CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Soldiers from Multinational Battle Group-East and Area Support Team Balkans took the next step in their Army careers by graduating from the Warrior Leaders Course at a ceremony held at Camp Bondsteel Nov. 25.
WLC is the first leadership course soldiers attend as a part of their professional development as noncommissioned officers. It is designed to teach the basic skills a junior soldier needs to lead a small group of soldiers.
For U.S. Army Cpl. Hee Beom Kim, a Joint Regional Detachment-East soldier originally from Saipan, the course was an opportunity to develop his leadership skills.
"One thing I was most afraid of is that I didn't know enough; a lot of the leadership abilities that I didn't have experience in," said Kim. "But going through this [WLC] I definitely feel much more comfortable getting my [E-5]."
Cadre from the 7th Army NCO Academy traveled from Grafenwoehr, Germany to Kosovo to run the 17-day course.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andre Hesse, one of the 7th Army NCOA instructors and a Houston native, said bringing WLC to Kosovo not only saved the Army money, it also provided MNBG-E soldiers the chance to continue their professional development while in a deployed environment.
"Soldiers here from different units that haven't had the opportunity to go to WLC, since they are stationed here on a deployment, it gives them a chance to knock out WLC instead of having to wait until they get back to their units," said Hesse.
The students were broken into different groups throughout the course, each with a mixture of active duty and National Guard soldiers and a variety of military occupational specialties. Despite their different backgrounds, the soldiers were able to come together as a team to successfully complete their mission.
"We have come together really well," said Kim. "There's no egos. We haven't had any arguments. Everybody is ready to learn so it's been a very positive atmosphere."
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joel Celona, a cadre member with the 7th NCOA, from East Boston, Mass., said this WLC class worked together as well as any other class he has seen.
"I've had classes that were really good and worked well, but I don't know what it is with this class, but everything they do has been with teamwork," said Celona. "Very close knit team. I know they are from different units, but very close knit team."
U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Brian Hester, the 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment Command Sergeant Major and a Mount Sterling, Ill. native, was the guest speaker for the WLC graduation ceremony.
While speaking to the graduates, Hester referenced the Army's Leadership Model and the three ways of developing leaders: training, education and experience.
"WLC has given you the tools you need to lead at the team and squad level, now all you need is experience," said Hester. "This is the most difficult and time consuming part of the Army Leadership Model; there are no substitutes for this part."
Hester also challenged the graduates to continue to test themselves and foster their development.
"Seek every opportunity to learn and develop," said Hester. "Solve complex problems rather than shy away from adversity. Be adaptable and innovative and you will succeed."
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