Brigade leaders share experiences with local company

Photo By Maj. David Mattox | The command teams from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division took a tour of the Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy, Alaska, June 6. The leadership, to include the president of the coal mine, provided the 1-25th SBCT leaders with an in-depth look at not only the operations process of the mine but also a look into how the company runs from a leadership perspective.  

FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, UNITED STATES

08.20.2013

Story by Maj. David Mattox 

1st Brigade, 11th Airborne Division

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - The U.S. Army is renowned for its ability to create and develop leaders that go on to win the nation’s wars, despite adversity and sometimes limited resources.

The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, took the first of many steps to find ways of increasing the capabilities of its leadership and overcoming the challenges that come with increasing budget restraints in an arctic environment where safety and equipment maintenance are a concern.

The 1-25th initiated a community outreach program, which involves brigade leaders reaching out to the local community, and exchanging management techniques and lessons learned from operating here.

The battalion and brigade command teams of the 1-25th spent some time with the senior staff of the Usibelli Coal Mine, Aug. 8, in order to share how the brigade manages its personnel and equipment while building a stronger bond between the brigade and the community.

Usibelli Coal Mine hosted the Stryker brigade leadership June 6 at the mine in Healy to share how the company operates, to include employee management, equipment operations in sub arctic conditions, repair parts management and safety.

Usibelli Coal Mine, located in Healy, Alaska with an office in Fairbanks, has a work force of about 130 employees and produces more than two million tons of coal per year, shipping it across Alaska as well as several other Pacific Rim locations.

“We reached out to Usibelli Coal Mine because of the similarities between them and the Stryker brigade in logistical challenges and safety concerns with operating heavy equipment year-round here in the arctic,” said Lt. Col. Bill Gottmeier, 1-25 SBCT deputy commander.

With more than 4,200 soldiers and a Stryker vehicle fleet tasked with mastering combat operations in the arctic as well as the Pacific region, the Stryker Brigade is no stranger to managing logistics as well as personnel through the use of talented leaders and efficient systems.

Through the leadership development program Joe Usibelli Jr., president and CEO of Usibelli Coal Mine, recognized the importance of leaders within the Stryker brigade and the use of Mission Command to empower junior leaders.

“There are many similarities between the military and our mining operation in Interior Alaska but certainly the teamwork demonstrated throughout the entire chain of command was impressive. Empowerment of subordinate leaders was very obvious,” Usibelli said. “That trust in subordinate leaders contributes significantly to mission accomplishment.”

The leaders of the coal mine company were not the only ones to benefit from the exchange of ideas. The Stryker Brigade was also able to look at how the coal mine dealt with equipment issues in the cold temperatures of Alaska’s Interior.

The 1-25th’s Stryker vehicles must be maintained and ready to use during training or for deployments in defense of the nation despite the weather in Alaska. Usibelli and Gottmeier discussed this issue and viable solutions.

In order to mitigate the risk of the cold damaging critical vehicles needed for operations, the leaders at the coal mine ordered and installed a specialized auto-start device on the equipment, a feat not done before, according to Usibelli, but has proven effective in keeping his fleet running throughout the winter months.

The 1-25th SBCT and the team at Usibelli Coal Mine only spent the better part of one day at the coal mine and one day at Fort Wainwright, however, the ideas exchanged and the community link created in those two days may prove far more beneficial than what could have been accomplished otherwise.

“We have enjoyed the personal interaction with the leadership team of the Arctic Wolves and look forward to building on this relationship in the future,” Usibelli said.

The 1-25th leadership development and community outreach program is in its infancy yet but has already grabbed the attention of the U.S. Army Alaska commanding general. He, in turn, is encouraging other units in Alaska to start the same type of programs in the hopes of achieving similar gains within their local communities and within their leadership.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2013
• Date Posted: 08.20.2013 14:43
• Story ID: 112280
• Location: FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, US
• Hometown: FAIRBANKS, AK, US
• Hometown: FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK, US
• Hometown: HEALY, AK, US
• Hometown: NORTH POLE, AK, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US