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    Soldier in Focus - Master Sgt. Timothy Baker

    GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

    10.16.2019

    Story by Spc. Ryan Barnes 

    7th Army Training Command

    What makes a leader great? Throughout one’s career in the U.S. Army, be it a single contract or until retirement, there are many influential leaders they will meet along the way. One prime example of a good leader and a dedicated NCO is Master Sgt. Timothy Baker, senior culinary management NCO assigned to 7th Army Training Command (7 ATC).

    “He [Baker] is a very detailed leader,” said Sgt. First Class Antonio Grantham, asset visibility NCOIC for 7 ATC. “He is attentive of soldier’s needs.”

    Some of the tasks Baker played a major role in includes; helping make Regionally Aligned Forces’ (RAF) Dining Facilities (DFAC) fully operable and capable of handling RAF units as they rotate through Grafenwoehr; bringing in new cooking equipment and remodeling 11 out of 13 DFACs; and ensuring that over 3000 bunks were refurbished and with more than 2000 mattresses replaced. Baker’s work in making DFACS operable and upgrading living quarters allow Soldiers to obtain proper nutrition and improve their sleep so they can perform at their best.

    “He [Baker] is a very dynamic, caring NCO,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Montero, Assistant Manager assigned to 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. “He is always on top of every issue which shows he cares. He would constantly check up on us. He’s an outstanding NCO.”

    Leadership is not a word Baker takes lightly. He genuinely cares for others.

    “I believe that claiming grounds to our profession must first start with our leadership tactics and directive approach,” said Baker. “To be an effective leader of a team, you have to know yourself as well as the strengths, motivations, quarrels, and downfalls of those working for you. Most of all, you must be someone the members of your team want to work for and impress.”

    Baker has a leadership philosophy that is broken up into five key points. These points include knowing your own emotions, use the mind to manage one’s feelings, be understanding of all Soldiers at all levels, help Soldiers not only process their emotions but identify problems, and use sentiment to boost morale. He embodies these concepts and applies it to everything he does in the U.S. Army; always ready to give Soldiers helpful advice and new ways to approach problems.

    “Learn to be adaptive and learn resiliency at the entry point,” said Baker. “Come in with an open mind and build a foundation based on solid morals as you learn to live them. Find mentors early and as many as possible.”

    Like many leaders, Baker learned from his own mistakes. When Baker was a freshly promoted staff sergeant, he decided to go check up on his Soldiers out at the range one cold, mid-October day. One of his sergeants on the range reported to him that a Command Sgt. Maj. is out on the range too and demanded to see him immediately.

    “I found the Command Sgt. Maj. He asked me ‘Is that your private over there? The one with no gloves on?’ I replied with ‘Yes, Command Sgt. Maj.’ He directed me to take my gloves off and give them to my Soldier and that I was to stay out there until my Soldiers qualified, and lastly at no time would I put my hands in my pockets.”

    This was a lesson that greatly impacted Baker’s leadership development.

    “Be a leader, take responsibility for your actions and the actions of your Soldiers. Never push blame on your lower NCO’s but, rather, take ownership to train your junior NCO’s to check and care for their Soldiers. Always care for your NCO’s and ensure that they trickle this principle down to the lowest level.”

    Baker is a leader that one can learn a lot from. He involves himself in other’s lives, trying to make their quality of life better from making DFACs operate better and give soldiers nutritional meals to giving helpful life advice and motivation to overcome obstacles in their way. This is why Master Sgt. Timothy Baker and his ideals are being highlighted for this month’s Soldier in Focus.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.16.2019
    Date Posted: 10.16.2019 03:45
    Story ID: 347791
    Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE
    Hometown: WATERTOWN, NY, US

    Web Views: 183
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN