Fort Carson Soldiers provide training to future Army officers

By Sgt. Elizabeth Cole, public affairs specialist, 372nd Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentJune 12, 2015

Fort Carson Soldiers provide training to future Army officers
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. James Palmer and Spc. Matthew Barnard, both mortarmen from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2/12th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, are on belay at the confidence course event during Cadet Summer Training. 4th Infant... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers provide training to future Army officers
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Keith Williams, dining facility manager and cook for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, checks the internal temperature on a roast to make sure it is ready to serve t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Knox, Ky. (June 5, 2015) -- The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Carson, Colorado, has deployed five times in the past 12 years, so it usually focuses on combat operations.

However, this summer, more than one-third of its forces have the mission to help train nearly 9,000 future Army officers.

U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Summer Training, or CST, gives future Army officers the individual and unit leadership skills necessary to lead Soldiers. Instruction from seasoned Soldiers, who have been on combat deployments, like those in 2nd Brigade, is critical.

Lt. Col. Paul Staeheli, commander of 2nd Brigade's 2/12 Infantry and CST's Task Force Lethal, knows how impactful instructors can be because he still remembers lessons from his platoon mentors during cadet training.

"It is very important that we have NCOs [noncommissioned officers] and officers, who have that combat experience so they can provide context for the cadets," Staeheli said.

"The piece I'm most proud of is not so much what we're training, but who is doing the training," Staeheli said. "There are PFCs [privates first class], specialists and corporals, who are teaching some very complex topics."

Staeheli explained his Soldiers are training the cadets on advanced concepts in marksmanship, physical fitness and nutrition.

It can be intimidating for these Soldiers to get up in front of a large group of cadets but to have the confidence and poise to give a class on complicated subject matter is impressive, he said.

In addition to helping train cadets, 2nd Brigade Soldiers will also be responsible for operating the post's only Army-run dining facility and for feeding nearly 14,000 cadets and cadre for the duration of the CST operation.

Staff Sgt. Keith Williams, cook for Headquarters Headquarters Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion and the dining facility manager for the CST, said he expects to serve up to 2,200 meals per day and has Soldiers working in rotating shifts 24 hours a day to prepare.

Williams explained he loves the fact that the Soldiers come to his dining facility to get full, motivated and reenergized to go back out for training.

"There's no better feeling in the world than to be able to provide these Soldiers the best quality meals," Williams said.

The 2nd Brigade Soldiers are providing a clear benefit to CST, but they are also learning and gaining invaluable training from this experience.

"We have a great opportunity, training wise, to come out of this exercise at a much higher level than we went in," Staeheli said. "It all ties back into our combat mission, so it's all training for my Soldiers as well."

Related Links:

Additional news about Cadet Summer Training

Army.mil: North America News

More stories on Army ROTC

Cadet Command on Facebook