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    South Carolina National Guard Soldier Spotlight from Kuwait

    South Carolina National Guard Soldier Spotlight from Kuwait

    Photo By Col. Cindi King | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Trautsch, small group leader in U.S. Army Central...... read more read more

    CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

    10.21.2019

    Story by Lt. Col. Cindi King 

    South Carolina National Guard

    The South Carolina National Guard spotlights U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Trautsch, a small group leader in U.S. Army Central Command’s Non-Commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

    Trautsch has served in the South Carolina Army National Guard for 18 years, most recently with the 4th Battalion (Modular) and 3rd Battalion, (Non-Commissioned Officer Academy), 218th Leadership Regiment at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina. He volunteered for and has supported U.S. Army Central Command and 3rd Army’s NCOA Basic Leader Course (BLC) since Jan. 2019.

    “I heard about the opportunity to serve overseas supporting BLC from my first sergeant at the 218th Leadership Regiment in the South Carolina National Guard,” said Trautsch, who holds the military occupations skills of 88M, a heavy vehicle operator and 31B, military police.

    During his nearly 10 months in Kuwait, Trautsch said approximately 1,800 Soldiers have passed through the course. His final class before leaving was his tenth, which graduated on Oct. 21, 2019.

    “We were able to work well with each other since we were all in one place, all of the time,” said Trautsch. “This was one of the best broadening assignments I’ve experienced.”

    The Army’s BLC is a 22-day program, where Soldiers learn the tenants of leadership being a Non-Commissioned Officer. Some of the skills involved leading Physical Readiness Training (PRT), planning training, as well as conducting drill and ceremony.

    Trautsch previously served in the 133rd Military Police Company in Timmonsville, South Carolina and 1052nd Transportation Company in Kingstree, South Carolina, with prior deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002-2003 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004.

    Although Trautsch said his tour was rewarding, even earning him his Instructor Badge, he added he is looking forward to being home in South Carolina.

    “It was consistently hot here, so I imagine it’s going to feel really cold back home,” said Trautsch. “It will be great just to have time with my family and be refreshed before getting back to work at the 218th Leadership Regiment.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.21.2019
    Date Posted: 10.21.2019 12:40
    Story ID: 348461
    Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW

    Web Views: 204
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN