12 February 2010

NOTE FROM YOUR BATTALION SERGEANT MAJOR

  The purpose of this newsletter is to keep the members of the 1st battalion informed of what is going on, what will be happening in the future, and information on how to make our battalion better.

 Basic Military Police Course

    My congratulations to CW2 Randolph Pinner, WO1 Elizabeth Pinner, MSG Rick Richey, MSG Robert Rose, SSG Chestein, and PFC Marvin Mosley on the successful completion of the course.  As most of you know, the majority of our missions is in support of local Law Enforcement.  This training and certificate will enhance our ability to provide enhanced support to our Law Enforcement assistance missions.  "Well Done"

I would also like to extend my congratulations to MSG Rose, CPL M. Day, PFC Mosley, & PVT L. Day on the successful completion of the arduous and almost year long Security Specialist Course.  Another "Well Done"   

  The Past (2009) and the Future (2010)

    In 2009, 1^st Battalion assisted the Laurens Law Enforcement agencies with 5 events and participated in 4 Brigade events in addition to our monthly drills.  The battalion also ended the year with 5 Security Specialist (4 graduating in Nov 09) and 4 personnel who have completed the basic MP course.

  The battalion also gained signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Laurens Police Department, the Laurens Sheriff's Office, the Laurens Emergency Management Division, and the Laurens Cancer Society to further enhance our security support to these agencies.   

  In respect to personnel, the battalion ended the year with 17 Officer & Enlisted personnel on the rolls.  The battalion started the year with approximately 20 Officers & Enlisted but with losses due to expiration of enlistments & transfers to Active Reserve and Division Training the battalion had a net loss of 3 soldiers.  Not exactly our goal for the year.  This means that for 2010 we will have to continue our aggressive recruitment campaign to increase the number of soldiers available to meet our missions.  

   The Future (2010)

  2010 promises to be an equally busy and exciting year for the battalion.  In addition to the 9 recurring events in support of Laurens Law Enforcement and Brigade events, the battalion has restructured our training program to meet our mission essential task lists (METL).  Battalion training will start at 0800 and end at 1700 (or whenever the day's training is completed but no later than 1700).  An additional goal is to increase the percentage of hands-on training with performance measures to enhance our support of Law Enforcement agencies.  

  No one likes "tests" because of the possibility of failure.  However, it is a necessary component of our training to show those we support that we are not unqualified "wannabee's" (adj. Wishing or aspiring to be; would-be.) but rather dedicated, trained, and capable of meeting Army, Law Enforcement Support Officer, and national emergency response standards.  It is therefore incumbent upon our NCOs and training staff to prepare comprehensive training materials to take our soldiers from "something known to unknown" in a manner that reinforces the training objectives and gives our soldiers the confidence and ability to meet the required performance & knowledge standards.

  As part of this effort to train our soldiers, we must first train the trainers on how to effectively teach to objectives and performance measures.  Teaching is not only reading from a book but rather using both visual aids (a picture is worth a 1000 words) and the effective method of using the training materials to take our soldiers from what is known to what is unknown or rather allows the soldier to build on what he already knows.  Additional information on effective teaching can be found by clicking on the following link: Teaching2.

  Therefore, Knowledge should be discovered as an integrated whole.  Knowledge should not be divided into different subjects or compartments, but should be discovered as an integrated whole (McMahon 1997; Di Vesta 1987).  Engaging and challenging the learner.  Learners should constantly be challenged with tasks that refer to skills and knowledge just beyond their current level of mastery. This will capture their motivation and build on previous successes in order to enhance the confidence of the learner (Brownstein 2001). This is in line with Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development which can be described as the distance between the actual developmental level (as determined by independent problem-solving) and the level of potential development (as determined through problem-solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers) (Vygotsky 1978).  Vygotsky (1978) further claimed that instruction is good only when it proceeds ahead of development. Then it awakens and rouses to life an entire set of functions which are in the stage of maturing, which lie in the zone of proximal development. It is in this way that instruction plays an extremely important role in development.

  So in March, we will change the proposed training schedule to reflect 8 hours of "How to Teach".  With some outstanding and dedicated soldiers in our battalion, giving them the tools necessary to conduct comprehensive, effective, and exciting training sessions.

In Closing.

  It is an honor to serve with some truly outstanding soldiers in 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, and the South Carolina State Guard.  Soldiers who strive to be better at what we do, thrive on challenges, always endeavors to be more professional in our appearance and conduct, and whose only goal is to assist those in need during times of man-made and natural disasters.

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Last modified: December 06, 2008