Sustainment brigade leaders demonstrate unit pride

Photo By 1st Lt. Mark Schneider | Leaders of the 16th Sustainment Brigade prepare ingredients as they participate in a cooking competition at the Hard Rock Diner on Aug. 2. The competition was part of a weeklong event, Knights Week, where leadership throughout the Knights Brigade came together to participate in leader development courses to increase teamwork and cohesion among the units.  

RP, GERMANY

08.17.2017

Story by 1st Lt. Mark Schneider 

16th Sustainment Brigade

BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- Members of the 16th Sustainment Brigade participated in a weeklong event known as “Knights Week” August 1-4 to increase cohesion among the units by giving leaders the opportunity to become more familiar with one another.

Leadership took part in events such as command briefs, leader development trainings, and team building activities.

“Knights Week brings everybody together so we can have one shared understanding of how (the Brigade commander) operates,” said Master Sgt. Ramah Wilson, operations non-commissioned officer in charge.

Wilson aided the brigade commander, Col. Michelle Donahue, and command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Graham in planning the classes, briefs, and drills.

First sergeants, sergeants major, and commanders from the companies and battalions came together in physical fitness and cooking competitions. The fitness competition included normal workouts and more intense exercises like log carries and a Humvee pull. The cook off broke the leadership in two groups and required them to make lunch for the residents of Smith Barracks at the brigade’s Hard Rock Diner. Later, the leaders took part in a “speed dating” simulation.

“The speed dating scenario was something Col. Donahue put in place so the leadership could get to know each other,” said 1st Sgt. Kevin D. McGee, first sergeant of HHC, 16th Special Troops Battalion. “We told two truths and a lie. We had to learn something about our peers across the formation.”

“I wanted Knight's Week to help build team cohesion and for each of our Command Teams to walk away with an understanding of how to leverage the 21st TSC's internal and external sustainment capabilities,” Donahue said. “For CSM Graham and myself, the emphasis on teamwork also helped us to enhance our connection and knowledge of the leaders inside the 16th Sustainment Brigade. This connection allows us to build trust and assume more risk with a formation that is spread across 23 countries executing unparalleled sustainment operations for Strong Europe forces.”

Knights Week ensured a ready sustainment brigade that sustains and enables freedom of maneuver and extends the operational reach for a strong Europe.

"Knights Week improved team-building mentorship and leader development among company, battalion, and command and staff teams, which will benefit the brigade in our operations across Europe,” Graham said. “The week occurred at the perfect time, as the brigade is preparing for a busy season of upcoming missions."

• Date Taken: 08.17.2017
• Date Posted: 08.17.2017 04:09
• Story ID: 245118
• Location: RP, DE