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FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (June 27, 2008) - Thirteen seasoned non
commissioned officers graduated from the first video
teleconferenced Battle Staff Course at Ft. McPherson, June 27.
Graduates of the course successfully completed four weeks of
training that tested their knowledge and skills in areas that have
become new terrain for NCOs in the past 15 years said Command Sgt.
Major, John D. Fourhman, U.S. Army Central Command Sergeant
Major.
According to the U.S. Army Sergeants' Major Academy, the Battle
Staff NCO Course trains NCOs how to operate as part of a battalion
or higher staff. The course focuses on the major areas of Plans,
Orders and Annexes, Graphics and Overlays, Military Intelligence,
and Combat Service Support. During the course, students presented a
military Information Briefing and took part in a Command Post
Exercise (CPX) to demonstrate what they learned throughout the
course.
Fourhman emphasized the importance of this class in order to
teach NCOs the skills they need to adapt to the needs of today's
Army.
"Years ago the NCO's role in a staff or a headquarters was
pretty much limited to putting up tents, setting up the tactical
operations center, making sure there were enough copies of things
for the staff officers to get their business done and pretty much
all the other administrative details," Fourhman said.
The training the graduates received will make them part of the
decision making process, Fourhman said. Officers learn all the
technical aspects of putting a plan together and understand how to
execute analysis and formulate plans but having an NCO who has
spent most of their career around Soldiers brings a human dimension
into it.
Fourhman also emphasized the importance of this course as
USARCENT transforms into being full spectrums operations
capable.
"There is a deficit in captain and mid-grade officers," he said.
What our commander has done because he has faith in the NCO corps
is to tell the Department of the Army or Human Resources Command,
'hey look you give me some trained Sgt. 1st Classes and Master
Sergeants and I will build those staff officer billets. We have
NCOs who will do it.'"
One of the NCOs that stepped up to the challenge was Master Sgt.
Annette Dantzler, G-3 Operational Sustainment NCO.
Dantzler saw the course as an opportunity to learn how to
function in a variety of positions.
"I think this is an important course to be involved in because,
at this particular time with all the things that are going on in
America, this course provides vast knowledge for senior NCOs and
lower enlisted to learn how to function both in theatre and in a
garrison environment whether in a headquarters, battalion or
brigade."
Two assistant instructors taught the course in conjunction with
the video teleconference from Ft. Bliss. Master Sgt. Gregory Jeter,
G-3 Fires and Effects NCO and Sgt 1st James Seivers, G4 Land
Operations NCO were selected to teach the first class held at Ft.
McPherson. Both are graduates of the course and hold the additional
skill identifier of 2S.
Each of the graduates of this course are leaders and will
implement their learning into each directorate, Jeter said.
"This class was important for NCOs because these are seasoned
Soldiers that will bring the human factor to it. If officers are
writing something, they can say, 'oh Sir, we should word it this
way so the Soldiers on the ground understand it better."
As the graduates prepared to get their diplomas, Fourhman left
each of them with a strong message.
"Having received this training I expect you to train your
subordinates on how they can be a part of or assume their role in
the staff," Fourhman said. "You have the tools and information to
make sound timely decisions. Advise and train your officers. You
won't be training them on how to do their jobs but how to use you.
I challenge you to assume your new roles and help them accomplish
our diverse missions."
The next course is scheduled for September with 32 students in
attendance.
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