2nd Brigade Combat Team prepares future leaders

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Matthew | A paratrooper assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, exits a C-23 Sherpa over the Luzon drop zone, March 9. The airborne operation was a final team-building event during the Brigade's Team Leader Course, March 6-9, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The course taught junior leaders in the 2BCT the necessary skills to lead paratroopers.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

03.12.2012

Story by Sgt. Ryan Matthew 

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — 1st Sgt. Eric Quellhorst, first sergeant for C Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, was dressed in an authentic World War II Infantry Uniform when he gave his class on unit history during the 2BCT Team Leader Course. He wore the uniform to help show how the Army has changed over the years, and as a visual display of what Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper, from C.Company, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, would have worn.

“I liked seeing the old uniform on 1st Sgt. Quellhorst, it made his class stand out,” said Spc. Daniel Trommer, a team leader in C Company, 1-325th, 2/82, from Rochester, N.Y. “It was one of the more interesting classes I had.”

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division’s Team Leader Course from March 6-9 on Fort Bragg, taught paratroopers in the ranks of sergeant, corporal and specialist the basics of leading paratroopers.

The junior leaders of the brigade attended classes that covered a variety of topics like how to properly conduct counseling, troop leading procedures, Army regulations and the unit history.

The course started with an introduction from Command Sgt. Maj. Tim A. Guden, the senior enlisted adviser for the 2/82. He spoke of how the course was a priority training event for the brigade. He said first sergeants from across the brigade would teach the classes to ensure proper training was achieved.

The first sergeants of 2BCT used their past experiences to relate to the paratroopers in the Team Leader Course. They spoke of different situations they encountered on deployment to combat zones, how to correctly train paratroopers, and how to be a mentor and a leader.

Guden’s opening remarks also focused on how the course would help young non-commissioned officers learn to be professional in everything they do. He highlighted that team leaders are the future of the Army and that by strengthening the junior enlisted and junior NCOs now will make the division and Army stronger down the road.

Col. Tim McAteer, commander of the 2/82, also spoke to the Paratroopers before the first class started. McAteer expressed how NCOs need to be proficient and professional in all the duties they perform. He also discussed how team leaders need to inspire the soldiers they lead by being, “confident, caring and professional.” He said that NCOs need to lead by example, and show general care for their troops.

Team leaders are the tip of the spear, McAteer said. “The strength of the 82nd Airborne Division starts with team leaders.” He said this is because team leaders are engaged with their paratroopers on a daily basis and as a result, they have the most influence on them.

The paratroopers also had the opportunity to listen to a speech by Command Sgt. Maj. Darrin J. Bohn, the senior enlisted adviser for the United States Army Forces Command, who talked about how the Army is changing. “The Army is getting smarter and smaller. This is why we need better team leaders now,” he said when referring to how the team leaders of today will be the leaders of tomorrow’s Army.

Since 2BCT is part of the 82nd Airborne Division, the culmination of the Team Leader Course was a jump out of a C-23 Sherpa aircraft. The Sherpa is a two propeller engine plane that allows Paratroopers to perform a static line jump from the back of the aircraft. The day of the jump started early. The paratroopers loaded the aircraft at Camp Mackall and jumped into Luzon drop zone. A short flight time, and efficient pre-jump activities allowed for the paratroopers to be back to Fort Bragg in time for the graduation ceremony held at York Theater later that afternoon.

The ceremony started off with Command Sgt. Maj. Guden giving a speech to the paratroopers. He discussed how team leaders need to take what they have learned and apply it. The certificates were handed out by the battalion command sergeants major within the brigade, along with first sergeants and other guests who attended the ceremony.

“I learned a lot about the regulations of the Army and division,” said Spc. Daniel Trommer. “I feel that doing courses like this will help develop us into better team leaders, better NCOs.”

• Date Taken: 03.12.2012
• Date Posted: 03.16.2012 09:32
• Story ID: 85347
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US
• Hometown: ROCHESTER, NY, US