Photo By Master Sgt. Daniel Griego | In this image, members of the Minuteman Brigade conduct a boat tour of the Port of...... read more read more
HOUSTON - For any organization, a unified vision is an invaluable factor in success. National Guard Col. Lee Schnell, the commander of Joint Task Force 136 (Maneuver Enhancement Brigade), understood this when he organized his outfit's first commander's workshop, a weeklong leadership event held in Houston.
The workshop, which took place July 28-31, provided the colonel an opportunity to speak directly with all of his battalion commanders, staff officers, and senior enlisted members in an open forum, enabling them to meet and connect with each other while also learning more about the brigade's Homeland Response Force mission.
"I thought it was a really good introduction to the unit, getting all the basic information about our capabilities and who does what," said Maj. Heather Flores, commander of the 6th CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package. "It was good to have this right at the beginning because it helped me get my bearings."
Flores, who recently assumed command of the brigade's premier consequence management element within the HRF mission, is one of many new leaders within the organization who benefited from the workshop.
"We've got new commanders and we've got new leaders," said Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Sublett, the brigade's sergeant major. "So to get those guys together, get them familiar with each other and understanding what each one of them do and how they have a vital part in the HRF mission is really important."
The HRF mission refers to the brigade's regionally-based support operations wherein they assist civil authorities during emergencies with specialized chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive capabilities. To reinforce the importance of interagency cooperation in fulfillment of this mission, the workshop attendees took a tour of the Houston Ship Channel, led by the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It's a pleasure to have the National Guard here," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Bernard Lodge. "This helps strengthen all of the partnerships that we have within the Port of Houston and within Texas. It allows us to make a cohesive unit so in the time of disaster, whether man-made or natural, we can respond. Everybody's on the same page."
The tour, led by Lodge, included history of the port, risks associated with its location, and discussions about response agencies that would assist should disaster strike.
"I think that doing the boat tour through the Houston Ship Channel showed the commanders exactly why we do what we do," said Sublett, "why it's so important for us to understand the mission of the HRF and how we play a vital role in that in support of the civil authorities."
In addition to advising and integrating his leaders, Schnell also capitalized on having everyone together in one place by hosting the Texas Military Forces' first virtual town hall via the brigade's Facebook page.
"One of the tenets of my command philosophy is communication," said Schnell, "and I think this [workshop] helps facilitate that, just like we did last night: Try to communicate to the entire brigade."
During the virtual town hall, members of the brigade, along with their family members and employers, were invited to ask questions of Schnell about everything from training schedules to the recent border mission activity.
"We had a dialogue with the Soldiers on Facebook, answered some very important questions," said Capt. Johnny Guerrero, the brigade future operations officer. "I think we laid the groundwork for success in the upcoming year."
Key themes of the week were establishing a unified brigade perspective and giving the attendees time to network with each other away from the office in a casual environment. Long term payoffs of excursions like this include better unit familiarity, stronger working relationships, and more informed troops better prepared to engage their mission.
"Anytime that, as leaders, you can come together in an informal way and have the opportunity to talk," said Schnell, "everybody will take away something a little bit different from it."
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2014 13:40 |
| Story ID: | 138734 |
| Location: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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