Basic Leader Course is the first course that deals with leadership
Basic Leader Course is the first course that deals with leadership that the Non-Commissioned Officers undergo. This course takes a month to be completed, whereby the corporals and specialists are taught how to deal with small units of soldiers. The course is essential and helps to prepare soldiers for higher ranks, such as Sergeant (McEnery, 19). In this course, I got to undertake various topics such as leadership, land navigation, map reading, training management, and warfighting. I learnt a diverse sector of leadership, especially the one that taught me how to deal and handle the soldiers in my unit. I got to learn how I should maintain my stand whenever I decide to show the confidence I have in my choice. With the confidence I portray in my decisions, the soldiers in my unit adhere to the opportunity I have made, knowing very well it is a correct choice.
Land navigation is another topic that I learnt during the course. I was able to know how to evaluate the lands where I can locate my unit. I gained the knowledge of how to assess the risk of a particular territory and how to tackle the problem on the ground (McEnery, 19). With the knowledge, my unit can avoid going to the lands blind; thus, their safety is guaranteed. Some of the training that I undertook involved map reading, whereby I was taught how to read and interpret maps (McEnery, 19). I got to familiarize myself with the necessary symbols that are used on maps which made it easier to comprehend and make plans. With the knowledge on map reading, it will be easier to communicate with the soldiers of my unit on the location each soldier is supposed to be. Other than that, it will be easier to build some coordination when the soldiers are on the field. I was taught on techniques to apply under warfighting. Some of the methods involved camouflaging with the environment to ensure invisibility (McEnery, 19). I will encourage the soldiers in my unit to apply this technique, especially in dry savannahs and forest areas.
However, during the implementation of the skills I learnt from the course, there exist various barriers that hinder me from putting into practice the skills. One of these barriers is opposition from the soldiers in my unit. At times I come up with a decision that they oppose and it becomes difficult to implement my choices. However, I have learned to gain their opinion on my preferences. If their view makes sense, then it can be considered, but otherwise, those who oppose without reason are subjected to punishment such as taking laps. At times am assigned to a new unit, that is unfamiliar with me. It becomes difficult to associate with new people and start again with things that are common to me. However, with time, openness helps create comfortability which in turn, the leadership process becomes more manageable.
In the Non-Commissioned Officer 2020 strategy, future leadership expectation includes improving education and training expertise. The numerous talents that are available among the NCO corps should be recognized and put to use to improve the educational and training sector. With discovering new skills in the NCO, duties are distributed evenly, meaning that specific individuals will not be overworked. It has been a problem carrying out training amongst ourselves as the noncommissioned officers, and yet some people are good at doing these training. Therefore, these individuals with these talents are expected to be given an opportunity and do the training. Senior leaders are expected to mentor the subordinate leaders, no matter how difficult that could be. Some of the leadership skills I learned in the course was from the way my senior carried himself around. It set a good example, which helped me to work and be as competitive as him when it came to leadership.
Work Cited
McEnery, Kevin. “Improving Professional Relevance in the US Army Armor Basic Officer Leader Course.” Performance Improvement 56.6 (2017): 18-27.