THE GRIFFON • Fall 2014 • 23
Passion Drives Training at Echo Mission By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton 108th Training Command (IET) Public Affairs
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — “I love to teach, I love to teach!” exclaimed Army Reserve Drill Sergeant, Sgt 1st Class Kelsie Hagan, Echo Company, 1/518th Basic Combat Training (BCT) Battalion. Hagan, currently serving his extended combat training (ECT) at Fort Jackson, S.C., became a drill sergeant in 2002 and says “if you are going to put on the hat, then this [Echo Mission] is what you want to do.” “When you make the decision to become a drill sergeant, you make the decision to train Soldiers!” Echo Mission, held year round here at Fort Jackson, is an opportunity for Army Reserve Drill Sergeants to work side by side with their Active Component counterparts doing what drill sergeants do best- train Soldiers. Because of a shortage of Active Duty Drill Sergeants as well as
the need to field a fifth company at the 1/13th Infantry BCT, Army Reserve Drill Sergeants gladly accept the challenge to augment “Echo” Company. The result is a fine mix of Reserve Component instructors supported by a few Active duty component Soldiers to provide continuity. Echo Company noncommissioned officer in charge, 1st Sgt. Terry Patterson, 1/518th BCT Bn., says Echo Mission allows the Reserve component to train real world in the event the active duty counterpart is called forward. “[Echo Mission] keeps us up to the standard. The POI changes every six months to a year. This keeps us current so that when they pull our counterparts forward in times of need, we can step forward and fill that gap.” “We can come in and give them a break and remain current on our skills at the same time. This is a perishable skill,” Patterson added. Every three weeks another group of Army Reserve Drill
Sergeants comes through Echo Company, starting from the company commander and first sergeant, and filtering down to the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. Army Drill Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Fenecia Keitt, Echo
Co., 1/13th Inf. Bn., says Echo Mission presents some challenges because of the quick turn around of Reserve trainers that come through, but after a few days of learning each others strengths See PASSION page 24
A Soldier at the zero range during Initial Entry Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. practices her basic rifle marksmanship skills on the shadow box. The IET Soldiers are being taught basic combat skills training by a mixture of Active and Reserve component instructors known as Echo Mission. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton, 108th Training Command (IET) Public Affairs
8 Keys to Success Campus
Developed, in part, by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and more than 100 education experts, the 8 KEYS TO SUCCESS ON CAMPUS are eight concrete steps that can help veterans and service members transition into the classroom and thrive once they are there.
Army Reserve Drill Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Richard Walker, instructs an IET Soldier on the proper adjustments to her M-16A2 rifle after firing the first of several volleys during “zero day”. Walker is an instructor at Echo Mission, held year round at Fort Jackson, S.C. During Echo Mission, drill sergeants from the 98th Training Division (IET), Army Reserve, are partnered with their Active duty counterparts to provide training on basic combat skills to initial entry Soldiers. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Hamilton, 108th Training Command (IET) Public Affairs
Veterans at SWCC, in addition to having the benefit of our academic and career counselors, can also work with specialists in the Veteran’s Upward Bound Program and a Veteran’s Affairs Officer.
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