Open road suits noncommissioned officer

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jon Soles | Staff Sgt. Michael Grant of Milford, Maine, a truck driver assigned to the 619th Transportation Company, 812th Transportation Battalion, said he had good non-commissioned officers when he joined the Army Reserve 16 years ago and wants to pass on leadership and mentor to his Soldiers during Maple Caravan 15, a joint exercise with the Canadian Army that is part of Nationwide Move 15.  

MILFORD, ME, UNITED STATES

03.16.2015

Story by Sgt. Jon Soles 

210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MILFORD, Maine - Leadership is a simple formula for Staff Sgt. Michael Grant - do your job well, lead your Soldiers and always make sure everyone works a team.

The seasoned Army veteran is currently serving as a squad leader with to the 619th Transportation Company, 812th Transportation Battalion, 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and his troops are currently participating in exercise Maple Caravan 15, which is a cargo-movement exercise with the Canadian Army that is part of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Nationwide Move 15 exercise. The mission provides assistance to the Canadian Army and offers valuable training to U.S. troops.

Grant, a native of Milford, Maine, tries to instill a sense of teamwork to his junior enlisted Soldiers and noncommissioned officers.

"Teamwork is something I stress in my unit, and it applies to our convoy across Canada," he said. "It makes everybody's job easier. Everything from driving to loading vehicles depends on teamwork so if a task needs to be done, we all work together to accomplish the mission."

The seasoned veteran is responsible for a convoy of M1915A5 trucks transporting Canadian Army equipment more than 2,500 miles from Base Valcartier, Quebec, to Garrison Wainwright, Alberta.

Looking for every opportunity to provide leadership and mentoring for his Soldiers, whether during battle assembly or a real-world exercise like Maple Caravan 15, Grant tries to put his Soldiers first. One recent example of that teamwork came in the form of a vehicle breakdown.

"When one of our trucks broke down during our convoy, I was going to stay up by myself and wait for them to return while my Soldiers got some sleep," Grant said. "But the whole unit decided they would stay up, sacrificing their sleep with me, until all the Soldiers had returned."

Grant began his Army career in 1999, after graduating high school. His decision was inspired by the Army service of his grandfather, who drove trucks in World War II.

"It's a big family tradition," he said. "Most of my family has served."

When he isn't leading troops in his unit, Grant works for a petroleum services company in Maine. When he is at battle assembly, he prefers to be in the motorpool with his Soldiers, helping them learn more about their responsibilities to safely operate and maintain equipment to keep Army units moving.

"I'm not the kind of person who likes to be in the office doing paperwork, so if the unit is doing maintenance or other tasks, I'm right there with them," he said. "I show them teamwork by being there and setting the example."

Some of the Soldiers who serve with Grant said he puts their needs above his own and constantly motivates them to be better Soldiers.

"He is squared away, takes care of his troops and makes sure the mission gets done," said Spc. Jack McLaughlin, a truck driver from Hermon, Maine, assigned to the 619th Transportation Company. "He's the true definition of what a leader should be and we don't want to disappoint him."

Spc. Matthew Collins said Grant is a big supporter of his Soldiers, pushing them to advance their development.

"He pushes us to advance our job skills and career development," said Collins, a cook from Bath, Maine, assigned to the 619th Transportation Company. "He wants to see us succeed as far as we can go in the Army."

Serving as a noncommissioned officer in the Army Reserve is a job Grant said he takes seriously. He said he wants to live up to the leadership and legacy of noncommissioned officers.

"To be a good NCO, you put your Soldiers first," he said. "I had some very good NCOs who mentored me when I joined the Army 16 years ago, and now I try to give the same mentoring to my Soldiers."

His Soldiers will have plenty of opportunities to see his mentorship and leadership during the more than 2,500 mile journey across Canada, as they learn from his example and forge the next generation of leaders.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2015
• Date Posted: 03.20.2015 12:12
• Story ID: 157645
• Location: MILFORD, ME, US
• Hometown: MILFORD, ME, US