Hurndon: ‘Support will be an action verb’

During the 48th IBCT Senior Sergeants Conference, Civil War re-enactor Andrew Cole demonstrates the proper firing procedure for an artillery piece, circa. 1864at Kennesaw National Battlefield. The Soldiers, completing a 6-mile trek of the mountain park, quizzed their fellow Order of St. Barbara artillerymen (patron saint of heavy gunners) on proper firing procedures and the weapon itself.  (photo by Spc. Tracy J. Smith, 48th IBCT PAO)

By Spc. Tracy Smith
48th IBCT PAO

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Marietta, Ga. - Senior NCOs will be able to teach junior NCOs how to deal with problems while deployed thanks to empowerment and support skills learned during a first-of-its-kind 48th IBCT (L) Volunteer Brigade Senior Sergeants Conference June 27-28.

The invitation only event for 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Sergeants Major, 1st Sergeants and enlisted key leaders will enable them to educate the Corporals, Sergeants and Staff Sergeants who, once in Afghanistan, will be direct representatives of the brigade with the local population.

“Our Soldiers deserve the best leadership we can provide,” roared 48th IBCT (L) Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hurndon. “We are putting four big rocks in their ruck with the largest being an unwavering support of the Global War on Terror. We, collectively, are the example and need to train with tenacity, vigor and as if your life depends on it. Our Soldier’s life does!”

“This is a decentralized fight,” Tom Wilborn, guest speaker, retired 1st Sergeant and U. S. Army Infantry Hall of Famer, reminded the group. Wilborn now actively influences the fight as an advisor with the Asymmetric Warfare Group based in Washington, DC. He offered a mission brief and sound advice to the senior staff NCO saying. “Everything we do is to progress the Soldier in the field and we need to give these young NCOs what is necessary to be successful.”

As Iraqi Freedom combat veterans junior NCOs, have combat experience, but this time their role will be as diplomatic leaders and will involve more face versus trigger-time with the Afghani locals. They will have to make quick decisions as they alongside tribal elders conduct shuras (council meetings). Their tasks are also to motivate, encourage and advise as trainer/mentors to their Afghan National Security Force partners.

Trust, however, is not a trait predominate within the culture of the Pashtu people, who live by an unspoken Code of Honor that has dictates their way of life. This Pashtunwali code of ethics is driven by nang (honor) and tor (shame) and the insurgency, said Wilborn, has learned to strong-arm the kindness of the people by using this code to their advantage.

The code mandates a Muslim must give shelter and protection to another Muslim and by claiming Pashtunwali. According to Wilborn, this forcible refuge abuses the spiritual intent of the culture and way of life.

Georgia State Command Sergeant Major Neil Russell took advantage of the gathering of the single largest body of enlisted leadership to remind leaders to stay attuned to Soldier’s issues as the brigade prepares to take on a very different battle rhythm.

“Listen to the Soldier, tell them the truth, and talk to them often,” Russell encouraged. “Do everything you can to educate your Soldiers, not just during the train-up, but during the deployment by instilling trust and confidence that you will do what is required to make them successful; that you have their best interest at heart.”

Day two’s mid-morning finale brought the conferees to the site of a historic battle. At the base of Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield they listened as Andrew Cole, a Civil War historian and re-enactor explained that the weekend was a commemoration of 144 years since the deadliest day of fighting for the two-week Atlanta campaign in 1864.

“We don’t re-enact the fighting, we believe it dishonors what they fought for,” Cole, a history teacher with the Cobb County school system explained.

“We just want to show how they managed to live day-to-day.” With a brisk run up the 650 feet of the initial trail the teams donned 35 pound-plus rucks and hiked 4.5 miles of the historic mountain battlefield returning to the base of the Georgia Confederate Soldiers Memorial for final reflection.

With heads bowed it hit home the connection the 48th volunteer Soldier shared with their Citizen-Soldier counterparts of 1864.

The National Guard, the Citizen-Soldier, is not just a reserve component homeland force in readiness, but an integral operational force in the global war on terror.