Embedded Files
Jaguar Leadership Network
Collin A. Dickson
Camp Atterbury Oct. 23
Camp Atterbury Oct. 23
Leader's Reconnaissance
Camp Atterbury Oct. 23
Camp Atterbury Oct. 23
Leader's Reconnaissance
My First Drill
My First Drill
Learning What it Means to Lead a Battalion
The first day I went to Johnson County Armory and met the people who I would be shadowing for the next 1.5 years was one of the most interesting days of my life thus far. I had yet to meet any officers other than fresh II Lieutenants, most of them barely older than I was. At my unit there was at least a dozen NCO's, Warrant Officers, and Officers who had been leading soldiers longer than I had been alive.
Preliminary establishment of communications October 15th, 2023
What is SMP?
What is SMP?
The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) is designed to allow Army ROTC cadets to gain real experience assisting and learning from junior officers and non-commissioned officers while studying at a university. My Inactive Duty Training (drills) take place at Johnson County Armory in Franklin, IN and at Camp Atterbury.
I chose to join the Indiana Army National Guard and be a part of the SMP Program for a variety of reasons. I know real-world experience is invaluable, I also gain time-in-service while in the national guard; meaning that once I graduate and commission that time-in-service will result in higher pay. Lastly, this program is also a wonderful opportunity to network with people from all walks of life at all ranks and receive criticisms as well as advice.
What did I do?
What did I do?
As an ROTC Cadet my primary responsibility in the Indiana National Guard is to learn as much as possible while at my unit. For me this took the form of learning how complete numerous common forms that document important tasks and events including; Risk Assessment Sheets, the Army Combat Fitness Test Scorecard, and Preventative Maintenance Checks & Services forms. I also took part in an important meeting that oversaw planning of our Annual training in June and the nationwide Warfighter Exercise taking place in October.
Oct. 14th 2023-Flu and Covid Vaccinations
Prior Experience
Prior Experience
When to comes to connecting the classroom to the real world, my second drill was imperative to understanding a core document in the Army; an Operations Order (OPORD). In class thus far we had only covered how to dissect an OPORD and disseminate the necessary information to our platoon, squad, and team sized elements. At drill I had the opportunity to learn how an OPORD is created, all the key considerations that goes into making one, and the very specific formatting required.
Promotion Ceremony of Sergeant Webster to Staff Sergeant
Oct. 14th 2023
An important connection I made was the distinct difference between being in a training or classroom environment vs working as a member of an team. While in training new information is constantly drilled into you, but it can be hard to fully comprehend the necessity of what you're being taught. When it comes to the real world your efficacy as both a leader and a subordinate depends heavily on what you personally know, your ability to absorb information as quickly as possible, and the ability to execute a task within parameters within set time frames. Yes, there is always help to be found in any organization, but if a basic foundation isn't lain the entire structure can collapse. Being able to connect what I was taught over the summer and during my classes in the fall to real people and real problems made me appreciate my experiences and opportunities to grow even more.
Serving at Home & Abroad
Serving at Home & Abroad
Being apart of the Army means serving your country and the members of the NG have the opportunity to improve the communities where they live, serve, and work. Specifically; the 219th ENG BDE is often deployed to participate in domestic emergencies and reconstruction projects both on and off military installations. Our annual training partially consists of civil construction projects that involve the familiarization and use of heavy machinery, clearing and maintenance of public and government owned land, and the construction of training or educational and habitation facilities and roads. Members of the National Guard get deployed abroad roughly every 3-5 years; however there are also numerous opportunities to be deployed with other units as well as for deployments to be delayed based on personal circumstances.
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
This opportunity gave me the chance to interact with people from a multitude of backgrounds. The one that stood out to me the most was a senior NCO from Africa who immigrated and attended college here in the late 90s-early 2000s. It was both fascinating and enlightening to hear about the differences in how he was raised and grew up, as well as to hear about his experiences when he first immigrated and first joined the Army. He was able to share many important lessons and observations he has learned over the years, but specifically the stories and anecdotes about both the good and bad officers he served with were invaluable to me.
Funerary Processions of MSG Lasher November 1st 2023
Lasting Impressions
Lasting Impressions
On October 31st 2023, the 219th ENG BDE's Readiness NCO MSG Lasher Passed away due to traumatic injuries sustained during a car accident. This sudden and tragic lost deeply affected not just his friends and family, but many members of the our unit and in other components of the Army who served with and under him. While I didn't know him for very long, MSG Lasher's competence, dedication, and integrity made him one of the greatest role models I've ever had. Hearing about his service and experiences from people who served with him reinforced my desire to aspire to be like this great soldier.
Shortly After I joined the unit I had the fortuitous opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with our HHC Brigade commander; Lt. Col. Hoover. Lt. Col. Hoover started her career as a Chemical officer; the same position I aspire to be in, in a time where the Chemical Corps' reputation was even more dire than today. Despite the challenges innate to serving as a woman in the late 90s and the 2000s as well as facing the stigma of being a chemical officer, Lt. Col. Hoover was able to work her way up the ranks through competence, dedication, and humility. Learning about the Army's Chemical Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) and what they covered there encouraged me to double down on my studies; as what I learn in my pursuit of a Chemistry BA will aid me in doing well at BOLC. It was also due to the influence of her and many other soldiers in my unit that I decided to try to transfer to Active Duty after serving for a couple years once I graduate.
I am also looking into the possibility of transferring to a chemical unit in Indiana to better aid me in education on how to become a good officer and specifically to find out what I can expect what is expected and required of me as a chemical officer. This is due to the advice of people both in my unit and my ROTC program. This transfer may last until I graduate, could only be for 1 or two weekend drills, or may be part of my required annual training.
What's Next?
What's Next?
Based on the interactions I've had I am looking into the possibility of transferring to a chemical unit in Indiana to better aid me in education on how to become a good officer and specifically to find out what I can expect from working in a chemical unity and to discover what is expected and required of me as a chemical officer. This is due to the advice of people both in my unit and my ROTC program. This transfer may may be either until I graduate, or a temporary measure lasting around 6 months with the aim of gaining more experience. I also have the option of spending my two week long annual training either by doing something in my ROTC program or with a different INARNG unit.
On the civilian side; I am currently researching summer/fall internship programs with chemical firms in and around Indianapolis to participate in while I take summer classes and internship/research opportunities on campus at IUPUI. Once I graduate I aim to work in cosmetic science or environmental safety with the EPA.
Cadet Summer Training 2023;
Basic Camp 1st Reg. Graduation
Summary
Summary
Being a part of the SMP program has been an invaluable experience; I've had the opportunity to interact with a vast multitude of people from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds all of whom have some invaluable experience or advice. My biggest takeaway from this experience was to utilize all of the tools available to me. Being a part of the armed services comes with a lot of inherent benefits. More important however, are the opportunities associated both with the armed services and being a college student. There will never again be a time in my life after college that will be easier to explore my options, take advantge of opportunities, and expand my network of social and professional contact. The Army offers an uncountable number of professional, medical, and social services for its members to take advantage of if only they take the time to do their own research and reach out to any number of Department of Defense agencies. This experience has convinced me that my decision to join ROTC and the U.S. Army was the correct one and I honestly cannot envision where I would be in life without it, both currently and continuing in the future.
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