DEXHEIM, Germany -- The cadre of the Junior Leadership Development Course are
the "go-to guys" when it comes to training U.S. Army, Europe's Soldiers and NCOs of
the Year for Army-level competition.
Last year the course's staff, from
1st Armored Division's 123rd
Main Support Battalion, helped
Spc. John Emmett of the 21st
Theater Support Command to
win the 2006 Army Soldier of the
Year title, and the 123's own Sgt.
Delroy Barnett came in second in
the Army NCO of the Year
contest.
USAREUR Command Sgt. Maj.
Iuniasolua T. Savusa was so
impressed by the JLDC training
they received he wanted this
year's candidates to also train at
the facility here, said Staff Sgt.
Albert Patton, NCO-in-charge of
the junior leadership course.
This year's USAREUR-level
winners -- Staff Sgt. Travis
Snook, an instructor at the 7th
Army NCO Academy
representing USAREUR separate
units and Cpl. Mihai Mocanu of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry representing V
Corps -- trained under the tutelage of the JLDC instructors Sept. 3-18.
"We supply the instructors; set up the training schedule and lanes -- everything," said
Patton. "These Soldiers will be well prepared." The Army-level competition, he said, is
scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 6 at Fort Lee, Va.
"The last two years USAREUR has won at (Department of the Army level). It's a
challenge for us to uphold the standard," said Snook. "At the Soldier of the Year and
NCO of the Year competition we're competing with the best of the best. That's an
honor."
Snook said training with Mocanu has been helpful. "I'm strong at boards; he's tough
physically. We push each other."
"He's really helped me in the boards. English is my second language," said the
Romanian-born Mocanu.
The Soldiers were coached by Patton, Sgt. Tim Johnson, Staff Sgt. Enola Semple, Sgt.
Eluid Cadero, Sgt. Sarah De Luna, Sgt. Joseph Jedenasty and Sgt. Joe Bradley. The team
provided the two candidates with instruction and mentoring on 40 warrior tasks and 11
battle drills over 11 days.
The training also included preparing Mocanu and Snook for the U.S. European Command
Soldier and NCO of the Year competition by conducting mock selection boards.
A JLDC board is different than any other board a Soldier will face, said Patton. "We have
nine people sitting on the board," he said, "and the Soldiers have to answer at least 180
questions delivered rapid-fire from all directions. Your mind has got to be on it. This
really prepares you. When you get to the (Department of the Army level) board, you
know everything.
"We train our own Soldiers in order to compete in the (Soldier of the Year) competitions
at division and USAREUR levels, and in doing so, we've become very competent at it."
As evidence of the team's success, Patton pointed to Barnett and another 123rd Soldier,
Sgt. Scott Hanshew, last year's 1st Armored Division Soldier of the Year.
"Hanshew went though the Junior Leadership (Development) Course," said Patton. "On
short notice he stepped in to take the place of an injured Soldier for the 1st AD-level
competition."
The main mission of the course and its instructors is to prepare Soldiers to become
leaders, said Patton, before they attend the Warrior Leadership Course.
"We're continually pounding the message in about how important Soldier skills are to
them. When they become leaders these are the same skills they will need to teach their
Soldiers."
Mocanu said the training has been educational. "I've learned a lot. For example, I've
never done an NBC report -- because I'm not a squad leader I'm not in a position to do
so," he said.
Since the school's opening in January 2006 about 170 Soldiers have undergone training
in basic Soldier skills. "We cover 31 areas of instruction," said Patton, including map
reading, land navigation, drill and ceremony, physical fitness and radio communications.
The course is not limited to 123rd Soldiers. "The Soldiers have also come from
Kitzingen, Baumholder, Wiesbaden and 141st Signal," said Patton.
The Junior Leadership Course was a vision of 123rd MSB Command Sgt. Maj. Charles
Penn, said Patton, who was selected by Penn to build and run the school. "We're the only
Junior Leadership Course in USAREUR, and I am extremely proud of it," he said.
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