Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Matthew Eaton, a Normal Ill., native, and swing shift supply sergeant, lends a...... read more read more
1LT Benjamin Nakamura
1st Sustainment Brigade
CAMP LIBERTY — Dusk sets on another scorching, dust laden day. Most Soldiers power down into rest mode; retiring dirty sweaty uniforms in exchange for the cooler summer physical training t-shirts and shorts. Some head over to their local Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facility. Others are eager to hit the gym or look to the quiet solitude of a run.
For some Soldiers, it is inside the tactical operations center or on the back porch of the 168th Brigade Support Battalions company headquarters, where they find liberation from a hard day by exercising their largest, most pliable muscle, their brain.
"Here for a few hours each night, a command post is transformed into a classroom," said Capt. George Taylor, a Honaker, Va., native, and the commander for Bravo Company, 168th BSB. "It is here, Soldiers of all ages, occupational specialties, and ranks can partake in the "Soldier U" program and advance their educational needs," he continued.
1st Lt. Nicolas Snyder, an Austin, Texas, native, and officer in charge of the 168th BSB supply support activity, helps out twice a week. He imparts to Soldiers an overview of key fundamental tasks and doctrine derived from the curriculum taught in a variety of the officer commissioning sources. The course is derived for, but not limited to, Soldiers seeking a possible transition from the enlisted ranks into the officer corps.
Coined "Future Officer Professional Development," Snyder's class, immerses Soldiers into the world of troop leading procedures along with all of its supporting elements such as the five paragraph operations order, mission and terrain analysis, warrior tasks and battle drills, and other intelligence requirements and reports. The inspiration (behind the class) is for an early exposure and familiarization of training core doctrine, setting up these potential future officers with a level of knowledge on par with what is required of reserve officer training corps cadets and officer candidate school candidates to know. In turn, the course allows for Soldiers to face some of the same challenges experienced in the rigorous training and schooling afforded to the Army's future officers. It also places the Soldiers with a considerable technical advantage over their peers while establishing a strong foundation of knowledge that can be built upon as the Soldier progresses.
The FOPD is not the only venue where Soldiers seeking educational improvement or educational assistance can go. 1st Lt. Benjamin Nakamura, a Pittsburgh, native, and maintenance control officer assigned to Bravo Co., 168th BSB, provides tutorial assistance three nights a week to Soldiers in pursuit of educational excellence. The intent is to create an opportunity for Soldiers who with an education in tow, greatly increase their ability to make their own decisions pertaining to their future career paths. Tutoring is available to Soldiers in subjects varying in, but not limited to, mathematics, science, and english. Proficiency in these core competencies allows for enhanced proficiency in many educational channels.
Also in assistance to the government test score improvement in the basic skills education program are correspondence courses, placement tests, online college, and university course test proctoring. The completion of these courses generates valuable points toward promotion, but more importantly, equips Soldiers with the technical expertise necessary to enhance their capability and capacity to lead. These are the fundamental building blocks for creating competence, confidence, and continuous improvement in our future leaders.
Officers aren't the only ones providing assets for our future leaders to enhance their educational prowess. Bravo Co.'s swing shift supply sergeant, Sgt. Matthew Eaton, a Normal, Ill., native, set in motion plans to build a "Make It Happen" Educational Center for the sole purpose of providing a place to study and gain knowledge. He came up with the concept of creating a place where assets (work stations, computers, classes, etc.) would be strictly catered toward Soldier's civilian education improvement. There will be a library of military publications as well as encyclopedias and literary works available as well as computers dedicated to taking online courses and research. Also, classrooms will be erected to house classes taught by subject matter experts on subjects ranging from craft skills (masonry, plumbing, automotive, and wood working) to college courses. The concept spawned from the lack of educational opportunities available within the battalion and (he) hopes to continue to expand the capabilities to provide educational assets to all Soldiers seeking them.
"The overall goal is to give (Soldiers) a better influence towards their future success," concluded Eaton.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2008 04:27 |
| Story ID: | 21038 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 266 |
| Downloads: | 249 |
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