By Roseline Twagiramariya
Staff writer
The Leader June 19, 2009
Foundation is defined as the basis on which something is grounded.
In terms of building blocks, the Leader’s Training Course would not function the way it does today without the Team Development Course.
Co. A 1/46th Inf. Cadets help a fellow Cadet over a wall obstacle at TDC. Photo by Chen Wang
It is the first team event scheduled for Cadets, but the lesson learned at the course helps shape the rest of their experience at LTC. It is made up of six different stations, or events, each designed to encourage the Cadets to work together as a team.
Sometimes they do so with no difficulties. Other times, they find areas of weakness among their group and work together to improve them.
“The Cadets are brand new and they are not used to working with each other, so this develops cohesion and their ability to work together as a team,” said Staff Sgt. Tiffany Brimmer, a drill sergeant for Co. B 1/46th Inf. “It is not about accomplishing the mission.”
Brimmer also said the Cadets usually do a good job. One thing she noticed was they don’t necessarily take things personally, such as someone interrupting them.
Aside from team building, TDC also teaches the Cadets what it takes to be a leader.
Staff Sgt. William Gray has been bringing Cadets and privates alike to TDC for more than 8 years and he has noticed the course teaches Cadets the basic fundamentals of being a leader.
“To be a good leader, you need discipline, patience, to work with other people, to come up with solutions and solve problems,” said Gray, a drill sergeant for Bravo Co. “This course does it all.”
Cadets work together not only to get themselves through the course, but also while carrying equipment and other objects. Photo by Chen Wang
Bravo Co. took their part of TDC Monday and learned firsthand what Gray meant.
Cadet Janel Haidon, a Kennesaw State University student, learned the importance of communication and being able to stay on task.
“Our problems were having everyone chatting at once and not listening to one thing at a time,” Haidon said.
Overall, she liked the course and would advise future Cadets at TDC to pay attention to the time limit at stations, listen to everyone and execute the plan.
For Florida Institute of Technology student Cadet David Minnick, TDC was a great learning experience because “you make mistakes, but quickly learn from them and apply those lessons to the next task.”
“You progressively get better as a squad,” he said.
TDC was designed to help the Cadets get to know each other and their leadership styles.
Kansas State Univeristy Cadet David Ghormley said the Cadets learned a lot about themselves.
“Each of us had the chance to both be a leader and also how to fall back and be a follower,” he said.
