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 30th ABCT Soldiers attend Basic Leader Course in Middle East By Lt. Col. Cindi King
                30th Armored Brigade Combat Team
 KUWAIT – The first line of the Army noncommissioned officer's creed states: "No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers." To attain the rank of a noncommissioned officer, Soldiers must attend the Basic Leader Course, where they learn the fundamentals of leadership, readiness and training. U.S. Soldiers in the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team have been able to attend the Basic Leader Course while deployed in the Middle East thanks to U.S. Army Central, which hosts a class nearly every month. "We want to ensure our Soldiers do not fall behind during deployment on their professional military education," said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Elmer Harmon, the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team's senior enlisted adviser. "There are approximately 200 seats, of which we can send about 20 Soldiers every month." At a BLC ceremony Jan. 24, 26 Old Hickory Soldiers graduated, with seven Soldiers achieving the commandant's list, including the distinguished honor graduate and commandant's writing award winner. "At BLC, they learn the skills to be a first-line supervisor and to train Soldiers," said Harmon. "It's the first step to becoming an NCO; to teach, coach and mentor." U.S. Army Spc. Emilee Austin with the 1-150th Cavalry Regiment, West Virginia National Guard, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, was the distinguished honor graduate and recipient of the commandant's writing award. She said one of the advantages of attending BLC while deployed is that Soldiers are already away from home and in the same environment. "We were able to bond more as a class because we were all going through the same things," said Austin. "Having a support system is a big factor, which we had from our units and from one another." The course also teaches Soldiers the fundamentals of training, including physical readiness. "Have all of the exercises from start to finish memorized and make sure you are doing everything properly," said Austin. "It's all goes back to attention to detail." Harmon said technology enables today's Soldiers to prepare for leadership courses, using cell phones to research and study on the internet. The soon-to-be-NCOs also benefitted from outstanding leaders and instructors. Austin said her classmates had great small group leaders who facilitated instruction and shared lessons from their experiences. Tt was also good, she said, to hear about the experiences of her peers. "One of our instructors told us, 'Don't become what your unit is, become what your unit can be,'" said Austin. "'Take what you learn from BLC and apply it back at your unit and be ready to make change to be better.'" Harmon said the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Soldiers traditionally perform well at schools because as National Guard Soldiers, many have unique skills and roles as civilians. "Our Soldiers have job experiences, and in some cases, years being supervisors, educators or employees that enhances their leadership and knowledge," said Harmon. "That's the benefit the National Guard brings to the services." The 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team is comprised of National Guard Soldiers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Washington, deployed for Operation Spartan Shield.
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