1-506th Infantry Regiment supports EFIII

Photo By Sgt. Samantha Stoffregen | While a mortar team from Company C, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment “Bulldogs,” 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) prepares to fire, an observer control/trainer from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, left, assesses their actions during a live-fire exercise Feb. 17, 2016, at Range 55, Fort Campbell, Ky. Red Currahee noncommissioned officers and officers provided peer performance feedback during Bulldogs’ training to ensure all leaders within the 1BCT formation are focused on fundamentals that will ensure success with upcoming training events. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Samantha Stoffregen, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs)  

FORT CAMPBELL, KY, UNITED STATES

02.18.2016

Courtesy Story

1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Given the arduous training schedule taken on by the battalion over the course of the past year, it is relatively easy to understand why the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment “Red Currahee”, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), are in a preeminent position leading into the forthcoming deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana this spring.

However, the commitment to both battalion and brigade excellence remains a driving factor for the Soldiers of the Currahee nation, and the opportunity to help better their peers has an inherent appeal. During the final weeks of February, from the 14th to the 26th, leaders from across the Red Currahee formation conducted an observer control/trainer (OC/T) mission for the adjacent infantry battalions in the Bastogne brigade.

The mission of OC/Ts is to provide peer performance feedback during a spectrum of operations training event. The concept is centered on an understanding that the best criticism and compliments will come from leaders in similar positions.

“Providing OC/Ts to adjacent battalions allows us to not only share our lessons learned from the past year, but also to bring back the best practices to our formation” noted Major Kyle Kirby, the battalion’s S-3.

Throughout the duration of the training event, OC/Ts from Red Currahee were paired with other junior leaders, typically at the platoon leader level, and followed their operations from planning to execution. OC/Ts are expected to both stay with leadership, observing and taking notes on their performance, and observe how their subordinates react to the various orders issued.

“One of the advantages to this role is that we get to see different facets of the operation,” said 1st Lt. James Tully, a platoon leader from Gunfighter (C) Company. “Typically [as a platoon leader] you’re resigned to one perspective.”

This role of impartial observer allows for leaders to receive valuable feedback on their performance, without the added pressure of a superior critiquing every step and misstep.

The role of OC/Ts also provides an important function in providing realistic, variable training. The “controller” portion of OC/T recognizes their role as embedded cadre, capable of relaying the condition of the unit allowing for the training to be adjusted to better challenge the unit.

“A good OC/T can recognize when the unit is or isn’t being challenged enough and can help shape the situation accordingly” said Capt. Anthony Maldonado, a battalion S-3 officer and experienced platoon leader and OC/T.

This additional role allows for OC/Ts to help ensure that the training is of maximum benefit to the unit and provides substantial challenges to even the most seasoned leaders. Beyond providing ample opportunities for the leaders they are tasked shadowing to develop, the OC/Ts themselves reap significant reward from participating in the training.

“OC/Ting [before my platoon leader time] played a big role in shaping my approach [to field leadership],” said Capt. Patrick Foster, a former Red Currahee platoon leader and current staff officer, “I was able to experience training without the pressure to perform.”

While the primary role of an OC/T is to provide constructive feedback to the leader they are charged with shadowing, there is another benefit to the concept; leaders receive extra opportunities to participate in and observe training.

For young and relatively inexperienced leaders especially, the opportunity to walk training lanes with leaders in parallel situations provides them with de facto training opportunities.

“As a new platoon leader who hasn’t had the opportunity to do larger training events with my platoon, this is a great way to see what right and wrong looks like,” said 1st Lt. Micah Rarick, a platoon leader with Baker Company.

The forthcoming JRTC training event promises to provide a stressful and challenging training opportunity for Soldiers across the Bastogne formation. Central to succeeding is fundamentally sound and well prepared leaders. The use of Red Currahee OC/Ts, who have conducted collective training through the battalion level, allows for junior leaders to observer their peers, passing on lessons learned, while getting further training themselves.

By giving leaders this opportunity, the Bastogne Brigade is ensuring that they have the best prepared leaders possible, leading into their next rendezvous with destiny.

• Date Taken: 02.18.2016
• Date Posted: 02.25.2016 15:08
• Story ID: 190122
• Location: FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US