Email   Print   Share By Sgt. Erica N. Cain, 479th FA Bde., Div. West Public Affairs

Facebook Digg Delicious July 29, 2010 | News

A Soldier with the 1-289 Inf. Regt., 479th FA Bde., crawls from one barrier to another July 21 during the unit’s Leadership Reaction Course at Fort Hood. Sgt. 1st Class Sebastian Bankston, 479th FA Bde. Public Affairs

Soldiers with 1-289 Inf. Regt., 479th FA Bde., cooperate to help each member of the team up and over a barrier July 21 during the unit’s Leadership Reaction Course at Fort Hood.

Instead of taking directions, as usual, junior enlisted Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 289th Infantry Regiment, an Army Reserve battalion under the 479th Field Artillery Brigade, had the opportunity to lead the way during their unit’s July 21 Leadership Reaction Course.

During its annual training, the battalion went through a half-day course designed to encourage Soldiers to think, react and work as a team and solve problems while under a time constraint.

“It was fun,” Pvt. Krystal Miller said.

Initially, because of her rank, Miller said, her team had little confidence in her. But as she displayed her ability to make sound decisions that helped the team accomplish its mission, the troops’ confidence level rose and the team was successful.

The course obstacles presented the unit with a challenging learning environment.

The unit was split into teams to complete 13 stations involving a variety of scenarios. One team had to get all of its equipment and Soldiers across a river without dropping anything. Any items or Soldiers that fell into the water could no longer be used in the mission. Some Soldiers stayed dry; others were not so lucky.

To make the mission more challenging, the teams could not use any red-painted areas to complete their tasks. But Soldiers successfully used teamwork and built confidence while working with each other.

“It was a great experience,” Sgt. Carmen Gurrero said. “It gave me the opportunity to lead and facilitate some suggestions from the rest of the team. The team gave good ideas, but I had the opportunity to make the final decision.

“As a reservist, back in the rear, we don’t get to use the skills that we are using out here,” she added. “Sometimes I feel that the annual training should be a little longer so we can get more hands-on and learn more. But it was good training overall.”

First Lt. Israel Sanchez said such training gives unit leadership an opportunity to see how their junior leaders would make decisions when in charge.

“It gives you different perspectives on how Soldiers complete tasks,” Sanchez said.

The Leadership Reaction Course finalized the AT for the Houston-based unit.