USAIS announces instructors of the year

By Tiffany Nabors, The BayonetNovember 25, 2009

USAIS announces instructors of the year
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USAIS announces instructors of the year
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USAIS announces instructors of the year
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U.S. Army Infantry School selected the Instructors of the Year. They are junior enlisted winner SSG William Henderson, senior enlisted winner SFC Bruce Bowlan and officer winner CPT Nathan Smith.

Smith was the third quarter winner and is a senior platoon trainer with the Infantry Officer Basic Course.

Senior civilian instructor Charlie Beard said nominees were judged on method of instruction, classroom appearance and implementation of safety policies, among other categories. The competition has been honoring outstanding instructors since 1964.

Of the 1,500 instructors on Fort Benning, an average of 30 are nominated each quarter.

"This is a very high honor," Beard said. "One sergeant out on the field will influence about 1,000 Soldiers. People will live or die from our instruction. That's an awesome responsibility."

Soldiers receive military instruction equivalent to that of civilian instruction, and credits can often be applied to civilian degrees.

Fourth-quarter winner Smith, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, said he is responsible for three of the 13 weeks of IBOLC instruction.

"The goal of this course is to make sure young lieutenants are competent enough to lead Soldiers in combat," said Smith, who deployed to Iraq in 2005. "When they leave here, they should be ready to lead from the front."

He said building rapport with his students and making lessons relate to real-world experiences was key.

"I know I'm capable and a good instructor, but I was pleasantly surprised," said the 2004 West Point graduate. "It's nice to be recognized for the job you've done."

Likewise, Bowlan, C Company, 5th Ranger Training Battalion at said he appreciated the distinction.

"It's an honor to be able to represent my company and the battalion in this award," he said. "Being able to stand out in a group of very well-rounded, professional instructors is a pretty good feeling."

After a 17-year career "on the line" with the Infantry and two Iraq deployments, Bowlan said going to Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, Ga., in 2008 to guide students through Ranger School's mountain phase was "like a whole other world." It marked the first time as an NCO he didn't have his own platoon in the field.

"Learning how to instruct properly was one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome," he said.

He not only bridged the gap but also distinguished himself with a unique teaching brand and passion for mentoring Ranger students, colleagues said.

"He grabs their attention," said SFC Corey Hawkins, a team sergeant with C Company. "Anybody who's in front of him will be drawn in by his technique. It's his energy; he gets into what he teaches."

Bowlan has two years left at Camp Merrill and said he'll maintain the same approach to connecting with his Ranger classes.

Second-quarter winner Henderson, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 197th Brigade, said he wasn't expecting the award but was honored by the distinction.

After joining the Army in 2001, he spent six and a half years with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he deployed twice. He arrived at Fort Benning in 2007 and will become a drill sergeant here in 2010.

Among other awards, he has received a Purple Heart, ARCOM with oak leaf cluster and a Combat Infantry Badge.

Henderson credits his success to the flexibility he has been allowed during his past two years as an engagement skills trainer instructor. EST is a simulated firing range used to teach marksmanship and rules of engagement.

"Traditionally, it takes months, even years, to modify training and doctrine so we are training current techniques to our young Soldiers," he said. "With the EST program, I have the ability to modify training on the spot to train those critical tasks."

TRADOC instructors of the year are typically announced in January.

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