By 1st Lt. Marshal R. Pearson
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq - Non-Commissioned Officers from the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, continue to develop and train the junior NCOs.
Command Sergeant Major David Emerick, command sergeant major, 391st CSSB, is responsible for the safety, welfare and development of all enlisted Soldiers within the battalion. The Non-Commissioned Officer Development Program is one program that Emerick and the senior leaders of the battalion reinforce to help develop junior NCOs as leaders. The objective of the NCODP is to enhance and sustain NCOs combat readiness to the highest level. The NCODP training consists of one-on-one and group base settings, which involve coaching, as well as practical programs. The concept is to develop and strengthen leadership skills and professional attributes within the NCO Corps.
The battalions recent NCODP focus was on weapons range operation, which spanned seven days. Of the seven days, the first three days included classroom instruction on the four basic marksmanship fundamentals, primary marksmanship instruction, range certification and the use of the M68 Close Combat Optic, while the last four days covered hands-on training on the range. Every NCO in the battalion attended one day of classroom instruction and one day on the range.
Staff Sgt. Johnnie Manley, battalion transportation chief, 391st CSSB said he enjoyed the training and felt that NCOs should receive a refresher course quarterly to stay abreast of any changes and maintaining efficiency on marksmanship to meet the Army standard.
Master Sgt. Joe Diaz, operations non-commissioned officer in-charge, 391st CSSB, was responsible for planning and coordinating the training. He expressed that this was one of the best training sessions that he has organized for the battalion because it provided senior NCOs the opportunity to pass down their knowledge and skills to the junior NCOs involved.
Over the course of seven days, 190 NCOs participated in the training.
Emerick expressed that he will continue to use the NCODP forum to teach and train junior NCOs in the necessary skills in order to maintain a level of proficiency as a leader in today's Army.