WEBVTT 00:00.629 --> 00:02.907 All right , ma sergeant major . Sayers , 00:02.907 --> 00:05.039 you're a surgeon major for the 6 49th 00:05.050 --> 00:07.106 regional support group out of Iowa . 00:07.106 --> 00:09.328 Correct . Correct . Cedar Rapids Iowa . 00:09.328 --> 00:11.383 Ok . Uh Can you tell us a little bit 00:11.383 --> 00:14.630 about what your unit uh does ? So we 00:14.640 --> 00:16.862 are a regional support group consisting 00:16.862 --> 00:19.690 of two movement control battalions uh 00:19.700 --> 00:22.229 with a host of 20 units underneath of 00:22.239 --> 00:25.000 them . Uh consisting of transportation 00:25.010 --> 00:27.750 companies , movement control teams , 00:27.780 --> 00:30.840 quarter masters and maintenance . Uh We 00:30.850 --> 00:32.880 have units all the way from Fort 00:32.889 --> 00:35.139 Sheridan , Illinois down to Mount 00:35.150 --> 00:37.709 Vernon as well as we have units in 00:37.720 --> 00:41.099 Waterloo Iowa with debts uh spread out 00:41.110 --> 00:43.900 across northern Iowa consists of about 00:43.909 --> 00:46.970 1183 soldiers and 20 units . 00:48.520 --> 00:50.353 Now you came to Port mccoy to do 00:50.353 --> 00:52.464 something special for NC OS . Can you 00:52.464 --> 00:54.479 tell us a little bit about your 00:54.490 --> 00:57.819 defender University ? Yes , sir . So we 00:57.830 --> 01:00.299 came up to Fort mccoy to train on skill 01:00.310 --> 01:02.532 level two skill level three progression 01:02.669 --> 01:04.790 in order to develop our soldiers 01:04.800 --> 01:07.110 specialists and sergeants for promotion 01:07.319 --> 01:11.209 under A R 600-8 dash 19 paragraph 01:11.220 --> 01:14.389 3-6 that states all soldiers must have 01:14.400 --> 01:16.289 skill level two skill level three 01:16.289 --> 01:19.139 proficiency in their digital job book 01:19.150 --> 01:21.317 in order to qualify for promotion . So 01:21.317 --> 01:23.690 we developed a NCO professional 01:23.699 --> 01:25.699 development program called Defender 01:25.699 --> 01:28.089 University where we invite our soldiers 01:28.099 --> 01:30.290 to come up and attend and conduct 01:30.300 --> 01:32.830 training in four areas utilizing round 01:32.839 --> 01:35.599 robin format as well as build the 01:35.610 --> 01:38.410 capability of our NC OS to teach , 01:38.419 --> 01:41.349 train mentor and instruct from a cadre 01:41.360 --> 01:44.959 perspective . Now , for this session of 01:45.059 --> 01:47.170 Defender University brought more than 01:47.170 --> 01:51.040 30 NC OS along . Um how spread out from 01:51.089 --> 01:53.311 the 649 ? Are they from all different ? 01:53.959 --> 01:56.209 Yes . So we have representation across 01:56.220 --> 01:58.529 all the 6 49th minus a few units that 01:58.540 --> 02:00.410 are currently deployed . Um But 02:00.419 --> 02:02.308 everybody sent representatives to 02:02.308 --> 02:04.769 include participants and cadre uh we 02:04.779 --> 02:07.050 have 34 candidates or participants 02:07.059 --> 02:09.330 going through the training . 22 cadre 02:09.339 --> 02:11.289 members that serve as primary 02:11.300 --> 02:14.039 instructors , support as well as 02:14.059 --> 02:16.679 mentors . Uh Our first sergeants are 02:16.690 --> 02:18.579 paired with respect to platoons , 02:18.579 --> 02:21.699 provide senior NCO guidance and 02:21.710 --> 02:23.543 mentoring during any white noise 02:23.543 --> 02:27.139 training . Now , as ac career 02:27.149 --> 02:29.660 enlisted uh person within the Army 02:29.669 --> 02:33.250 Reserve uh currently , um how important 02:33.259 --> 02:35.539 is this kind of training for an army 02:35.550 --> 02:38.160 reserve and co to get uh especially one 02:38.169 --> 02:40.610 stop Roger sir . So this , this is 02:40.619 --> 02:42.509 critical training . Um This is 02:42.520 --> 02:44.464 something that we need to focus on 02:44.464 --> 02:46.409 because skill level one that lower 02:46.409 --> 02:48.631 level , that's great . Everybody should 02:48.631 --> 02:50.798 be able to do that , but to be able to 02:50.798 --> 02:52.798 teach and develop skill level two , 02:52.798 --> 02:54.742 skill level three that's that next 02:54.742 --> 02:57.679 level . That's where the NCO learns how 02:57.690 --> 03:00.660 to be an NCO , how to run a team , how 03:00.669 --> 03:03.979 to manage a squad , how to incorporate 03:03.990 --> 03:06.360 those skill level , one task and build 03:06.369 --> 03:08.679 upon them . And these are vital task . 03:08.690 --> 03:11.080 These are everything from , you know , 03:11.220 --> 03:13.387 running a casualty collection point to 03:13.387 --> 03:16.360 medevac request to how to teach your 03:16.369 --> 03:19.300 unit to put on mop gear properly , how 03:19.309 --> 03:22.949 to conduct riot control control . These 03:22.960 --> 03:24.904 skills are vital not only for your 03:24.904 --> 03:27.127 development but also for the safety and 03:27.127 --> 03:29.300 the survivability of your unit . And 03:29.410 --> 03:32.520 how well has it been going for ? It's 03:32.529 --> 03:34.585 been going great . Uh Fort mccoy has 03:34.585 --> 03:37.259 offered us fantastic facilities up here 03:37.270 --> 03:39.860 to train on . We've been able to stay 03:39.869 --> 03:42.369 together , come out , grab land task 03:42.389 --> 03:44.720 sea . Uh Our soldiers are just 03:44.729 --> 03:47.119 absolutely enjoying themselves . They 03:47.130 --> 03:49.320 get to go out and do authentic real 03:49.330 --> 03:51.889 training , hands on some classroom 03:51.899 --> 03:54.164 environment , much powerpoint , you 03:54.175 --> 03:56.231 know , so they get to focus on these 03:56.231 --> 03:58.397 tasks . Most importantly , they get to 03:58.397 --> 04:00.508 do it as a non commissioned officer , 04:00.508 --> 04:02.397 as a team leader . This is not an 04:02.397 --> 04:05.125 individual task , it's a team task . Um 04:05.255 --> 04:07.366 And the mentorship that we're able to 04:07.366 --> 04:09.588 provide them , especially from a senior 04:09.588 --> 04:11.884 NCO perspective is gonna help guide 04:11.895 --> 04:14.854 them in their careers for sure . Uh 04:15.725 --> 04:19.494 As , as NC OS are , are a trickle part 04:19.505 --> 04:21.665 of the army for any service for that 04:21.674 --> 04:24.920 matter . Um How is something like this 04:24.929 --> 04:26.929 really good at also helping them be 04:26.940 --> 04:29.299 prepared for a deployment . So this 04:29.309 --> 04:32.019 supports pretty much any operation 04:32.029 --> 04:34.559 overseas contingency gift map by 04:34.570 --> 04:37.750 teaching them how to do these tasks in 04:37.760 --> 04:39.982 an austere environment and gives them a 04:39.982 --> 04:42.920 baseline . All these tasks are utilized 04:42.929 --> 04:45.470 daily by any organization . So it gives 04:45.480 --> 04:47.702 them great familiarity so that when the 04:47.702 --> 04:49.758 time of need comes , whether that be 04:49.758 --> 04:51.536 control and entry control point 04:51.536 --> 04:53.647 overseas , they have familiarity with 04:53.647 --> 04:55.813 it , they have that proficiency to say 04:55.813 --> 04:57.980 I have done this before as a member of 04:57.980 --> 05:00.147 a team and I can do it . Now . Now the 05:00.147 --> 05:02.036 Defender University is completely 05:02.036 --> 05:04.258 separate from something like the NCOC . 05:04.470 --> 05:07.029 However , it's , it's built on the , on 05:07.040 --> 05:10.540 the same principles of NCO excellence . 05:10.549 --> 05:13.170 So as , as you go forward and we do 05:13.179 --> 05:15.730 these this year and future years , what 05:15.739 --> 05:17.739 is you one thing you want people to 05:17.739 --> 05:20.017 remember about why you do the Defender . 05:20.480 --> 05:23.839 So the Diviner University is out of a 05:23.850 --> 05:27.250 need right now to ad adjust to the fact 05:27.260 --> 05:30.660 that our NCO core has not had the 05:30.670 --> 05:33.049 ability to train at echelon a lot 05:33.059 --> 05:35.940 lately . So this program is designed to 05:35.950 --> 05:38.660 take our NC OS , teach them that they 05:38.670 --> 05:42.209 can train on these tasks that a class 05:42.220 --> 05:44.859 can be as simple as throwing down some 05:44.869 --> 05:47.779 lines on a map and doing it and to 05:47.790 --> 05:50.640 train it and to pull the TE and OS . So 05:50.649 --> 05:52.871 it's vital that we are able to get back 05:52.871 --> 05:56.329 to training as an NCO core and , and 05:56.339 --> 05:58.506 the intent is that eventually Defender 05:58.506 --> 06:01.079 University goes away because at echelon 06:01.089 --> 06:03.230 at that team , squad , platoon and 06:03.239 --> 06:05.295 company level , we've now built that 06:05.295 --> 06:07.720 capability and the capacity of our NCO 06:07.730 --> 06:10.480 Corps to take it on themselves . And at 06:10.489 --> 06:12.600 the root of it , that's the , that is 06:12.600 --> 06:14.656 the goal of Defender Universities to 06:14.656 --> 06:16.950 build our NCO Corps ability to train 06:16.959 --> 06:20.019 and develop junior soldiers . Uh In , 06:20.040 --> 06:22.262 in many places , I've been applied with 06:22.262 --> 06:24.850 other services from other countries and 06:24.859 --> 06:27.209 they often look at the U United States 06:27.220 --> 06:29.980 enlisted for as a whole and they see 06:29.989 --> 06:33.070 how professional that the MS Four 06:33.760 --> 06:36.750 US army , us Air Force , Marine Corps 06:36.760 --> 06:39.779 and so on . Um How does this reflect 06:39.790 --> 06:42.559 that ? So that's a great question . So 06:42.570 --> 06:44.681 that's things that we've been talking 06:44.681 --> 06:46.626 about throughout , you know , this 06:46.626 --> 06:48.626 course is that the NCO Corps in the 06:48.626 --> 06:50.848 United States Army and in all the dod , 06:50.848 --> 06:53.014 it's , it's mission command , it's our 06:53.014 --> 06:55.126 enabler . It's what makes us better . 06:55.126 --> 06:57.450 Um We talk about the role of the NCO . 06:57.459 --> 06:59.515 We talk about what it means to be an 06:59.515 --> 07:03.040 NCO , how NC Os fix today so officers 07:03.049 --> 07:06.040 can focus on tomorrow . Um We explain , 07:06.049 --> 07:08.230 you know , the role of mission command 07:08.239 --> 07:10.461 in operations to meet commanders intent 07:10.500 --> 07:12.869 and that when you build that trust , 07:12.880 --> 07:15.269 it's the NCO that says , hey , sir , 07:15.279 --> 07:17.390 hey , ma'am , I know what you want to 07:17.390 --> 07:19.612 get done . Don't tell me how to do it , 07:19.612 --> 07:21.835 I'll figure it out . Um And that's what 07:21.835 --> 07:24.001 makes us lethal . That's what we bring 07:24.001 --> 07:26.070 to bear that no other country can 07:26.079 --> 07:28.559 replicate and that's what makes us 07:28.570 --> 07:31.269 lethal . That's all I have . Is there 07:31.290 --> 07:33.401 anything else you wanna add regarding 07:33.489 --> 07:35.850 the , the training here ? I just wanna 07:35.859 --> 07:38.390 say thanks to uh Fort mccoy Range 07:38.399 --> 07:41.859 Control Insulation Garrison NCO Academy 07:41.869 --> 07:43.869 who's supporting all of our efforts 07:43.869 --> 07:45.536 here at Defender University , 07:45.536 --> 07:48.410 everything from providing fob freedom 07:48.500 --> 07:51.359 to the defect , feeding our soldiers to 07:51.369 --> 07:53.369 insulation management , making sure 07:53.369 --> 07:55.591 that we have what we need . NCO Academy 07:55.591 --> 07:57.925 will support the NCO induction ceremony , 07:57.925 --> 08:00.147 uh the 88th RD as well , providing some 08:00.147 --> 08:02.202 guidance and insight . Thank you for 08:02.202 --> 08:04.425 what you do . And uh we look forward to 08:04.425 --> 08:05.019 training here in the future .