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Developing Leaders: 2SBCT Prepares Young Officers for Leadership Roles

By Sgt. Gabrielle WeaverSeptember 1, 2020

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division roll a tire up a hill during the first week of Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division roll a tire up a hill during the first week of Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Chelsea Durante) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. Timothy Palmer (center), commander of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, briefs lieutenants with his battalion upon completion of the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Timothy Palmer (center), commander of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, briefs lieutenants with his battalion upon completion of the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Chelsea Durante) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver) VIEW ORIGINAL
A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division participates in the academy week of the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program,...
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division participates in the academy week of the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Chelsea Durante) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division ruck march during the first week of Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first...
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division ruck march during the first week of Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Chelsea Durante) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver) VIEW ORIGINAL
A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, qualifies on their assigned weapon during the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, qualifies on their assigned weapon during the Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Chelsea Durante) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colorado – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in the battalion’s two week Platoon Leader Assessment Selection Program Aug. 17-28 at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The program, first held July 2019 and unique to the battalion, assesses and prepares second lieutenants in the battalion to be assigned to positions that will challenge them and set them up for success during their time in the battalion and the U.S. Army.

“The purpose of the program is to take a deliberate approach to our development of young officers coming into the battalion,” said Capt. Nathan Ellert, communications officer in charge with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., 2SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We assess them for their potential qualities as well as their potential to take over leadership responsibilities in the battalion.”

The first week of the program challenged the young officers physically and mentally. The lieutenants began by taking the new Army Combat Fitness Test, followed by M4 qualification, a six mile ruck march and other challenging events.

“The first week is an assessment program where we assess them both mentally and physically,” said Ellert. “They later get to assess each other through their peers.”

Following their assessment during the first week, the young leaders enter the program’s academy where they are trained to be leaders within their formations.

“We give them development and tools they are going to need throughout the time that they are officers in the battalion,” said Ellert.

The battalion plans to continue their unique program and training their newly commissioned officers to learn and succeed as the U.S. Army’s newest leaders.

“We have learned quite a bit in every single class,” said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Taylor, operations assistant officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., 2SBCT, 4th Inf. Div. “It gives everyone a fair shot at performing at their best.”