Photo By Spc. Jason Jordan | CAMP LIBERTY, IRAQ -- Infantry Branch Command Sgt. Maj. Lonny Wright met with top...... read more read more
Pfc. Jason Jordan
1/10th Mountain Division PAO
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq " In recent days, Soldiers and senior non-commissioned officers of 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team got to hear about upcoming plans for the Army and how that impacts the future of the NCO Corps.
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Command Sgt. Maj. John Sparks met with senior NCOs during a luncheon Nov. 15 at the DeFleury Dining Facility on Camp Liberty in Baghdad.
"He told us about the intent to move the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.," said Command Sgt. Maj. M. Todd Hibbs, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. "In addition, there will be more cooperation with commanders and top NCOs before moving to a new unit. This will be a good thing because the interaction and joint efforts will put everyone on the same sheet of music before taking their positions."
Another key point of discussion is the fact that all NCO programs will be taught using feedback from the field. As missions are conducted, what is taught in the programs will be constantly updated as new trends and analyses arise.
"This concept of constant change and updates will bring a whole new relevance to the training," Hibbs said. "The fact that is it is being driven by what is happening in the field will give leaders a new freedom to revise as needed."
Another engaging visit occurred Nov. 18 with the Infantry Branch Command Sgt. Maj. Lonny Wright, who spoke to 1/10th Mountain Div. Soldiers about training, career advancement, deployment and duty stations.
Top Army leaders have set a goal to provide each unit with more specialized and more experienced leaders to help train Soldiers, Wright said.
Drill sergeants will be more experienced and better trained to help Soldiers gain more knowledge.
Wright also said basic training Soldiers must be trained in a wide variety of skills, especially weapons training.
"We are enhancing the individual Soldiers" skills"ensuring they are better trained and more prepared for today's warfare," said Wright. "Each Soldier will go through a convoy live fire, and train on more weapons systems."
Two new additions to basic combat training include requiring Soldiers to carry their weapons at all times, and adding Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain sites to all basic training installations.
Many 1/10th leaders agreed with the modifications to basic training.
If a Soldier does not learn more skills until pre-deployment Theater-Specific Individual Readiness Training, then it is too late, said 1/10th Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Carlson.
The Army also wants to provide units with squad-designated marksmen who will train an additional two weeks at the unit's request before being assigned to that unit.
Bringing schools and training to the Soldier is another major goal. The Army wants to provide the Soldiers with mobile training facilities, bringing schools like Basic NCO Course and Advanced NCO Course to the Soldier, thereby requiring less travel for the Soldiers.
"We wanted to make the training better for all Soldiers," Wright said. "In the end, we decided to provide each brigade with their own BNCOC."
The mobile programs allow Soldiers to train during the day, but return home to their families at night.
Another idea is to put courses and curriculum on compact discs and distribute them to each unit.
"With so many new concerns, we do not want to create a large number of new programs that we will never complete," he said. "We would rather provide ways to bring the training that is already available down to you. Bring it closer."
The Army wants to ensure that leaders in the future have experience at both garrison and in combat.
"I will not allow anyone to stay at Fort Benning for more than 36 months," Wright said. "No one is going to hide out there, while the rest of you guys are down here doing the tough work."
The Army is also working on giving young leaders a break after they have served in leadership positions in combat situations.
"We must protect our young leaders and NCOs in the future," Carlson agreed.
Soldiers were more enlightened at the end of the discussion, and agreed with much of what Wright had to say.
"One of the things he touched on was basic training and improving individual Soldier skills," said Sgt. Justin Kerns of 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. "I know that when I went through basic, it was just that " basic. He talked about more experienced Soldiers coming down to provide training, and that is good to hear."
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2005 15:01 |
| Story ID: | 3888 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 56 |
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