Specialist leads woodshop on KAF

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ariel Solomon | Spc. David Beachey from Highland, Ind., who serves with the 1413th Engineer Company, Indiana National Guard, examines his handy work in the wood shop on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, July 26. He is the primary sign maker for the woodshop. The sigils in the picture he created for practice, the one on the right for the 1st Cavalry Division, and the one on the left is an engineer’s castle superimposed on a cavalry shield. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ariel J. Solomon)  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

08.01.2014

Story by Spc. Ariel Solomon 

ISAF Regional Command South

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan –The road to becoming a leader could be considered a long one. While some Soldiers march along, others charge up the road. Spc. Keith Harris of the 1413th Engineer Company has been earning leadership positions since he first went to basic training.

Here in Afghanistan he has been given charge of the woodshop operated by the 1413th Eng. Co., Indiana Army National Guard. He's in charge of several Soldiers in the woodshop, each with varying amounts of woodworking knowledge. It's his job to form this group into a team and ensure their tasks get done to the highest possible standard.

Harris credits his friend and mentor Darrell Harvey as the biggest factor in becoming the person and leader he is today, because Harvey never gave up on him even when he feels others would have. Harris explained that he wants to be the same kind of man as he grows older.

“Growing up, I wasn't the best kid. I was sent to military schools and boarding schools,” said Harris, of Cicero, Ind. “For some reason, he (Harvey) knew I was doing wrong, but he would just keep pushing me to be a better person. I'd keep saying I would change but never did. It wasn't until the last military school that I decided Darrell was right and that's why I joined the military, because I needed something in my life.

"It's like everything he ever said to me suddenly made sense. Ever since then we've been closer than we were when I was growing up,” said Harris.

The National Guard has given Harris a place to grow and build his leadership skills. He believes a good leader commands with respect, instead of simply commanding respect. 1st Sgt. Michael Dunn of the 1413th Eng. Co. has been one of his biggest influences in that regard.

“I feel we fall from the same tree,” said Harris. “I like the way he's able to lead; he doesn't have to yell and scream at people. People just follow him. He walks into a room and people just listen, and that's what I want to be."

Harris’ Soldiers describe his leadership style as adhering to the core value of selfless service. He puts the needs of his men above his own, taking extra time learning the various jobs and techniques used in the woodshop so that he can effectively train and provide knowledge to his Soldiers.

Spc. Bevante Carlisle, a carpenter in the 1413th Eng. Co., from Franklin, Ind., helps teach Harris some of the ropes.
"He’s pretty good at getting things done, but if he doesn't know something he'll come to me and instead of telling me to do it, he'll ask me to teach him.”

The journey to effective leadership is not without trial. To get there, Harris said he has some personal challenges to overcome. No leader can be stamped from a machine, but rather each needs to be hand-forged to work the weaknesses and impurities out of the material they're made from.

Harris said one of his biggest challenges is self-control and understands that a leader must keep a level head in the face of adversity. A big mentor for that has been 1st. Lt. Chad Harris of the 1413th.

“I call him ’Senior,’ he calls me ‘Junior.’ He's the one who is really teaching me self control. I believe in order to be a good leader you have got to be able to control yourself before you can control somebody else,” said Spc. Harris.

Learning self-control has been invaluable when having to take charge of people from different backgrounds and different personalities, he explained. It prevents him from becoming a catalyst in frustrating situations, ensuring his Soldiers keep cool under stress.

Another leadership trait Harris said he’s learning is to recognize when he and his Soldiers need to slow down. While having the desire to get a project done as fast as possible is an often sought-after quality, he said it sometimes can lead to sloppy work. He understands as he grows that sometimes you have to take a little more time to ensure the job gets done right.

“He's a pretty good leader and tries to do as much as he can for everyone,” said Spc. Robert Norman from Lake Station, Ind., who serves with the 1413th as one of Harris' crew. “As a specialist he's done a pretty good job.”

Harris’ team produces unit crests, support structures for equipment and other items for anyone in need of a carpenter. They've also been called upon to help dismantle some of the non-permanent structures on Kandahar Airfield.

Sometimes building things is more than a simple physical matter of constructing something structurally sound, but also a matter of duty, honor and service. A leader must show all the Army Values, and Harris is doing his best to be the leader his Soldiers need.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2014
• Date Posted: 08.01.2014 02:59
• Story ID: 137957
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF
• Hometown: CICERO, IN, US
• Hometown: FRANKLIN, ID, US
• Hometown: LAKE STATION, IN, US