Thursday, September 18, 2008

Soldiers receive guidance through mentorship program

Whether someone is a veteran of the military or not, servicemembers agree that preparation holds a special rank when talking about a brighter tomorrow. 

That concept was put into motion this past week, as members of Fort Belvoir’s Headquarters Battalion held its annual Non-Commissioned Officers’ Mentorship Program at Barden Education Center.

With an array of classes geared toward making Soldiers better leaders, Command Sgt. Maj. Allison Smith can see the potential for success.

“The program is designed to help Soldiers with their pre-Warrior Leadership courses. It’s open to all tenant organizations around Belvoir, but specifically targets specialists to staff sergeants,” she said. “We discuss financial investing, physical fitness, suicide prevention and team-building, among others. With a background in each topic, Soldiers will be better-rounded for what lies ahead in their career.”

For those looking to advance in the Army, Master Sgt. Ronald Davis, NCO IC of the program, agrees it’s great training ground for the more formal NCO schools that await Soldiers later on. According to him, the information is practical and can be used in every day life.

“The Army strives at making Soldiers better leaders and the more insight an individual has never hurts,” Davis said. “What they learn in these classes can be applied, not only to themselves, but to others. Making those around you better is something the military prides itself on.”

Assisting Davis and Smith with the program is Sgt. Malcolm Greer, Staff Sgt. Dave Steele and Sgt. 1st Class Damian Trotti, who is one of the program’s instructors. Greer has been responsible for securing textbooks and other materials used during classroom discussions.

During an eight-hour block of classes, Greer said the end result always comes back to a better-trained, more astute Soldier.
“When talking about longevity in the military, these classes help Soldiers make better decisions and the ability to recognize problems quicker,” Greer said. “Individuals are also given an opportunity to become student leaders. That way, Soldiers can prepare the class for training and learn more about team-building. Quite often, the best way to learn something is to do it yourself.”

Upon completing the one-week program, students are awarded a certificate of completion. Leadership awards will also be given based on an individual’s performance in a certain topic, Davis said. He added 15 Soldiers attended the program this year and that Headquarters
Battalion would like to offer one every quarter.