Sergeant First Class Brent Colvin I had the honor and privilege of serving under the authority of Sergeant First Class Brent Colvin while I was a soldier with Bravo Battery, 2/222, Field Artillery and I have chosen him as my “Leader of Influence.” I served with SFC Colvin in various capacities while he was my Platoon Sergeant, including as a Fire Direction Specialist, unit radio equipment specialist, and his personal driver. I observed his leadership abilities during garrison activities and combat operations. I observed his ability to make command decisions when it meant life or death and save soldiers’ lives. I observed SFC Colvin’s ability to interact and care for soldiers during their time of need. SFC Colvin has contributed to the
…show more content…
I place this first because it was my first impression of SFC Colvin and what caught me the most by surprise at that point in my military career. It caught all of us off guard and many resented his entrance into the unit and his desire to make changes. We were comfortable. We enjoyed the relaxed environment. Bravo Battery was very apathetic at this point when it came to military bearing and leadership when I first entered the service. My unit took the approach of give your respect to senior soldiers but we were all friends in the end. SFC Colvin was the extreme opposite with his attitude, demeanor, and he required military courtesies be observed immediately upon his transfer into the unit. SFC Colvin always exhibited the utmost military bearing and appearance and felt we should too. SFC Colvin would not demand us to stand at parade rest or refer to him as “Sergeant” but would point it out if we did not and talk with us about the importance of courtesies. He would explain the need to provide respect to senior soldiers and how it maintained an integrity within the unit and set those boundaries between soldier’s ranks. SFC Colvin would make uniform corrections and point out how a soldier maintained themselves represents who they are. Whether he was in or out of uniform he always had a presence about him that made soldiers want to respect him and follow …show more content…
During this time I shadowed him while he took care of the platoon and saw his leadership abilities in numerous capacities. SFC Colvin provided motivation and inspiration to all of the soldiers within the unit by meeting with each section when they were in the field or out, determining what they needed and learning everything he could about his soldiers. SFC Colvin ensured everything within the platoon ran smooth and was a subject matter expert in all facets of the job. If he did not have an answer for the soldiers he would know it within minutes. SFC Colvin took care of his soldiers including myself no matter what. He knew when disciplinary action was needed but also knew when matters could be resolved at a much more personal
I place this first because it was my first impression of SFC Colvin and what caught me the most by surprise at that point in my military career. It caught all of us off guard and many resented his entrance into the unit and his desire to make changes. We were comfortable. We enjoyed the relaxed environment. Bravo Battery was very apathetic at this point when it came to military bearing and leadership when I first entered the service. My unit took the approach of give your respect to senior soldiers but we were all friends in the end. SFC Colvin was the extreme opposite with his attitude, demeanor, and he required military courtesies be observed immediately upon his transfer into the unit. SFC Colvin always exhibited the utmost military bearing and appearance and felt we should too. SFC Colvin would not demand us to stand at parade rest or refer to him as “Sergeant” but would point it out if we did not and talk with us about the importance of courtesies. He would explain the need to provide respect to senior soldiers and how it maintained an integrity within the unit and set those boundaries between soldier’s ranks. SFC Colvin would make uniform corrections and point out how a soldier maintained themselves represents who they are. Whether he was in or out of uniform he always had a presence about him that made soldiers want to respect him and follow …show more content…
During this time I shadowed him while he took care of the platoon and saw his leadership abilities in numerous capacities. SFC Colvin provided motivation and inspiration to all of the soldiers within the unit by meeting with each section when they were in the field or out, determining what they needed and learning everything he could about his soldiers. SFC Colvin ensured everything within the platoon ran smooth and was a subject matter expert in all facets of the job. If he did not have an answer for the soldiers he would know it within minutes. SFC Colvin took care of his soldiers including myself no matter what. He knew when disciplinary action was needed but also knew when matters could be resolved at a much more personal