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CSM imparts knowledge of future leaders

  • Published
  • By Sgt. 1st Class Stan Maszczak
  • 174th Infantry Brigade
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  "Set the standard, know the standard, train the standard, follow the standard and enforce the standard. It's part of the hard right over the easy wrong for a reason."

Command Sgt. Maj. Calvin J. Coler, 174th Infantry Brigade command sergeant major, imparted these and many other words of wisdom imparted by during his keynote address at the Dix NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course Class 13-006 graduation here March 22, 2013.

The WLC is the first leadership course NCOs attend. The course emphasizes leadership skills. It focuses on Army Warrior Tasks such as map reading and land navigation, while incorporating leader responsibilities such as training management and war fighting.

Coler emphasized leadership and forward thinking during his address.

"I will tell you up front that a soldier will follow you to combat over and over again if you simply prove to him or her that you lead from the front," Coler said in his speech. "Prove to them you take pride in the Army, pride in the NCO corps and in your organization. Prove to your soldiers you are the type of sergeant that believes in getting out in front of issues before you find yourself behind them."

A Louisiana native with 28 years in the Army, Coler strives to continuously improve himself and stay in the front. With numerous military training courses, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees already under his belt, Coler is currently working on a doctor of philosophy in health sciences in addition to executing his duties as a brigade command sergeant major. He understands the importance of carving time out of his schedule to invest in the Army's junior leaders - many who will eventually become senior leaders.

"It's like we're the outgoing (leaders)," Coler said. "Those are new NCOs - that's the first developmental stage. Why not let them hear it from somebody who's been there before? That's the future of the Army. Why wouldn't you want to talk to the future of the Army?"

Leadership through preparation and personal accountability were also common themes during his speech.

"You can't expect what you fail to inspect," was a message WLC graduates heard more than once from Coler. "If you don't check your Soldiers on a day-to-day basis, and you don't do your PCCs (pre-combat checks) and PCIs (pre-combat inspections), why would you expect it to be a success when you never checked?"

One of the final thoughts the command sergeant major expressed to the 50 WLC graduates involved leadership as influence.

"My final aspiration for you is that the powers of your leadership will always far surpass that of your rank."