FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The “Not in my Squad” campaign pushed out by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey late last year is the theme for this year’s U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition May 2-5.
As a way to bring awareness to the initiative, Interim Command Sgt. Maj. of the U.S. Army Reserve James P. Wills said he wants to empower noncommissioned officers and future NCOs to help change the culture within the ranks.
“Most of our Soldiers have heard of NIMS, as the acronym, but not fully understand (the program) and they associate it specifically with SHARP, or sexual advocacy or sexual assault,” said Wills. “Not in my Squad” is not only about sexual assault. The program is designed to raise the level of dignity, training and professionalism of the Army starting at the lowest levels.
According to the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic, squad leaders’ are responsible for their teams, and that includes taking the lead with instilling discipline as well as motivation, and accomplishing the mission ethically.
“It’s about the holistic approach of being a leader who’s not representing a toxic environment,” said Wills. “It’s about someone who understands diversity within our ranks; someone who is looking for equality, and giving Soldiers the opportunity to be focused on their professional military education; someone who is motivational as a leader and respects and looks for those ideas that everyone on the team has ownership and buy-in.
“I want to make sure our Soldiers gather and understand (what) NIMS is really about,” he said. “This is the way we do things going forward, and this is what a professional Army, or living by the profession of arms truly means.”
To learn more about NIMS, go to http://cape.army.mil/not-in-my-squad/.