FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 9, 2015) -- In an effort to facilitate more realistic and interactive training environments, the Henry Caro Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Armor Basic Officer Leader Course have partnered to provide students from each respective course the opportunity to experience real command team relationships in an active field exercise environment for the first time, said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Ames, commandant of the Henry Caro NCOA.
The partnership between the two schools allows recent ABOLC graduates and current NCOA students attending the Armor Advanced Leader Course the opportunity to participate in field training exercises where lieutenants practice creating and delivering operational orders, and NCOs practice executing the orders given.
"The partnership ... is extremely important because it is necessary to build on these relationships in a judgment-free, school-type environment where the students aren't afraid to make mistakes, ask questions, and accept feedback," said Ames.
Capt. Christopher Lorete, D Troop commander of 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, for ABOLC, said the FTX is often the first encounter an ABOLC lieutenant has with an NCO who isn't part of their cadre.
'This kind of training helps get lieutenants comfortable with working around NCOs," Lorete said. "It also provides additional repetitions going through the orders process, and communicating plans to Soldiers who will be executing future missions."
For the ABOLC graduates, Lorete said taking them out of a strict classroom environment and putting them into a scenario where they have to apply and put into action everything they have learned has given them insight into what to expect with their future positions. It also gives them the chance to interact with other Soldiers who they could be working with again in the future.
"It's a whole new perspective for them to continue to build on skills that they will need when they get to their units, and make contacts with NCOs who might be in those units," he said.
For the NCOA students, Ames said the training allows them a better understanding of their role in the mission command as a philosophy, and they get the opportunity to discover how to work with and bond to their officer counterparts.
"It is critical to establish the basis of the officer and NCO relationship at the platoon level, and show the students that it is one built on trust," he said. The most critical initial steps in any partnership is to identify the expectations on both sides.
Both Ames and Lorete said their respective schools have more plans to work with each other in a variety of different ways, to include joint physical training sessions, luncheons and end of cycle socials.
"It is a tremendous opportunity to initiate a positive connection between the platoon level leadership," Ames said "And we will take advantage of every opportunity in order to develop smart, fast, lethal, and precise leaders."
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