‘Dragon’ Brigade leaders discover strengths, weaknesses and discuss the ‘Road to War’

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Story by Sgt. Shantelle Campbell

Date: 01.05.2011
Posted: 01.06.2011 12:30
News ID: 63124
‘Dragon’ Brigade leaders discover strengths, weaknesses and discuss the ‘Road to War’

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Leaders of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, learned about each other, and how to maximize the effectiveness of the unit through its leadership, during a recent Mission Command and Training Strategy Seminar.

The seminar, which was held inside of the brigade’s conference room and led by civilian instructors from Strategic Knowledge Solutions in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., provided Col. Joseph D. Wawro and Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie Hutchison, the Dragon brigade commander and top noncommissioned officer in charge, the opportunity to sit down with all of the battalion and squadron commanders and command sergeants major in the brigade to discuss the unit’s “Road to War” and identify individual and unit strengths and weaknesses.

“The seminar was an investment in the leader development at the senior level for the brigade; so we can have a better understanding as a team on our Road to War,” Wawro said.

During the first day of the seminar, each commander and command sergeant major focused on identifying their own strengths and weaknesses in order to better understand themselves as well as others within their units. They also learned how to identify and assess different personality and leadership styles in order to maximize the function of their teams.

“One of the key points of a high-performance organization is self awareness,” Wawro said.

“Seeing ourselves accurately allows us to be more effective as leaders while interacting with our peers and subordinates.”

As the three-day seminar progressed, leaders of the Dragon brigade discussed key decision points in the unit’s “Road to War,” such as its future role in combat, how leaders should train and prepare their Soldiers for that role, and highlighting the key tasks that will be crucial in the brigade’s continued success as a war fighting team.

“It provided a forum to bring (together) the senior leaders of the brigade to form and bond as a team so we can put our plan and the brigade’s vision into action,” Wawro added.

The seminar was concluded with Wawro thanking and awarding the instructors with Certificates of Appreciation.