FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Getting everyone in an organization working together can be a challenge, but when those in the unit have the same level of skills, that task can become easier.
That was the thinking behind the 3rd Chemical Brigade's leadership certification course on May 30, said Capt. Jason Gramling, 3rd Chem. Bde. assistant operations officer.
"We wanted to have a way to get everyone on the same page, so to speak," Gramling said. "This certification course helps us make sure that everyone in leadership positions has the same basic level of knowledge in certain skills."
From learning how to conduct physical training to understanding when and how to conduct counseling, Soldiers moved from station to station to do a litmus test on their abilities.
"While (the leadership certification course) is designed to make sure personnel new to the brigade have the required working knowledge of these skills, everyone in the grades from sergeant to lieutenant colonel will be going through this process," Gramling said.
The certification process includes weapons qualification, the Army Physical Fitness Test, several Soldier common tasks in skill levels one and two, as well as qualification in level one combatives, Gramling said.
For the Soldiers going through the process, it was a good refresher.
"If you've been on the trail for a minute (being a drill sergeant), you start to make it your own and do things your way. This is a good refresher and check on yourself to make sure you're teaching Soldiers the right way," said Staff Sgt. Julian Spottedbear, Company A, 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment.
While most noncommissioned officers and officers in the training were meeting and exceeding the standards of the tasks, help was there for those having a little difficulty.
"We haven't had many, but there have been a couple that we have had to help get started in the right sequence," said Staff Sgt. George Harrell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 58th Transportation Battalion and a leadership certification course evaluator for the first aid station.
"No one has completely failed, but we have had some that needed to be given hints for the first step. Restore the breathing is one of the tasks being tested here, and it has to be done in the right order. It's one of those tasks that if you don't review it, or do it, you can easily get out of sequence on the steps. If that happens, we help the individual get started," Harrell said.
"If they are completely lost, we would train them on the correct procedures and then re-test them, but that hasn't been the case with anyone today," Harrell said.
Gramling said the brigade was planning to conduct the certification course for new personnel on a recurring basis.
"We plan to certify the new leaders on a quarterly basis," he said.
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