Wranglers Host Commander's Conference

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Paula Lodi, the commander of the Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), briefs company and detachment commanders on 15th Sust. Bde. standards during the battalion's commander's conference, Jan. 11, at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Michael Anderson, 15th Special Troops Battalion)  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

01.13.2010

Courtesy Story

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

By 1st Lt. Michael Anderson

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq - Leaders from the Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), participated in a three day commander's conference from, Jan. 11 to 13, at Contingency Operating Location Q-West in order to introduce leaders to the Wrangler standards and give leaders a chance to hear directly from the battalion commander and command sergeant major.

The conference consisted of 17 leaders representing 11 units and over 900 Soldiers spread throughout Iraq, said Lt. Col. Paula Lodi, the 15th STB battalion commander and a Franklin, Mass., native.

"My objectives for the conference were first get everyone together and second have the opportunity to personally work with the leadership to give my guidance and intent," Lodi said.

Leaders had the opportunity to hear from all the staff sections, legal, safety, and a variety of sources in order to increase their knowledge and more effectively help their units. Leaders were able to directly ask questions and solve any problems that their respective units had, said Lodi.

Among the many leaders that participated was Capt. Michael Thomas, commander of the 82nd Financial Management Company Detachment and a Montgomery, Ala., native.

"I learned that we really need to focus on our principles of leadership in order to take care of our Soldiers," Thomas said.

Sgt. 1st Class Larry Roberts, the detachment sergeant of the 82nd FMC and Hampton, Va., native said, "The Conference was extremely informative, we learned that we have to focus on NCOs enforcing the standard and bring a back to the basics mentality to our unit."

"The conference as a whole was overwhelmingly successful," said Lodi.

The conference's main objectives were achieved, feedback was received, and Command Sgt. Maj. Clarence Miller, the battalion senior non-commissioned officer, and Lodi were able to directly be involved with the leadership, she said.

The Special Troops Battalion plans on holding another commander's conference in March.

• Date Taken: 01.13.2010
• Date Posted: 01.19.2010 07:49
• Story ID: 44101
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ