At FORSCOM assessment, MacArthur still inspires junior leaders

By Lisa Ray, FORSCOM Public AffairsDecember 15, 2016

MacArthur Award competitors with CG, FORSCOM
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commanding general, U.S. Army Forces command (FORSCOM) poses for a photo with 30 captains and chief warrant officers participating in a competition, Dec. 11-15, at Fort Bragg, N.C., to select those whose names will go forward f... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2016 FORSCOM MacArthur Award Competition
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2016 FORSCOM Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award Competition
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Thomas E. Meyer, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., tackles an obstacle during the Soldier Readiness Test portion of the 2016 FORSCOM Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award Competition, Dec. 12, 2016 at For... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C.--For the first time ever, U.S. Army Forces Command Soldiers went head-to-head this week, competing for the opportunity to be a FORSCOM nominee for the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.

Thirty of the command's top Soldiers converged here and were challenged physically, mentally and emotionally in a series of events comprising the assessment.

General Robert B. Abrams congratulated the candidates on making it to this level and welcomed the candidates before their first event, the Soldier Readiness Test.

"Over the next three days we are going to throw at you physical activities and we're going to throw at you emotional intelligence activities. We are going to immerse you under stress," said Abrams. "We are going to put you in situations where you have to work as an individual and as a team, and we are going to evaluate you."

During the assessment, the Soldiers went through a Soldier Readiness Test, a Leader Reaction Course, an Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons proficiency, a timed written exam, wrote an essay on short notice and faced an evaluation board of senior officers.

"The intent of the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award is to recognize leadership contributions of junior officers during the selected calendar year," Maj. Gen. Jody J. Daniels, chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Army Forces Command and MacArthur Award board president said.

"The nomination considerations include leadership, influence, proficiency, values, team-building, and personal skills."

The participants, 24 captains and six chief warrant officers, who came from 15 installations across the command had no idea what was in store for them, but leave the assessment with a leadership development experience that challenged their readiness, training, teamwork, leadership and knowledge about fundamental Army training and doctrine.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Moses, who came from the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery, Fort Hood, Texas, said he was grateful for the experience and knows that, if selected as a Department of the Army winner, he will feel confident he earned the award because he has given his all during the assessment.

FORSCOM nominees will be announced in January and their award packages will go forward to compete at the Department of the Army level. Army winners will be announced in March and will be presented their awards at a Pentagon ceremony in May.

The General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award program was introduced in 1987 to recognize company-grade officers and junior warrant officers who demonstrate MacArthur's ideals of "duty, honor, country" and have a proven record of extraordinary performance, leadership and achievement. For more information about the award visit: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/macarthur/

Related Links:

General MacArthur Leadership Award - Website

Army Regulation 600-89, General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award Program

2016 FORSCOM MacArthur Competition Video