FORT KNOX, Ky. – Boom, Pow, Bam! Shots fired, take cover!
“Today we did an attack on Objective Megatron. We’re supposed to get to a location that is roughly around 500 meters away, [but] that did not happen. We got attacked a lot sooner,” said Cadet Allen Nunez, a University of Kansas student, assigned to 1st Platoon, 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp.
As platoon leader, Nunez is in charge of planning, executing, and coordinating a mission strategy for his team. Due to the surprise attack, the plan for this mission ended up falling apart. Since they had to move out quickly, the squad leaders had to figure out next steps and adapt a new path for their team. Although Nunez helped to make key calls, the others needed to find a direction first. Seeing everyone adapt to the plan, make a new one, and finish the mission at the end of the day made Nunez happy.
“When the mission ended, I already knew what kind of game we were playing,” said Nunez, “We’re playing the ‘they’re trying to stress you out to see what kind of decisions you were about to make on this mission.’ I understood the task, [but] it was just does everyone else understand it around me? And for the most part, they did a really good job.”
The stress that builds under pressure can be hard at times. However, Nunez and his team were able to act and determine the best course of action to complete the objective. While not every mission succeeds, with or without a plan, what matters is that the leader makes the right calls. For Nunez, he was able to do his job effectively and get his team through the mission. His past leadership experience helping him to have the skills necessary to succeed.
“I was an 11 Charlie,” said Nunez, “It’s a mortarman in the infantry world. I led around 44 people, once as a platoon sergeant in the 173rd in Italy. I was [also] stationed at Fort Drum, New York, and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I was a mortarman. So pretty much just dropping bonds into a cannon and going boom somewhere else.”
Nunez served for ten years as a Non-Commissioned Officer for his military occupational specialty. Upon reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant, he decided that he got as far as he wanted as an NCO for his MOS position. Yet, since high school he knew he wanted to be an officer. So, when he heard about the green to gold path he applied. Now at CST to become an officer, his past as prior enlisted serves as a strong support for his current leadership role. The experience built over those years providing Nunez with a better approach to being a leader.
“I think patience as a leader is really key to success because every time I look at these people, I think this is someone else’s kid right now,” said Nunez, “They would want them to be respected and taken care of, like I would want my kid to be taken care of.”
Having a kid and seeing him grow, Nunez learned that patience is a much-needed skill. He understands that for a team to be successful a leader needs to be present. Nunez believes that if you support your team like family then they will give it their best.
About the Author: Jenna Whaley
