More than 50 service members attended a different type of leadership course, providing them with essential tools to better care for themselves so they can better care for their troops, at the Community Center, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., March 23 -- 27, 2015.
The Soldier 360 Leader's Course is an intense five-day on-site course based on the adult learning model, involving learning through doing. The course is a comprehensive, multifaceted hands-on holistic research-based leadership course focused on enhancing strength and balance in leaders.
Drs. Glen Wurglitz and Mary Lopez started the Soldier 360 Leader's Course in March 2010 in Germany to address the difficulties Soldiers faced during post-deployment reintegration. It is based on the premise that healthy leaders are more effective leaders.
"Results from a Defense Centers of Excellence study showed that the Soldier 360 Course is a program that produces solid outcomes," Lopez said. "Statistical results provided by service members attending the course showed that it improved their relationships, their sleep, and overall quality of life."
The course leverages local programs and subject matter experts, providing an efficient and integrated delivery platform for community resources and developing and expanding the military leaders' knowledge of existing community programs and services.
"Up to five years later, our alumni are coming back and overwhelmingly saying they use it every day, both with their Soldiers, their spouses and themselves, and it makes a difference," Lopez said. "I don't know of any other program that shows long term results like that -- they use this stuff."
"One of the things I most appreciate about this course is the opportunity to look inside myself and identify my own deficiencies," said Staff Sgt. Shaun Amend, Joint Force Headquarters -- National Capital Region U.S. Army Military District of Washington Provost Marshal current operations non-commissioned officer, and course participant. "I hope everyone in this course goes back to their home stations and takes what they've learned here and project it out to their own Soldiers."
The course addresses two basic principles: to be an effective leader, you have to practice good self-care, and to help your Soldiers, you have to be aware of the resources available.
"Twenty years ago, I would never have thought I would see a class like this. Our services have not focused on making our service members mentally healthy, but we're getting better at it," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Peters from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., and course participant. "Classes like this make sense. If we can keep our folks healthy in the mind, then our military will be stronger."
"Since its inception, more than 1900 service members have learned experiences to ameliorate stress, Wurglitz said. The course teaches skills for leaders and skills for life. "By the end of the week they are able to sleep better, connect better with their families, and have more resources available to better take care of themselves."
The class included physical training classes, Japanese tabata workouts, and yoga as means to reach mental and physical healing.
"Just having a breathing session alone beyond the physical allows you to get good oxygen in the body and shuts off the bad chatter in your brain," Nikka Colorado, Soldier 360 Course yoga instructor, said. "It gives time to help stress go down, relieves all the tension and stress you're putting on your body, and allows you to focus on positive thoughts."
"Everyone has something, whether it's big or small, they're dealing with. It's comforting knowing you're not the only one," Colorado said. "It's rewarding to meet all these people and hear about the stuff they've gone through and what they've overcome, and to be a small piece of their recovery."
On graduation day, Lopez told the Starfish Story, a story of a man who encountered a young boy along the beach throwing starfish back onto the ocean so they wouldn't die. The man said, "Don't you realize there are miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make a difference!" The boy responded by bending down, picking up another starfish, and throwing it back into the surf. Smiling at the man, he said, "I made a difference for that one."
"You, too, can make a difference," Lopez said, "by using what you've learned this week to make a difference in the lives of your Soldiers."
For more information on the Soldier 360 Leader's course visit https://www.360-program.com/
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