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As soon as she caught the first glimpses of fire trucks, yellow police tape and mass commotion early on a Monday morning in August, Erika Brooks began to realize her duties as the team leader for a Mobile Education Training Team in Kaiserslautern, Germany, would drastically change.
Brooks and three fellow instructors, Lyle Adams, Mike Bell and Dr. Bob Brunk, had arrived the day before to teach the Civilian Education System’s two-week Basic Course to 32 Department of Army civilian students from throughout Germany.
During the night, the building housing one of the team’s classrooms caught fire. The fire gutted half of the structure before being brought under control. One of the two classrooms and the supporting computer lab were totally destroyed.
Brooks’ first words were, “You have got to be kidding me.”
Fortunately, the second classroom was safe in a nearby building.
In essence, the METT could still pull off half of its mission — but half of success was not acceptable to the METT team. Through coordination with the hosting for an alternate classroom, surveying the students to pull together needed resources, and pooling the remaining course materials, the seminar kicked off only four hours behind schedule.
Throughout the course, the instructors perceived distinctness about their students as they collectively faced the challenges of limited supplies, intermittent technology, and others brought on by fire. The perseverance the students displayed toward making their course happen in spite of the setbacks was particularly evident.
The Basic Course teaches small group leadership skills encouraging students to step up, take the lead and make things happen for each other and for their teams. What a better way to test a group of Army civilian employees’ resilience and stick-to-itiveness than having them deal with their classroom going up in smoke on day one? Without a doubt, the students made their Basic Course happen.
Department of Army civilians interested in CES courses should visit the Army Management Staff College website at http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil.
As soon as she caught the first glimpses of fire trucks, yellow police tape and mass commotion early on a Monday morning in August, Erika Brooks began to realize her duties as the team leader for a Mobile Education Training Team in Kaiserslautern, Germany, would drastically change.
Brooks and three fellow instructors, Lyle Adams, Mike Bell and Dr. Bob Brunk, had arrived the day before to teach the Civilian Education System’s two-week Basic Course to 32 Department of Army civilian students from throughout Germany.
During the night, the building housing one of the team’s classrooms caught fire. The fire gutted half of the structure before being brought under control. One of the two classrooms and the supporting computer lab were totally destroyed.
Brooks’ first words were, “You have got to be kidding me.”
Fortunately, the second classroom was safe in a nearby building.
In essence, the METT could still pull off half of its mission — but half of success was not acceptable to the METT team. Through coordination with the hosting for an alternate classroom, surveying the students to pull together needed resources, and pooling the remaining course materials, the seminar kicked off only four hours behind schedule.
Throughout the course, the instructors perceived distinctness about their students as they collectively faced the challenges of limited supplies, intermittent technology, and others brought on by fire. The perseverance the students displayed toward making their course happen in spite of the setbacks was particularly evident.
The Basic Course teaches small group leadership skills encouraging students to step up, take the lead and make things happen for each other and for their teams. What a better way to test a group of Army civilian employees’ resilience and stick-to-itiveness than having them deal with their classroom going up in smoke on day one? Without a doubt, the students made their Basic Course happen.
Department of Army civilians interested in CES courses should visit the Army Management Staff College website at http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil.
