Leader's Training Course

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Drill finds different ways to motivate Delta

Posted on July 18, 2011 by PAO

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Rugg quizzes the members of fourth platoon from Delta Company on the history of the United States. Those who answered a question incorrectly had to do push-ups. Photo by Sammy Jo Hester/ LTC PAO

By Alex Aspacher
Staff writer

Although he has four children of his own at home, Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Rugg agreed to leave his family behind to take on the responsibility of grooming Cadets into potential Soldiers.

Rugg, who has 15 years of Army experience, was stationed at Fort Knox while he was mobilized as a scout from 2004-06. He returned after he was asked earlier this year to serve as a cadre member at the Leader’s Training Course.

Rugg brought with him some of the tools that make him a successful parent, he said. There are similarities between the way he has raised his children and the methods he’s using to motivate the Cadets of Delta Company’s fourth platoon as one of its drill sergeants.

He calls one of those tools the “daddy’s disappointed game,” which he resorts to when yelling and forced physical training doesn’t get the message across.

“Yesterday, the platoon just went to hell in a handcart,” Rugg said. “They started to figure out that we don’t have a lot of traditional control because they’re not really in the Army.”

Cadets are not yet bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and some of them see Rugg’s yelling as the worst punishment he can dish out, he said. Sometimes he and other cadre members enter “whatever mode,” in which they demonstrate apathy and disappointment toward a lack of motivation or success.

“We just started pouting around them, and we noticed a bit of a difference in them today,” Rugg said. “Today they were respectful and quiet, and they were doing what they were supposed to. If we can get them to do that when nobody’s looking, which is integrity, one of the Army Values, then we’ve done our job. Sometimes we have to play that head game … to get them back into the swing of things.”

The other cadre members in Delta Company don’t just approve of that method; they sometimes use it themselves. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Vanderpool, one of the company’s drill sergeants, said Rugg’s instruction and leadership are invaluable, and he can sometimes rely upon him to be the “acting platoon sergeant.”

“He has been a vital asset to this platoon,” Vanderpool said. “When we have to make the brains of this platoon work, he can step in and do it or I can do it, but he’s just as capable as I am. … If I was gone he would be fully capable of running this platoon.”

When Rugg is finished at LTC, he’ll return to his responsibilities as an Army Reservist out of Lexington, Ky., and police officer in the nearby town of Nicholasville. He said he wanted to work in law enforcement ever since he completed basic training.

Rugg, who has been a police officer for nearly 12 years and a SWAT member since 2006, has many stories from that experience. The one he remembers most was the first time he had to assert his authority as an officer, he said.

“I dealt with a guy who was high on methamphetamine and cocaine and was punching out car windows with his bare hands,” he said. “I was the first unit on the scene, and when I got out of the car, he was screaming at people on a balcony.”

The man then turned his attention to Rugg, who drew his weapon.

“He turned and looked at me and said, ‘You’ve got two options. You’re gonna kill me, or let me go,’ ” he said.

After calling for backup, Rugg used his pepper spray and “ended up shooting him right in the mouth.”

The man immediately spit out the pepper spray and replied, “Now you pissed me off,” Rugg said. Now in a “drugged-out frenzy,” the man began violently shaking a truck back-and-forth while Rugg attempted to subdue him with his baton.

Another officer finally arrived, and he stood 6-feet, 10-inches tall. The duo got the suspect on the ground, but he began doing push-ups with both men on his back, Rugg said.

More backup eventually arrived, but not until the man “mule kicked” Rugg and cracked three of his ribs. It took nine officers to finally capture him because of the increased strength and tolerance for pain that can come with methamphetamine use, Rugg said.

“I took a trip to the hospital, and he went to jail,” Rugg said. “The funny part about it was that, a few days later, he showed up at the police department and asked to speak to me. He said that I probably saved his life, because he had been on a three-day methamphetamine and cocaine binge.”

Rugg said the experience both built his confidence and validated his motives for entering law enforcement almost 12 years ago.

“I wouldn’t trade jobs with anybody,” Rugg said. “Being a police officer is very rewarding. It’s not just about writing tickets. You get to help people and catch the bad guys. It’s not because of the adrenaline rush or anything like that. It’s because I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Bravo!: Second company takes a bow

Posted on July 16, 2011 by PAO

Cadet Neriann Velez recites the Soldier's Creed at the Bravo Company graduation Saturday on Fort Knox's Brooks Field. Photo by Dorothy Edwards/LTC PAO

By Caitlin VanOverberghe
Staff writer

They traveled from across the country, many meeting for the first time in the Louisville airport in the middle of June. They were strangers then, but things have changed.

Saturday morning, as they stood under a cloudy sky on their graduation day, Leader’s Training Course Commander Col. Eric Winkie reminded the Cadets of Bravo Company they are now family — part of the Army family.

It took “a little dose of peer pressure” as Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, the graduation’s guest speaker and commander for the Army Human Resources Command, said when she addressed the 196 Cadets, knowing how they have pushed each other through many tasks.

“I suspect many of you came to Fort Knox with great expectations, perhaps a little anxiety and even some doubt about yourselves. Standing here, four weeks later, many of you surprised yourselves at what you could accomplish.”

That was the case for Cadet Jeremy Engalla of the College of New Jersey. Standing only 4 feet, 11 inches tall, his buddies teased him, saying he’s leaving a giant.

“I’m actually feeling really proud of myself right now because I came to LTC not knowing if I could do it or not and not knowing if I could do well,” he said after the ceremony.

Feeling “stiff” yet “ecstatic,” Cadets gathered all around Brooks Field as LTC alumni, interacting with their families and preparing to say good-bye to those newfound friends they have grown close to.

Cadet Brian Geil of the University of Georgia said that over the past 29 days he and his fellow Cadets have done everything together. From singing songs on the bus and in the shower, to picking on drill sergeants and being forced to do push-ups, he has grown close to his company and his platoon.

“Everything else we did was fun,” he said of completing the physical activities at LTC, “but it’s the people that we’re going to miss the most.”

While the activities challenged their physically ability, their mental skills were also tested and they were forced to discover their weaknesses and overcome their fears.

Cadet John Gillespie of Utah State University said his hardest task was the situational training exercise lanes because it made him do just that.

“I wasn’t used to being in those positions or having to make those kind of calls,” he said. “So it was taking me out of element and putting me in a place where I needed to learn the most. I was finding out my own weaknesses in front of everyone, but I was learning from it. That was the most difficult activity, but the most rewarding.”

From here, Cadets return to their respective schools to continue their civilian education and prepare to attend the Leadership Development and Assessment Course next summer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

“I definitely enjoyed the camaraderie. All the events tested our team-building, so we got know our squads and develop a really tight bond,” said Ken Hashimoto of the University of Hawaii. “I’m gonna miss it.”

Panels offer advice, lessons learned from veteran Soldiers

Posted on July 16, 2011 by PAO

Cadets of Charlie Company take notes during the leadership panel. Photo by Sammy Jo Hester/LTC PAO

By Noelle Wiehe
Staff writer

Cadets are always encouraged to learn from their mistakes. But having only limited exposure to the Army, there has not been a lot militarily for them to to learn from yet.

To aid in their development, each company at the Leader’s Training Course takes part in a leadership panel where they hear from five veteran Soldiers who share their experiences and advice and field questions from Cadets.

The latest took place Friday for Charlie Company.

The panel consisted of four men and one woman officer, all with varying backgrounds and viewpoints. A Charlie Co. Cadet introduced them: an infantry officer, a Reserve training engineer officer, an aviation officer, a field artillery office and an air defense artillery officer.

“Someone or something influenced you to come here to the Army,” said Maj. Patrick Colloton, the infantry officer. “Open yourself up to those folks and draw on their experiences.”

Cadets’ questions ranged from what to look forward to as a commissioned leader to the difficulty of being the lone female in an all-male battalion.

“Don’t fall out of the runs, and always be professional,” Ro Clemente, the air defense artillery officer said. “Physical fitness is the first thing Soldiers will see and notice about you, whether you are male or female. It really shows how dedicated you are.”

Many Cadets’ attention was caught by the Reserve training engineer officer, Maj. Danny Jennejohn.

Cadet Paul Gregory of the University at Buffalo is majoring in civil engineering, and Jennejohn may have sparked his interest in going into the Reserves.

“I want to serve my country in some way,” Gregory said, “but I’m not so sure about moving. It seems like a good possibility.”

Another Cadet had interest in past regrets of the officers. Cadet Kyle Padilla of Georgia Military College asked if there was anything they wished they had done in their past.
Jennejohn urged them to “get as much education as you can, while you are still young.”

Oklahoma State University Cadet Nicholas Johnson has already finished his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is working for his master’s. He was inspired by Jennejohn’s advice, and decided he should do some research to figure out what he wants to branch.

“This definitely helped,” Johnson said.

A theme of the panel members was their love of the military.

When a Cadet asked how the officers chose their branches, none hesitated to answer — they all knew why they chose what they did.

“I picked a branch which was in line with my college major,” Jennejohn said. “Now I’m doing two things I wanted to do in my life – I’m in the Army, and I’m an engineer.”

Gross said he happened upon his branch of aviation.

“I rode in a helicopter at advance camp, and after that I didn’t give it a second thought,” he said.

Colloton emphasized an important aspect Cadets will gain in the Army.

“Being an officer in the Army is the single most respected position, bar none,” he said. “What makes you a valuable commodity coming out of the Army is your leadership.”

Cadet a father figure, at home and at LTC

Posted on July 16, 2011 by PAO

Delta Company Cadet Mike Kitchens (in yellow life vest), 30, of Utah State University, pulls a rucksack floating behind him at Call of the Wild. Kitchens is considered a father figure within the company, being a father of three kids, who are at home with his wife. Photo by Sammy Jo Hester/LTC PAO

By Thomas Gounley
Staff writer

Charlie Cadet Mike Kitchens left his three kids at home when he came to the Leader’s Training Course, but he hasn’t completely shed the role.

“I think of it as having a father figure, because he is a father,” said Charlie Cadet Charles Hunckle, of Wentworth Military Academy, of having Kitchens in his squad.

At 30, Kitchens, who had to get a waiver to attend the Leader’s Training Course because he exceeds the age-admission limit, stands out in a field of Cadets who are teenagers and in their early 20s. But his age also means he comes with a background that benefits his company as a whole.

“I’m in a little bit of a different position,” he said.

After graduating from high school, Kitchens, a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, spent two years in Mexico City as part of a mission trip. Upon his return, he attended Brigham Young University–Idaho, graduating with a degree in sociology. While there, he met his wife and got married at age 24.

The couple moved to the Washington, D.C., area after graduation, where Kitchens got a job with a county law enforcement agency. Having gone through a six-month police academy, Kitchens is no stranger to training, but finds LTC has more of a focus on leadership and team-building.

“The military is unique because it has its own way of doing things,” he said.

After two-and-a-half years in law enforcement, Kitchens decided the role wasn’t the right fit for him.

“I didn’t like the personality I was developing,” he said.

The family, which at that time included two kids, moved back to Utah so Kitchens’ wife could attend school. Then Kitchens followed suit, enrolling in his current program at Utah State University to become a physician’s assistant. The return to education prompted Kitchens to take a fresh look at joining the military, an option he had been considering since his undergraduate days.

His wife, herself a former member of the National Guard, was supportive.

“If anything, she’s been excited,” he said.

Whereas he worked with many former members of the military in law enforcement, Kitchens finds himself doing it the opposite way.

“I’m doing it a little bit reverse, as far as most people do,” he said.

With his age and four dependents, he wasn’t the typical person walking up to military recruiters, but the Army was willing to take him on. From there, things progressed quickly.

“To be honest, it was a roller coaster of a ride,” he said of the recruiting process. “It was Tuesday night as I was going into work that I found out I was going to LTC on Thursday.”

His main adjustment at LTC has been being away from his three kids, ages 5, 3 and 9 months.

“I’m a bit of a homebody, to be honest,” he said.

However, Kitchens’ experience means he brings a level-headed approach to the training at LTC, which has a way of influencing those in his squad and platoon. For Huncke, 18, that moment came during the Team Development Course.

“He kept telling us it was nothing,” Hunckle said. “Him doing that made me stay on the board.”

Hunckle, who wants to become a doctor, also sees in Kitchens’ medical ambitions a version of what he wants to do in the future.

“When he talks about PA, I know what he’s talking about,” he said.

Kitchens’ father-figure role works both ways, however. While he gives advice from his life experience, he also has a tendency to celebrate their accomplishments.

“There are some young Cadets here that are absolutely impressive,” he said. “Of course, there is a little bit of a generation gap.”

Uprisings gave Delta member front-row seat to history

Posted on July 15, 2011 by PAO

Delta Company Cadet Tanvir Kalam attended the Leader's Training Course just months after being evacuated from Egypt, where he had been studying Arabic. Photo by Sammy Jo Hester/LTC PAO

By Sara Nahrwold
Staff writer

With his suitcase in hand and food still sitting in his apartment, Delta Company Cadet Tanvir Kalam waited at the airport for four days to leave Cairo when the revolution broke out in February.

“There were flights leaving the airport every couple of hours because the U.S. government was trying to get us all out,” he said. “It was really hectic.”

Although he had to leave Cairo, he felt lucky to witness history.

“I feel like so far I’ve personally experienced two events, 9/11 and the revolution,” Kalam said. “It’s kind of nice to be able to say I was right there when it happened.”

The student at Binghampton University in upstate New York was studying Arabic at the American University of Cairo when his time there was cut short by almost a semester.

“I was majoring in English, and I finished my English major with a year left to go,” he said. “I figured I would broaden my horizons and take Arabic, and there’s no better way to learn a language than to actually live where it’s spoken every day.”

While in Cairo, Kalam was taking five Arabic classes a day, taking advantage of improving his language skills.

“The language barrier was difficult in a sense because you have to really invest a lot of time,” he said. “It’s written the opposite way of English, and there are so many verb tenses and the verbs change around so much. There’s a lot of Arabic that you have to sit down in your free-time and write words over 100 times.”

The language skills he learned while in Cairo will help him in the future, said Lt. Col. Sean Ryan, the company tactical officer for Delta Company.

“It’s a really long process,” Ryan said of being able to speak and understand another language fluently. “Start now, and you will enhance your ability to learn languages.”

Cadets can start learning foreign languages now by focusing on the vocabulary and conjugation, but the conversational skills will take time to develop, Ryan said.

Kalam was able to use the language skills he acquired through his Arabic classes to manage everyday tasks in Cairo. He said he was well-received by Egyptians, despite the recent tension in the region.

“Everyone wanted to take us out and take us to their shop, show us around and talk to us even the ones that had poor English,” Kalam said of going shopping. “There was never a moment where I felt I was in danger or under any threat.”

His six-month stay in Egypt was the longest amount of time he had spent on his own outside the United States. That prepared him to be independent, a trait necessary for the Leader’s Training Course just a few months after he was evacuated.

“Basically everything you need to do to survive, I learned to do that on my own in a foreign country,” he said. “I guess it taught me more about myself than I thought it would just because I was forced to be totally independent.”

About the same time he came back to the States, he found out he received a slot at LTC, which he applied to in December. He said there is a direct link between Cairo and him at LTC.

“I actually enjoyed the Middle East so much that I figured I should actually look into a career where I will get to go back and help because I had an awesome time there,” Kalam said. “I figure the Army is a great way to travel.”

After LTC, he wants to finish his second degree in Arabic, which will take two years to complete. After that, he wants to do military intelligence and then civil affairs.

Kalam’s knowledge of a foreign language will help him while deployed in his career, Ryan said.

“Immediately it’s a rapport-builder to be able to speak in very generic terms in someone else’s native tongue,” Ryan said. “More and more we are dealing with other governments and other nations, understanding different people and keeping the peace that way.”

With his increased knowledge of the Middle East, Kalam said the region will be important in his future.

“The revolutions will get a lot more important, and I feel like the U.S. has to play its part,” he said. “I feel like it’s almost my obligation to contribute to the U.S.’s efforts and maintain good relations in the Middle East.”