Photo By Sgt. Maria Kappell | Cadets from West Point, sponsored by 3-43 ADA, spend time with PATRIOT Batteries in...... read more read more
SOUTHWEST ASIA - Several PATRIOT batteries throughout the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment sponsored cadets from West Point during the month of July in several locations throughout Southwest Asia.
The cadets spent three weeks with the batteries. During that time they were given opportunities to act as platoon leaders, conducting tasks such as inventory checks, preparing training plans, and dealing with every-day soldier matters, said 1st Lt. Rudy Pirolozzi, a launcher platoon leader for Delta Battery, 3-43 ADA. This occasion provided a good opportunity to prepare the Army’s future leaders, Pirolozzi added.
“[The cadets] became soldier counselors, learned officer and non-commissioned officer relationships, directed maintenance and training whenever able, and helped put together our Force Protection Briefs,” said 1st Lt. Jason Windham, the fire control platoon leader from Delta Battery, 3-43 ADA.
“Our cadets had the unique experience to work with a deployed unit and see the different situations that being deployed presents,” said 1st Lt. Erin Sprague, the executive officer from Charlie Battery, 3-43 ADA. “Not only did they learn the basics of being platoon leaders, but they also got to work with soldiers and deal with soldier issues, which is not something that can be taught in a lecture hall,” Sprague added.
Each cadet was assigned a sponsor lieutenant from their designated battery to help them conduct operations on a daily basis.
“As a sponsor, my role was to mentor these future officers and direct their energies so they would be able to get as much as possible from their short window as platoon leaders,” Windham said.
The cadets were from different areas all across the country including California, South Dakota, Mississippi, Texas, Washington and Florida, and they are all students at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
The lessons the cadets learned while present in the Air Defense batteries is something they can use and share with other cadets during their senior year at West Point, and they can use their experiences to better themselves throughout their military careers, Sprague said.
“This was an incredible opportunity for these young officers. No other program would allow them to witness and become so intimately involved in a unit engaged in a mission while deployed. Training environments, no matter how well put together, cannot simulate the experience they received here,” Windham said.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2010 06:50 |
| Story ID: | 54765 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 229 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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