FORT POLK, La. -- Class 81's arrival to "Tigerland" Aug. 22 marked a new page in the unit's and Army's history.
The graduation of Class 81 is the capstone event for their impending deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the re-introduction of combat advisor training at Fort Polk. Tigerland once trained for similar missions during the Vietnam Conflict.
Since the first days of the new brigade, 1st Battalion, 353rd Infantry Regiment, 162nd Infantry Brigade, refined and polished the curriculum presented to the combat advisors of Class 81.
After teaching all spectrums of specialty-based training, the small group instructors of Tiger Brigade taught kinetic and non-kinetic warfighting skills.
The skills, coupled with diplomacy and tact, will form positive impressions while training host nation security forces in the Afghan theater of operation.
The last 60 days have been a learning experience for both students and instructors because it was the first chance to work with sister services. Each brought new ways of thinking and different real world experiences, including a concept called "form, storm and norm." This concept articulates the essence of team building in that when a team meets, it forms.
As the team starts to train and work long hours, there is some storm involved. Finally, once the team begins to gel and work together with a common goal, operations become normal or second nature, according to Maj. Jeremy Moore, battalion executive officer for 1-353rd Infantry Regiment.
"Through hard work and dedication, teams have formed and normalized. The ideas shared will carry forward the strategic goal of security force development," he said.
The men of 1st Battalion and future classes taught here in "Tigerland" will feel the impact of Class 81. As Soldiers progress in their military careers, they will learn to adapt to different situations after spending the last 60 days with Class 81, and the 1st Battalion "Warriors" of Tigerland" will continue to provide a world-class training experience for deploying armed forces.
Graduations this week culminate the combat advisor training for Class 81.
The three graduations include a National Guard team who graduated and deployed to Iraq in September, and the Air Force and Navy classes that graduated this week in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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