Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 N.Y. National Guard Soldiers test problem-solving skills By Sgt. Matthew Kratts
                642nd Aviation Support Battalion
 WEST POINT, N.Y. – Sixteen Officers and NCOs from the New York National Guard's 642nd Aviation Support Battalion spent their December drill weekend honing their teamwork and problem solving skills at the United States Military Academy's Leadership Reaction Course. The goal, according to Lt. Col. Shawn Hatch, the battalion's commander, was to get to know his battalion staff and leadership while also practicing skills to lead high-performing teams. "Coming in as the new BC (battalion commander), I wanted a way to get to know my commanders and staff, develop a team and camaraderie between all individuals, and have a venue to teach and reinforce some leadership skills," Hatch said. The leadership reaction course, which is located behind the Thayer Hotel West Point, consists of five obstacles with a scenario, a designated leader and a time limit of 14 minutes to accomplish the mission. The group was broken up into two teams of eight, which were comprised of 642nd company commanders, first sergeants and battalion staff members. Hatch, in civilian life a representative for a local ministry at West Point, and his wife, Marie Lou Hatch (a West Point alumnus) coordinated and oversaw the exercise. Each obstacle required the team to get from point A to point B but differed on how to accomplish the mission. Three of the obstacles required planks that were used to get the team across a raging river or to deliver ammo cans to a depleted platoon. Some of the planks were different sizes, which required the designated leader to plan and adjust as team members were climbing across. "It definitely exceeded my expectations." said Master Sgt.Joel Beardsley, the 642nd battalion operations NCO. Beardsley recognized that each obstacle was unique. "Just because you try and complete an obstacle one way, doesn't mean you try to solve it the same way on a similar obstacle," he said. One of the harder obstacles involved climbing over a wall during a "jail break" in which the scenario required noise discipline. Hatch would even freeze the team in mid-air as a "guard" walked by and required only whispering to communicate the plan. According to 1st Lt. Jessica Persoon, the battalion safety officer, the most challenging part was leading her peers. "This is the first time being in a leadership position in front of some of my peers, so it's natural to fear looking incompetent," she said. At the start of each obstacle the team would appoint a new leader to develop a plan and execute. Persoon said the course overall was fun and had some teachable moments. "On the last obstacle the goal was to get everyone across and we ended up taking an ammo can with us when we weren't supposed to, so that was a good teaching point, make sure you actually understand the commander's intent...so take the time and pay attention to details," she explained Once the 14 minutes were up at each exercise Hatch and his wife would conduct an after action review (AAR). "The whole exercise's success was demonstrated by the discussion and learning that occurred during and after the AAR's," Hatch said. Hatch said the best moments were watching the light bulb come on when the team worked through the obstacle. "I could see the teams develop in the short time we were on the obstacles. It is a great feeling to see the ‘light come on' when a leadership theory becomes practical and applicable through the exercise," he said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership
 By Lt. Col. Ellis Parks,
  Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School
 By Sgt. Denis Nunez,
  Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise
 By Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Allmaras,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil