CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - In the 120-degree heat of the morning, soldiers throughout the U.S. Army Central Command area of responsibility are arriving at day zero of the Warrior Leader course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 22.
Warrior Leader course is the first leadership development course non-commissioned officers and specialists attend. It is a 15-day hard-hitting and intensive course with an emphasis on leadership skills that gives soldiers the tools needed to be great non-commissioned officers.
The Warrior Leader courses in Camp Buehring are designed to handle up to 120 soldiers each and are taught and attended by active duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers, said Command Sgt. Maj. Franko J. Antolovich, the commandant of the Third Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy.
The training in Warrior Leader course combines classroom instruction with practical application in the field.
“Soldiers coming here to WLC get to see what right looks like,” said Antolovich. “Everything the we do, all of the training, lessons and programs of instruction, teach them what a NCO’s duties and responsibilities are in that first level of being an NCO.”
Having this course available in theater is very valuable, said Antolovich. “This allows us to use soldiers who are already on orders, especially for the Reserve and National Guard population, to put them into Warrior Leader course training in a cost efficient manner.”
Improving leadership is one of the biggest takeaways from the Warrior Leader course.
“We empower them to take charge of their soldiers and to help their leadership lead,” said Antolovich. As they lead soldiers at the team level it takes the burden off of senior NCOs allowing them to focus on higher-level tasks.