New Mexico National Guard Leadership Students Put Soldier Skills to the Test

Students nearing completion of the Basic Leader Course at the New Mexico National Guard’s Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe spent two days testing their Soldier skills, culminating Friday in competition for the Commandant’s Cup.

Basic Leader Course Class 008-26 includes 57 students, eight of whom are members of the New Mexico Army National Guard. The course is administered by the cadre of the 1st Battalion, 515th Regiment, Regional Training Institute.

The students began Thursday’s training early — 2:30 a.m. — with night land navigation before transitioning to daytime navigation at 7 a.m.

They later formed four-Soldier teams for a series of Leader Stakes designed to test basic military skills. Tasks included Individual Movement Techniques, weapons disassembly and reassembly, function checks, employing hand grenades and evaluating and treating a wounded Soldier.

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Competing for the Commandant’s Cup

On Friday, Aug. 21, the training became a competition as students returned to those skills while pursuing the Commandant’s Cup.

Working in Learning Center teams, Soldiers were tested in land navigation, weapons, Individual Movement Techniques, grenades and Tactical Combat Casualty Care while operating under time constraints and in a stressful environment.

Competition took place at the institute’s mock Forward Operating Base, Situation Training Exercise lanes and medical lane.

The team recording the best overall time will receive a dog tag to hang above its classroom insignia. The winner will be announced during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony.

Regimental Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Pacheco, who serves as commandant of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, said prior to Friday’s competition that all 57 students were on track to graduate Tuesday.