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This article originally appeared in the Ft Benning Bayonet. OCS TEAM By BOC David Sheronas / BOC Joe Bailey Officer Candidate School 21 May 2000
Competition Bolsters Teamwork for Officer Candidates
When Officer Candidate Mathew Feehan crossed the finish line with a time of 15:19 to place first in the General’s 5K Fun Run May 19, it was the third time he’d done so in less than two weeks. Feehan, like many of his classmates in Officer Candidate School Class 4-00, gladly and proudly volunteered to represent his class, and A Company, 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment (OCS) as a whole, in various athletic events throughout Military Appreciation Week. Feehan first competed – and won – on behalf of OCS May 6 in the 3-mile run (16:13) at the Joint Military Athletic Competition, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, when Army OCS competed against the Navy and Air Force Officer Candidate/Training Schools. He again participated and won May 17 in the mile run at the Fit-To-Win Competition in Doughboy Stadium with a time of 4:45. When asked why he was willing to compete, Feehan replied, “because it’s a way I can contribute to our team - our class.” Such sentiment has been echoed by all of Feehan’s fellow competitors and classmates. OC Robert Walker, who anchored an undersized but victorious tug-of-war team for 4-00 at the Fit-To-Win Competition, said it wasn’t just the teamwork aspect that motivated him to compete, but the chance to perform under pressure. Although it was only a tug-of-war contest, Walker said, “winners and leaders produce under stress.” Similarly, though team success is most important to her, OC Uche Heyward said she feels “very competitive and likes to be challenged physically and mentally.” In speaking with officer candidates, it quickly becomes apparent there are certain threads tying them all together: a desire to be the best at whatever they do and an understanding of the value of teamwork. Though the two can often be at odds, it is common principal at OCS to bring both the concepts together in order to produce the best results. “I don’t put much value on being first by myself, but I’m more interested in being part of a winning team and contributing to the overall goal,” said OC Traci Belcher, who placed 1st in the mile with a time of 6:02. “Most leaders aren’t satisfied or shouldn’t be if they’re not giving a 100% - they need to set the example. How can you be satisfied if the finished product isn’t what it could be” While events like these give candidates the chance to get out of the everyday training school environment, it also provides the opportunity to build esprit de corps through competition, which helps build further confidence in their leadership abilities. “Most candidates know they must lead by example, and to do that, they must demonstrate the quality to get out in front,” said Capt. Wesley Dumas, Senior TAC Officer, A Co., 3/11th Inf. Reg. (OCS). “These events give the candidates the opportunity to set the example.” “As future leaders, we at Army leadership schools stress fitness,” said Capt. Ronnie Preston, Company Commander, A Co., 3/11th (OCS). “We emphasize and stress to the candidates the importance of leading from the front in all aspects of life. We can not ask soldiers to be fit if we are not fit.” Leading from the front is reinforced daily at OCS. Candidates are placed in positions of leadership in order to bolster development at every level of soldiering. Working together as a team is a major developing tool used at the school. Teamwork is utilized to achieve the mission everyday. “In the case of competitive athletic events,” said Feehan, “physical fitness and discipline ties in with the OCS mission of creating and fostering the ideas of leadership and teamwork.”
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The OCS 4-00 Class Website is maintained by Jason Edwards
This website is hosted by Trackpads.com |
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The OCS 4-00 Class Website is maintained by Jason Edwards
This website is hosted by Trackpads.com |
