Leading Soldiers can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, responsibilities in the Army.
Two of the most difficult leadership positions in the Army are the first sergeant and the company commander. The USAG Vicenza hosted a Company Commander/First Sergeant's Course May 11-15 to enhance the leadership skills of 19 company commanders and first sergeants and prepare them for these positions.
The course was conducted by a mobile training team from the 7th Joint Multinational Training Command Combined Arms Training Center in Vilseck, Germany. Command Training Branch Chief Capt. Brian Forshee said bringing the course to Caserma Ederle provided some additional benefits.
"This is only the second time we've brought a mobile training team from Germany to conduct this course," Forshee said. "Having the course in Vicenza not only introduced the new and prospective company leaders to potential challenges of command, it lets them interact with the folks they will actually work with as commanders and first sergeants.
Throughout the week-long course, the 19 leaders learned how to best employ the Army programs and benefits designed to help Soldiers. Leaders from various Vicenza Military Community organizations shared their personal experiences and lessons learned in dealing with the gamut of issues they face in providing assistance to Soldiers, to include financial, legal, administrative, medical and various other potential issues. Additionally, the course provided helpful information on how to build a strong command team and provided a platform for the students to meet and network with their peers.
"I got a chance to listen to lots of lessons learned as well as mistakes that were made and we gain that knowledge to take back to our own units," said 1st Sgt. Daniel Hefflin Chosen Company, 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. "Also, those things I don't know, it also gave me local points of contact to reach out to."
"It gave us the opportunity to work with not only our peers, but those who have already been in the position," said Capt. Daniel Ott, commander of MOD Company 1st Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. "It also provides us administrative and soldier readiness opportunities that allow us to better facilitate leadership of our companies. It's good to do this before you take command. It really is beneficial."
Social Sharing