Lieutenant Academy Challenges Junior Officers

By Staff Sgt. Christina J. TurnipseedDecember 10, 2018

1-5 IN BN Bobcat lieutenants receive close quarters marksmanship training
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT Wainwright-- Bobcat battalion of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conducted a four-day Bobcat Lieutenant Academy Dec. 3-7 on Fort Wainwright.

The 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment Lieutenant Academy mission statement says their purpose is "to train our lieutenants on the fundamentals of America's Big 6 while sustaining key leader proficiency in preparation for the upcoming National Training Center rotation."

America's Big Six is a list of modernization efforts which include warrior tasks and battle drills, physical fitness, maintenance, marksmanship, medical training and mission command, according to an I Corps news article on army.mil.

The battalion also explains that part of the academy's mission is to "increase lethality, and improve the readiness of the unit" for their lieutenants.

As a result, the four days involved 11 events, including special physical training courses, effectively neutralizing the enemy threat, calling for fire, individual medical tasks and close quarters marksmanship.

"We're taking the time to orient the lieutenants to a different type of close quarters marksmanship training and to update the doctrine that's been put out in the last two years," said Capt. James Fiser officer-in-charge of the range. "We are giving them tools to train Soldiers they are with on a day-to-day basis, either out on the range or in Garrison inside the Company operations facility every day."

1st Lt. Aditya Sunaresan of 1-5 IN expressed his appreciation for the CQM training.

"It's a good chance for officers to get to do some shooting that we don't normally get to do," he said.

The training culminated with a 'Right Arm Night, an event designed to build relationships, build esprit de corps, and increase camaraderie across the battalion.

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