Deployed junior enlisted Soldiers prepare for future

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Soldiers from Task Force 38 and 244th Aviation Regiment teach a class in front of their peers during Warrior Leadership Course preparation class at Joint Base Balad, Tuesday, April 6. During the preparation course, Soldiers learned how to be better leaders by improving their soldiering skills, ability to teach classes and counsel, and work together as teams.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

04.07.2010

Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Houx 

Task Force 38

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — During their Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, 14 National Guard and Reserve Soldiers took advantage of an opportunity to prepare for their future as leaders and non-commissioned officers.

Task Force 38, Task Force Double Eagle and 171st Aviation Regiment Soldiers attended a weekly Warrior Leadership Course preparation class at Joint Base Balad taught by Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Joan Kimbrough, Task Force Double Eagle human resources non-commissioned officer in charge.

Kimbrough said she began the preparation course, because she was processing promotions during the deployment here, and noticed many of those Soldiers who were receiving promotions have not yet attended WLC.

"This course is to develop and strengthen leadership skills and provide the keys to success," she said. "Soldiers gain the key aspects of 'be, know and do' as leaders and apply the training they learn from this course in a successful completion of WLC."

Soldiers met every Tuesday for six weeks to focus on and learn NCO responsibilities. Class topics included conducting Soldier counseling and reviews, leading physical training sessions, performing land navigation, and making decisions as leaders.

Kimbrough said the course was designed to maximize interactive training, role playing and team games to maintain individual interest and aid the learning process. She also rotated weekly leadership positions to familiarize all of the Soldiers in the class with management responsibilities.

"The assigned leadership duties each week provides the Soldiers the experience to lead," said Kimbrough, a Lanthrop, Calif., resident. "The assigned teams promote team cohesiveness. These factors are important for WLC and beyond."

A Task Force 38 medical administration non-commissioned officer, Indiana National Guard Sgt. Michael Seegel, said the class was a good use of his free time during the deployment and prepared him for his scheduled July WLC class.

"This has given me the ability to teach and learn from others," he said. "Even though you can pass WLC without the class, you can still learn a lot from other people in the class and learn how to be a better NCO."

Seegel, an Indianapolis resident, said he hoped the WLC prep course could help him improve his land navigation skills and improve his overall Soldiering ability so he could lead with confidence and effectiveness.

"There are two ways an NCO can lead," said Seegel. "They could do it with their rank or with respect; I want to lead with respect of Soldiers to do what needs to be done and complete the mission."

Indiana National Guard Staff Sgt. Carri Darland, Task Force 38 treatment non-commissioned officer, worked in the troop medical center with Seegel and immediately noticed the benefits of the class.

"Seegel is currently in a leadership position with minimal past experience," said Darland, of Lafayette, Ind. "The class has already given him more confidence in his abilities as a leader."

Darland said since the class covered the basic skills needed to be a strong leader, all Soldiers in positions of authority who have not attended WLC could use the knowledge and confidence gained in the class to be a stronger leader.

"I think anyone, no matter what rank, who is put in charge of other Soldiers could benefit from this class," said Darland.

Indiana National Guard Sgt. Matthew Houston, a Task Force 38 operations non-commissioned officer, said along with teaching how to be a confident leader, the WLC prep course provided a better understanding of senior leaders' expectations and their way of operations.

"This class teaches things you learn when you are going up through the ranks and helps you understand where senior leaders are coming from," he said.

Houston, of Logansport, Ind., also said attending the WLC prep course during the OIF deployment was key to him fully comprehending his duties as an NCO in Iraq, because he was scheduled to attend WLC after the deployment ended.

"You can work in a position, but not fully understand that position," said Houston. "Going to this class has helped me learn my role as a leader and to be a better NCO."

While Soldiers' attendance to the WLC preparation course here directly and immediately impacted themselves and their units, Kimbrough felt their attendance was a step toward positively influencing their military careers and the Army.

"Soldiers will develop a leadership style which is positive and benefits the Army," said Kimbrough. "These Soldiers are our leaders of the future."

• Date Taken: 04.07.2010
• Date Posted: 04.07.2010 04:36
• Story ID: 47786
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ