it’s no longer a support mission, you have been deployed.’”
Flores had a new home at that point: the convention center. The news came as an unexpected shock for Flores. He immediately became aware of the danger his family was in and the increased importance of his mission. Flores’ concern for his family and Soldiers was shared by his leadership, remarking that two days following his commander and first sergeant received information from the higher command that the Soldiers in the 597th QM CO make contact with their families somehow was a priority.
“They were very diligent on that part, which was great,” Flores said. “It was peace of mind, we could work.”
Flores said the concern his leadership showed about the Soldiers’ lives and their loved ones does have an impact on his performance and motivation as a Soldier.
Flores remembered a bleak scene when he had the opportunity to leave the convention center to see his family.
“You could see the destruction and the path,” Flores said. “Where there were trees, everything was brown, no light poles, all the highways had only one lane clear.”
He described it as breathtaking, going to sleep one day and waking up the next to see everything outside gone or turned from green to brown.
Flores finally had his worries set at ease. His family had weathered the storm and everyone was as comfortable and safe as they could be. Some of Flores’ Soldiers weren’t so lucky. Some of them had lost their entire homes and everything they owned. It took some time before several of his Soldiers were able to see their families even once, since they lived relatively far from the convention center and the road hadn’t been cleared yet.
“I kept those concerns present in my chain of command.” Flores said.
He made sure his leadership didn’t forget about the soldiers who lived more than an hour away. Eventually those Soldiers were able to get a Humvee out to where they lived, to see their families.
“Once I had peace of mind, I’m good,” Flores said. “Now I want to make sure my Soldiers are good.”
Flores’ leadership skills shone brightly during the recent natural disasters, but they have been developing during his entire career in the Army Reserve. He exhibits the compassion, empathy, ability to teach and expertise that have been modeled for him by mentors in the past.
Before becoming a leader, Flores was originally assigned to the shower section, but now he is the senior operator of the Army Laundry Advanced System. Flores is the subject matter expert within his unit when it comes to the LADS system. He teaches the junior enlisted how to use the LADS and the tips and tricks to operating the system.
“Whenever something goes wrong with it, which is daily, I’m the guy they call and we work it out” said Flores.
Flores thinks it’s great the other Soldiers come to him for help and advice. He compares the satisfaction to how teachers feel. In Flores’ opinion it’s a good feeling seeing the Soldiers apply the things he’s taught them, but it’s an even better feeling when they teach him something. He sees it as the Soldiers not only learning what they are taught but becoming invested in their work. He acknowledges his Soldiers all learn at different speeds and they each have their own solution to the obstacles they encounter working on the LADS.
“That’s basically how I teach them,” said Flores. “How it works, and not just how to make it run.”
Normally, starting the machine is a simple process. However, when it comes to troubleshooting, how to clean the filters and where to hook the water up, it takes more than just someone who knows how to turn it on; it takes an operator.
“That’s where we come in.” Flores said.
Flores first started learning how to operate the LADS when he was a Pfc. He said his name has since become synonymous with the machines. When he first started learning the system there was one operator even though everyone was qualified as a shower/laundry and clothing repair specialist. According to Flores, once the single operator left the unit they were at a loss on what to do. It was up to Flores and a few other Soldiers to pick up the slack since they were the most familiar with the system. Flores says now they have approximately 16 operators. According to Flores, most of his Soldiers try to figure out a problem they are facing on their own before they will take Flores’ advice or help.
“It’s definitely a fulfilling proud moment to see these junior enlisted just take charge by themselves.” Flores said.
Following in the steps of his former instructor, Flores is imparting the wisdom he received as well as his own onto new Soldiers in the unit. When picking his team Flores has encountered Soldiers who were considered bad apples or black sheep. He hasn’t let that deter him from cultivating them into better Soldiers.
“Give them to me,” said Flores. “They’ll work with me.”
Bringing out the strength in those Soldiers makes Flores feel like he’s doing something right. He sees it as a reason not to second guess himself because he may have a talent for developing Soldiers. Flores said it fills him with pride to see Soldiers, who may have been written off by other leaders, succeed at their job. Flores said if a leader considers how the Soldiers are asked and told what to do regarding their duties they can achieve positive results. He credits his positive results to patience. Flores’ dedication to his Soldiers has bred a level of unquestioning loyalty.
“When those guys get here, I can tell them, move this whole site… across the street,” Flores said. “They’d be like ‘alright Sgt. Flores, let’s do it.’”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2018 20:22 |
| Story ID: | 285028 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | LAS PIEDRAS, PR |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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