FORT BRAGG, N.C. – It is often easy to become complacent. But what happens when one takes the initiative? When one makes strides to better themself, and go above and beyond what they ever thought possible? Maj. Kelly K. Spencer, of 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Wash., and Maj. Nicholas R. Koreerat, of Security Force Assistance Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., took that step, and have gone on to successfully complete the Iron Major Week.
“Having two Iron Majors from the SFAC enterprise demonstrates the opportunities our organization provides,” Koreerat stated. “We are able to make strategic implications to national security interests as field grade officers.”
Iron Major Week is a leadership course offered to Majors serving the Army Medical Department. It is for individuals “who have displayed outstanding leadership, the ability to mentor junior officers, and who consistently demonstrate the skills, attributes, and potential needed to shape the future growth and initiatives of Army medicine,” Spencer described.
“After all nominations were submitted, the AMEDD Corps Chiefs or a designated representative reviewed the packets and made the selections for Iron Major Week. In the end, around 70 AMEDD officers and Civilian Corps attendees were selected,” Spencer said in an interview.
Spencer and Koreerat were two of just 12 Majors across the entire Army selected to attend the course, alongside a prior member of the SFAB, Maj. Jessica A. Warneke, previously assigned to 4th SFAB, Fort Carson, Colo., who was also selected to attend the course. This is an amazing feat, and truly shows their hard work and dedication to their fellow soldiers and the Army as a whole.
The selection process for Iron Major Week is highly competitive, and requires those looking to attend to submit a nomination memorandum, narrative summary addressing the nominee’s duty performance, leadership qualities, mentorship ability, and potential as a future leader in the AMEDD, Commander’s Letter of Endorsement, Officer Record Brief (ORB), three most recent officer evaluation reports (OERs), curriculum, and officer evaluation reports release consent form.
While Iron Major Week is typically held in person, the course they attended was held solely online. This added various challenges that would not be present during an in-person course, and was presented an opportunity for Spencer and Koreerat to show their ability to adapt to and overcome a situation that is new to them.
“The main disadvantage was not being able to collaborate with more participants and create lasting connections with them,” Koreerat said.
While the online course presented certain disadvantages, there were also many advantages to holding the course in this manner.
“The main advantage of Iron Majors Week being online was the ability to hear from so many senior leaders,” said Koreerat. “I’ve never been able to hear and be inspired by so many key leaders in such a condensed amount of time. If this were done in person, it would have been more difficult to bring everyone together.”
Iron Major Week is meant to challenge individuals, and help them to reach their full potential as a leader. The course has a series of different individual and group activities, all centered around the idea of leadership. While the process to be selected is highly competitive, the course itself is not meant to be a competition. It aims to develop already great leaders even further.
“Iron Majors Week was an unmatched experience,” Spencer noted. “It was great to see the SFAB represented at Iron Majors Week. While we have a very small medical footprint as an organization, there were three SFAB and prior SFAB members selected for attendance.”
We congratulate both Maj. Spencer and Maj. Koreerat on this monumental achievement, and wish them the best of luck as they return to their respective units, and continue to provide outstanding leadership.
SFABs are highly trained and professional teams that deploy globally and build conventional capability for the joint force. Advisors are selected from over 60 MOSs and 36 AOCs. If you are interested in joining the SFAB, you can start by going to aim.hrc.army.mil and filling out the required documents. Once all requirements are completed, your packet will then be released to the SFAC recruiting team.
Contact SFAB recruiting today for more details:
910-570-9969
www.goarmy.com/sfab
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