EL PASO, Texas – 1st Armored Division battalion commanders and command sergeants major participated in the Iron Core Challenge on September 19 and 20. Col. Kevin Wainwright, the Fort Bliss senior command chaplain, and the division chaplain team led the event.
The challenge consisted of a staff ride to Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico, followed by training sessions at the Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park to build more cohesive teams and reinforce spiritual readiness.
The event started with a roughly five-mile hike up Mt. Cristo Rey to test the leadership's physical abilities and teamwork. Afterward, the team met in a conference room in the Plaza Hotel and engaged in sessions on the impact of battalion leadership, the importance of spiritual readiness, investments required to build a spiritually permissive formation, and the way forward for battalions in 1st AD.
Wainwright was adamant about the impact battalion leadership teams have on their Soldiers and empathized with the efforts it takes at that level.
“Even experienced leaders have complex issues to deal with; training meetings, ranges, and family life all affect us,” Wainwright proclaimed. “However, we all can make a difference because spiritual readiness is a good long-term project.”
He also stressed the effect that leaders have on their Soldiers and how Soldiers affect their leadership, not by simply being role models.
“Soldiers are watching and must be listened to. Commanders can help them get back on the right track when needed,” he stated.
Spiritual readiness consists of belonging, purpose, and azimuth checks in life, according to Wainwright.
“Having a calling, support system, and a cohort of friends will assist in this,” he said. “Soldiers must prepare for suffering because it’s an inevitable part of life. Unit cohesion, standards, missions, and sense of belonging matters most.”
Wainwright stated that despite declining self-proclaimed religious identity, Soldiers are still more spiritual than ever.
“Soldiers that think we should not respect faith in this organization should take their flag off their uniform,” he stated. “Unit ministry teams in formation ensure spiritual conversations occur in your formations.”
The Iron Core Challenge allowed battalion command teams to spend intentional time reflecting on how spiritual readiness impacts their unit readiness and leadership styles.
“Be the leader your unit needs you to be. Tell your personal spiritual leadership story to Soldiers because legacy directly impacts Soldiers,” said Wainwright.
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