1-22 Inf. Regt., 'Regulars,' mentor next generation of leaders

By 1st Lt. Oliver NakadFebruary 2, 2012

Drill.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Specialist Keith Snavely, infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts a battle drill during the "Regulars" Battalion Team Leader Course at Fort Carson Tr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Planning and preparation.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, "Regulars," 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct a sand-table field briefing as part of the "Regulars" Battalion Team Leader Course at Fort Carson Training Are... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, CO--Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, "Regulars," 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, attended team leader training, Jan. 9-12, at the battalion company operations facility and Fort Carson Training Area 5.

More than 100 noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers learned how to set the standard for a multitude of tasks, including maintenance supervision, leading physical training, inspecting vehicles, counseling Soldiers, and leading squads in small unit tactics.

"The least experienced Soldiers in the Army are the leaders that are dealing with the majority of the Army's problems," said Sgt. Maj. Michael Moser, operations sergeant major, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. "We needed to educate team leaders on how to handle these situations by giving them a baseline."

Three years ago, the Soldiers of 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., returned to Fort Hood, Texas, having recently completed a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Shortly thereafter, the battalion began operations to join the 4th Inf. Div. in relocating to Fort Carson, Colo.

Less than one year later, 1st Brigade Combat Team received deployment orders for Afghanistan, leaving the Mountain Post to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

During this time, the focus for the Regulars Soldiers remained training to become technically and tactically prepared for the rigors of a 12-month combat deployment. Young, inexperienced Soldiers had to rise to the challenges of training and deployment, and begin to fill new positions of leadership.

After returning to the Mountain Post last year, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. took the opportunity to get back to the basics.

"There was a lot of good information; the Army is continuously changing so the training was very useful," said Sgt. Jessie Wallace, an infantry team leader, assigned to Company A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.

Soldiers like Spc. Noe Arvizu, an M2 Bradley gunner from San Diego, and Sgt. David Allen, an infantry squad leader from Cynthiana, Ky., both assigned to Company A, said they liked the training because it demonstrated the proper procedures for completing different responsibilities of a team leader, and because it was tailored for Soldiers from a combined arms battalion.

"It was more in-depth than Warrior Leader Course," said Sgt. Joshua Gebhart, an infantry squad leader, Company A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. "It was a good opportunity to network with other Soldiers in other companies. That'll make it easier to work together when we go to future field training exercises."

Moser said the battalion plans to conduct more team leader training, which will focus on smaller groups and delve more into tactical aspects of small unit leadership.

After completing the training, Regulars team leaders returned to their respective companies to lead their Soldiers as the battalion ramps up training once again.