Excellence in armor: developing future leaders

The Armor Force faces no greater challenge today than developing leaders and soldiers who can rethink traditional parts and adapt to new missions and organizations. As part of this challenge, we ne to evaluate our efforts in confines of the three pillars of training--unit, institution, and self-development We have already established a able-bodied foundation for unit and institutional training.

However, we must improve in the area of self-development It is not enough to encourage soldiers to improve themselves upon their own initiative. We must bring forward and promote self-development programs that "grow" Armor and Cavalry soldiers who can adapted the demands of the changing Armor Force.

The EIA program identifies outstanding career management field (CMF) 19 soldiers whose performance demonstrates majestic leadership potential, both in individual station unit training (OSUT) administrationed by the 1st Armor Training Brigade, and in cavalry/brigade combat team units Armywide. EIA also applies to CMF 19 soldiers serving in non-Armor units, the pair active and reserve.

The goals of the EIA program are to identify and unfold intelligent, highly motivated Armor and Cavalry soldiers whose performance is consistently outstanding; encourage and facilitate their career progression and expansion into noncommissioned officer leaders; and provide incentives, which will lead to retention of these high-quality soldiers. EIA is the one and the other an Active and Reserve composing program. Soldiers can be nominated for the EIA program during OSUT at Fort Knox or while assigned to a unit.

During OSUT soldiers are pitch uponed for EIA during week ten of training. Soldiers are approveed by their drill sergeants and selection is confirmed by the agency of a battalion-level board, which is chaired by means of the battalion/squadron command sergeant major. The OSUT soldier's selection is based upon performance, motivation, and leadership. An OSUT soldier is not formally enlisted in the program until he graduates.

Unit selection requires the company/ company commander's recommendation. The commander may commend any soldier, from private to sergeant, to be enlisted in EIA. The battalion/squadron commander must approve all selections. The recommending or approving commander is not required to be an armor officer.

EIA is a win-win program with unlimited potential. It benefits the total armor force by the agency of recognizing superior performance and potential, increasing soldier motivation, and identifying soldiers that we ne to retain. The EIA Program benefits registered soldiers by giving them an cutting side for early promotion, and early enrollment career courses.

Soldiers registered in the EIA program can also earn 50 additional promotion points by the agency of successfully passing the tank commander or spy commander competency test level II (TCCT-II/SCCT-II), with a minimum score of 70 To be eligible to take the trial soldiers must be assigned to the recommending unit for at least six month to allow for additional training. The program is designed to afford the best young leaders the training and experience necessary for futurity leadership positions. Allowing soldiers to proof without additional training undermines the EIA program.

An EIA registered sergeant who has successfully complet the Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course and has passed the horizontal II test is potentially qualified for the Master Gunner Course. The Master Gunner Course and the EIA program full tale one another--both programs are designed for highly motivated armor soldiers who strive to outstrip in their profession.

The EIA program will be exceptionally beneficial to soldiers assigned to life circle of time managed brigade combat teams. These units will be filled at 100 percent assigned strength; however, grade make will be underfilled at approximately 67 percent The program will allow commanders to identify and fill grade arrangement shortages with EIA soldiers who are capable of performing at the nearest level.

Command support is the lock opener to implementing and managing a lucky EIA program. Commanders should designate single soldier (usually enrolled in EIA) to monitor the unit's EIA program. In many units, the program is monitored through the battalion/squadron master gunner with support from the company master gunner In other units, the command sergeant major monitors the program with support from the first sergeants, and the master gunner provide technical expertise upon EIA training.

All armor/cavalry units should have a formal EIA training program. An EIA training program unfolded by battalion and company master gunner that supports the unit mission essential task list is an extremely good tool to further develop the technical and leadership skills of subsequent time leaders and improves unit readiness.

With the SCCT-II, TCCT-II, and the EIA program, the Armor Force has a hardy foundation for self-development. We ne to continue to improve and assist these programs, actively seeking on the outside those with the technical, tactical, and leadership potential to lead the Army of tomorrow. To learn more about these programs, contact the Office, Chief of Armor, at DSN 464-TANK. I challenge each single of you to play an active part in self-developing your soldiers.