Leaders from the 1st Medical Brigade spent three days at Fort Hood, Feb. 8-10, for a leader development seminar.
The seminar brought commanders, senior noncommissioned officers and sergeants major from three states and four installations across the 1st Med. Bde. to Fort Hood to discuss leadership and enhance team building.
"This is a once-a-year opportunity to bring them all together," Col. Tony Nesbitt, commander, 1st Med. Bde., said adding that the seminar helped give leaders in the brigade "a better feel for their part in the big picture."
From a morning of dodgeball to interactive sessions about the current and future state of Army medicine, the seminar offered participants the opportunity to learn about each other.
The three-day event was designed to give participants the opportunities to meet senior leaders and peers, but also provide mentorship and leader development for the NCOs and junior officers in the brigade, Nesbitt said.
"This helps shape captains and lieutenants and shows how we see things," he said. "Something like this gives a different perspective."
General officers and senior enlisted advisers addressed topics ranging from success and effective leadership to readiness, and offered mentorship in addressing questions and concerns.
Army Medical Command G-3/5/7 Brig. Gen. R. Scott Dingle led off the seminar with remarks about the key to success.
Dingle discussed the need to instill basic leadership tenets and the importance of effective leadership.
"You are the leaders who make the difference," Dingle said, adding that they must maintain the right attitude. "It's still up to each of us how we respond and lead."
Stressors and requirements inherent to not only the Army but also the medical field will not change, the general said.
"We have to engage," Dingle added. "You could make the difference."
Many of the speakers addressed readiness, the priority for top Army leaders and III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland.
III Corps and Fort Hood Deputy Command General British army Maj. Gen. Doug Chalmers (U.K.) addressed readiness and the role of the medical brigade in the Corps on the seminar's final day.
Readiness is a multi-faceted mission for medical professionals, Nesbitt said.
Medical officers and troops have to have a balance when it comes to readiness. They must maintain proficiency not only as medical professionals in their particular fields, but also as Soldiers.
"There is always a balance," Nesbitt said. "We are not given leeway to not be proficient in either."
He said the seminar promoted good discussion and teamwork, and helped put the leaders on the same page.
"We are making sure we are all on the same glide path in approaching problems," Nesbitt said.
III Corps Surgeon Col. Jim Geracci, who spoke during the seminar's first day, said it is important for medical teams to continue these collaborative efforts to enhance readiness and build strong leaders.
"Events such as this and the recent III Corps Operational Medicine Symposium are critical to the continued professional development of our medical leaders, both officers and NCOs, of all ranks," he said.
"I commend to 1st Med. Brigade team for making the effort to pull this event together in support of the commanding general's top priority of readiness."
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