TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01students “Best leadership laboratory in the world!”enough. Now it was time to celebrate!Brian would find out first hand soonFort Carson, Colorado, December 2019Second Lieutenant Wilson stood in line at the personnel processing center behind a youngsergeant. He was anxious to get to his unit and thought this standing in line business was flatstupid in this digital age. He groused to no one in particular, “What a colossal waste of time!We should be able to in-process electronically in this day and age.”“Excuse me, Sir,” the Sergeant said very respectfully. “I’ve been in this line about fiveminutes and it seems to be taking about that long for each Soldier. Would you like to move up,Sir? You are an officer, after all.”“No, of course not,” Wilson replied ashamed for complaining out loud. “I suppose this is anecessary evil.”“Right, Sir. It does seem a bit evil and all. I mean getting that nano chip implant is notsupposed to hurt, but it would be a damned difficult thing to do on line, don’t you agree,lieutenant?”The gentle comment stung Wilson, but he thought the sergeant was wise beyond his years.“That’s why we’re here? I heard about this, but I didn’t think they’d fielded the implants yet.“Hey, Sergeant, where are you headed?”“Third Brigade, Sir. And you?”“Me too. Good thing I didn’t try to pull rank on you. I’d be a pariah on arrival!”Chuckling, the sergeant held out his hand. “Sergeant Deans, Sir. Billy Deans, Mrs. Deans’little boy from Birmingham, Alabama.”Wilson took the sergeant’s hand just as the clerk said, “Next.”Wilson told the sergeant that if he needed a ride to the brigade he should wait for himoutside. Sergeant Deans agreed, wondering just what kind of car the lieutenant drove. He’dseen the jump wings and Ranger tab. This guy was no wuss. He’d also treated Deans prettydecently. Maybe he’d be better than his first platoon leader. Deans winced inside when hethought about that screaming madman. Thank God he’d made sergeant and got to do the basicnoncommissioned officer course (BNCOC). It got him out of range of that training company.Things were awful sour there. It wasn’t just the lieutenant. Some of the NCO were just as shortfused, maybe taking the lead from the platoon leader. Deans already knew enough aboutleadership that he didn’t want to emulate any of those guys. BNCOC taught them better.“Well,” he mused, “even that unit was better than being back on the block in Birmingham.” He23