Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth | U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Lightning Academy, stand in...... read more read more
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WAHIAWA, Hawaii - The 25th Infantry Division officially activated the Lightning Academy at a ceremony at the East Range Training Complex, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Wednesday, May 1.
“The Lightning Academy is designed to provide unique, realistic and highly demanding training for U.S. Army Hawaii soldiers as well as sister services, state and federal agencies and our regional partners,” said Capt. Michael Makrucki, Lightning Academy executive officer. “The goal of the lightning academy is to develop highly-trained warriors, well-versed in small-unit tactics and able to conduct advanced operations throughout the unique landscape found in the Pacific region.”
This training the Lightning Academy will provide will enhance light infantry soldier and leader warrior skills, provide responsive, flexible small unit operational capability, as well as enhanced environmental training.
These training capabilities are designed to enhance leadership skills in every Pacific soldier.
“Quality training is truly the cornerstone of an effective leader,” said Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, 25th Infantry Division, commanding general. “Training is tough, relevant, standard and realistic because it creates confident, adaptable, resilient soldiers who can effectively operate in any environment or any scenario. The Lightning Academy will accomplish just that.”
As of now, the Lightning Academy offers six courses, including the Lightning Leaders Course, which involves basic combat leadership skills, familiarization with division standards and expectations of junior leaders.
A pre-Ranger course is also offered, which will assess, train, mentor and certify soldiers in preparation for the U.S. Army Ranger School.
Other schools included are the Adaptive Leaders Course, Tactical Weapons Course, Combative Course and an Air Assault Course, with more to follow in the future.
According to Makruck, this is a “primary institution for junior leader development,” with the capabilities to grow to “exportable training packages to our partners in an effort to make increased interoperability and build relationships that further the cause of security and stability.”
Company Commander of Lightning Academy Capt. Burton Eissler agrees.
“Lightning Academy is envisioned to be the training hub in the Pacific,” he said. “The six courses will be the baseline courses, There’s lofty goals of what the Lightning Academy will be, it’s all centered around being the training hub of the Pacific and starting to get back to the roots of the Pacific division and the jungle warfare and harnessing the expertise of our inner-agency partners. Everything that we’re doing out here is the jungle training venue so people get familiar with the type of environment they’ll see in the Pacific.”
This academy, designed to train joint military, state and federal agencies, and partnered Asia-Pacific nations small-unit leaders, it offers six different training opportunities, all dedicated to developing leaders and service members with critical thinking skills in the Pacific environment. The training these soldiers and leaders will receive will increase interoperability multi-laterally for our military and our Asia-Pacific partners.
While these six courses are just a baseline for future curriculum, the Lightning Academy will ensure the U.S. Army in the Pacific develops exportable training programs across the Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2013 23:03 |
| Story ID: | 106336 |
| Location: | WAHIAWA, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 1,262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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