Building resiliency by informing leaders

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Soldiers of 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fill out their workbooks during Resiliency Trainer Assistant class at the 2nd STB conference room on Fort Carson, Colo., Nov. 15, 2012. "Lonestar" soldiers learned the basics of resiliency and ways to ensure other soldiers are knowledgeable on the required training. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.)  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

11.15.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Soldiers of 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assumed the duty of resiliency training assistants after completing classes reflecting Master Resiliency Training on Fort Carson, Nov. 13 through 16.

Sixteen “Lonestar” soldiers learned the basics of resiliency and successful ways to conduct instruction to ensure every soldier, regardless of rank, is up to date on required training.

The brigade, which deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2011, was a test bed for the Army to deploy without standardized resiliency training.

“This is the initial kickoff of the brigade program,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Deanne Dunnsmith, brigade master resiliency trainer, 2nd BCT. “Training the RTAs is essential to helping MRTs train everyone in the battalions.”

The program, set up to have soldiers spread throughout the brigade as instructors with one soldier as the brigade MRT, two per battalion, one per company and one RTA per platoon, is aimed at giving soldiers internal tools to deal with difficult situations.

“The program allows soldiers to deal with life issues whether it be from home or work,” said Sgt. Timothy Foster, information technology specialist, Company B, 2nd STB. “It allows soldiers to cope or learn problem-solving techniques.”

“Hopefully every soldier will learn something about themselves,” said Dunnsmith. “Everyone has different levels of resiliency and this program is designed to let a person know what their strengths are.”

Though the Army is mandating the training, the “Warhorse” leadership is making it a top priority.

“I’m excited to see the command so involved,” said Dunnsmith. “Without the commands’ support, implementing the program would be difficult due to the lack of knowledge on it.”

The noncommissioned officers in the class each had ideas of what they thought were the most important part of the training and what they wanted their soldiers to take away from it.

“I want to broaden my soldiers' perspectives,” said Foster. “Being positive or negative is a process. I want them to be conscious of the bigger picture and that there is more than just them.”

The brigade is breaking down the four-module training by quarters and plans to have everyone fully trained before the scheduled deployment later next year.

• Date Taken: 11.15.2012
• Date Posted: 11.26.2012 14:48
• Story ID: 98342
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US