Terrain walk provides leaders up-close view of FLW capabilities

By Mrs. Melissa Buckley (Leonard Wood)November 6, 2014

Terrain walk provides leaders up-close view of FLW capabilities
Staff Sgt. Gregory Berges, left, explains the controls and function of the hydraulic excavator simulators, as Staff. Sgt. Jason Wilder demonstrates it for senior leaders during the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence terrain walk Oct. 29. The terra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Some things you have to see with your own eyes to grasp the magnitude is the rational behind Fort Leonard Wood senior leaders getting a close-up look at training on the installation Oct. 29.

The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood terrain walk's objective was to provide those leaders and command teams with an understanding of the capabilities of other on-post organizations.

"Sometimes we get so fixed in our own events that we do not take the time to reach out or get out and see other things. We periodically execute the senior leaders terrain walks to give everyone a feel of just some of the things the other regiments and sister services have going on," said Command Sgt. Maj. Terrence Murphy, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence command sergeant major.

At the heavy earthmoving equipment training demonstration by the U.S. Army Engineer School and Marine Corps Detachment, participants were able to climb up in large equipment like excavators, dozers and graders. They even got the chance to learn how to drive a backhoe in the simulators.

A visit took place to the Logistics and Readiness Center, the U.S. Army Military Police School's Stem Village, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Radiological School's 1st Lt. Terry CBRN Responder Training Facility and the World War II Black Officers Club.

As a Seabee, Senior Chief Chip Fulbright, Navy Detachment senior enlisted leader, said he felt at home on Training Area 244 where the engineers were training.

Fulbright said he was impressed by the Military Police and CBRN training.

"It was interesting to see the MP's combative, weapon systems and prison system training," Fulbright said. "The (incident response) training was a good example of how to do disaster recoveries and how the Navy plays into the mission."

Lt. Col. Chris Wills, 701st Military Police Battalion commander, said the CBRN training also impressed him.

"I learned a lot today at the Lt. Terry Facility. I was astonished at the amount of planning that is actually required to do some of this stuff like rescuing individuals in confined spaces and responding to unknown chemical spills," Wills said.

Wills said the terrain walk is beneficial because in today's Army, Soldiers often have to work with other regiments and branches.

"This a great opportunity for us to really understand the capabilities of the other services and where we would fit in when we work with them," Wills said.

Fulbright agreed.

"It's important because we are all one big team here. We all need to know what each other does and how we can help each other out," Fulbright said.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood