First Lt. Eric Guzman Costa, a platoon leader with C Company, 548th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, writes down recommendations from his company commander, March 17, 2022, during a Unit Training Management course on Fort Drum, New York. The UTM team from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, led a three-day course to help leaders from the brigade refresh their knowledge on Field Manual 7-0, Training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Neysa Canfield, 10th MDSB Public Affairs Office)
Unit Training Management enhances Sustainers’ readiness
Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield
10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (March 17, 2022) – From platoon to brigade level, leaders refreshed their skills during Unit Training Management, March 15-17, on Fort Drum, New York.
A UTM Mobile Training Team from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, led the three-day management course for the leadership within the brigade.
According to Jimmy Davis, the lead trainer for the mobile training team, the purpose of the course is to refresh leaders with the guidance under Field Manual 7-0, Training, and to teach them how to execute all the requirements under the doctrine.
“We know that training management is a problem throughout the Army, and we want to help units build crosswalks and training calendars and then help them understand how to execute those plans,” Davis added.
For leaders like Capt. Ashley Jackson, commander for C Company, 548th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), the course was beneficial not only for herself but also for her younger officers.
“As a commander, I have to ensure a shared understanding with my junior leaders,” Jackson said. “This course helped my platoon leaders and sergeants see and understand the bigger picture of why we plan and execute training instead of just seeing it from their spectrum.”
Jackson, who has been in command since July 2021, said this training also was beneficial to help build morale and trust with her Soldiers.
“My Soldiers provide constant transportation support for units throughout the division, and a training calendar allows us as leaders to better dictate our time management for our troops,” Jackson added. “However, more importantly, these calendars also allow us to give the Soldiers predictability so that outside of their busy work life they can also have their personal life.”
During the last day of the course, Davis and his team allowed company leadership to brief their battalion commanders on their training plans.
“Before we leave these leaders with all these new resources and information, we want them to have a foundation which is why we have them brief their leadership,” said Davis. “For this unit to be successful when we leave, we need participation from all levels. We were happy to see that (10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade) did that because it will definitely help them succeed in the future.”