FORT KNOX, Ky. – 6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets tackled the team development course (TDC) as part of their leadership development, August 3.
6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets discuss their plan to tackle their objective on the team development course at Fort Knox, Ky., Aug 2, 2019. | Photo by Mary Kate Griffin, CST Public Affairs Office.
The course evaluates Cadets on their ability to plan and execute objectives in simulated tactical scenarios with limited resources. The TDC is challenging as it requires Cadets to remain cohesive within their squads.
“Everyone has different ideas and is capable of different movements,” said Cadet Christy Morales, attending the University of Central Arkansas. “We eventually got specific people to do specific things and others just followed as needed.”
Throughout the course, squad leadership rotates giving more Cadets an opportunity to lead. When they are not leading, Cadets have the opportunity to learn from the successes – and failures – of the squad leaders before them.
6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadet Soren Wolfdegavia, University of Portland, works with a fellow squad member to complete a mission on the team development course at Fort Knox, Ky., Aug 2, 2019. | Photo by Mary Kate Griffin, CST Public Affairs Office.
“I have seen people step over the leader, and the leader has had to step over people who were already talking,” said Katelyn Sacco, a Cadet at Rutgers University. “I want to be an assertive leader but I also want to properly delegate roles to my followers.”
Sacco said that observing the interactions between previous leaders and followers influenced how she chose to interact with her squad.
6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadet Esther Davis, University of West Florida, talks to her squad on the team development course at Fort Knox, Ky., Aug 2, 2019. | Photo by Mary Kate Griffin, CST Public Affairs Office.
“I am just trying to be quiet since there were a lot of other leaders in the previous mission we completed,” said Sacco. “I just want to be a good follower and focus on following the designated leadership through this exercise.”
Cadet Wilims Mora, from the University of Houston, expressed how he felt that a single leader makes mission execution more efficient.
“Whenever there is a leader, I firmly believe that he or she should be the one planning,” said Mora. “The leader should be delegating roles as opposed to everyone throwing out ideas and confusing everyone.”
For Cadets who are anxious to lead, following may be difficult. Regardless of rank or position, however, each person has a role to play in carrying the team to success. The team building that Cadets experience at the TDC are invaluable lessons in leadership as well as followership.
