Fort Bliss Monitor

Master Sgt. Troy Falardeau

SLDC guest instructor and USASMA Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Dale answers the questions from
spouses (left to right) Marebel Gallardo, Claudia Perez and Danii Sedillo.

USASMA trains
Soldiers, spouses

Master Sgt. Troy Falardeau
USASMA Class 57

Wives and husbands of Soldiers are often asked to assume mission-essential, but volunteer responsibilities in the Army community – often with only their life experiences to guide them. The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy provides training to senior enlisted spouses to make the task easier for them and more beneficial to the Army.

Spouses of Class 57 students, including international students, are eligible to attend the Spouse Leadership Development Course. The course offered is a seven week, 42-hour course to help them understand and assist the Army community with topics such as communications, personality styles, effective listening and public speaking. The training also provides leadership skills which enhance their personal and professional lives. It is managed by Sgt. Maj. Linda Richardson, a member of the USASMA staff. She and volunteer instructors from the Fort Bliss community teach most of the classes.

“Many of the students who attend this course seek more confidence or knowledge to take on leadership positions in the Army community and to coach and mentor junior spouses, said Richardson. “We want to help them gain that, since they are a vital part of the leadership team.”

“These senior enlisted spouses are role models, younger spouses in units look up to them for guidance and support. They think the wife or husband of a sergeant major or command sergeant major knows everything. The truth is some of them have been married to their Soldier for only six months or may have never been asked to play an active role in their previous commands.”

Richardson conducts the course five times a year with up to 20 students per class. The class meets twice a week for three hours. Although the class has been taught for several years, it continues to evolve. This year’s class, includes a health awareness component – which mirrors one of the additions to the Sergeants Major Course. Spouses can do a health screening and then discuss their results, one-on-one, with a health care professional from the USASMA Health Promotion Office, and with assistance from William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

A common theme among students is the importance of being given a voice. Gloria Coronado, wife of Command Sgt. Major Edgardo Coronado, said the classes she took gave her, “confidence to say what needed to be said,” as well as the knowledge to do her job more professionally. As a former drug and alcohol abuse counselor for a nonprofit organization in California, she said she knows first-hand the importance of those two skills; she had to use them when she was asked to provide moral support to the wife of an officer from a previous unit when her husband was killed in Iraq.

“The training in this course makes it easier for me to do something difficult like that,” said Gloria.

Many of the spouses find the course fills another vital role: team-building. Jana Lidmanska, fiancé of Command Sgt. Major Lubomir Volny from the Czech Republic, said the course, “is not just about education. It’s important for socialization and finding friends – people who listen and share experiences and give different points of view.”
As a former member of the Czech military, she said she knows how important this is when facing a leadership challenge. She has collected the e-mail addresses of her fellow students and is prepared to call on them when confronted with unfamiliar topics in her home country.

Michelle Lewis, wife of Senior Chief Petty Officer Edward Lewis, a Coast Guard student in Class 57, is an example of that resource. She said she has been active in her husband’s units in the past, and as a former radar operator in the Coast Guard, she is familiar with the organization, “but that could change, said Lewis. “I don’t face the same challenges as an Army spouse because the Coast Guard doesn’t currently deploy for extended periods, and usually not overseas. If that changed, I am glad that I know how Army Family Readiness Groups operate, so I would know what to do and who to ask.”

According to Richardson, SLDC is a program unique to the academy, but its goals mesh well with those of Army Community Services and Army Family Team Building. Those agencies support SLDC with instructors and subject matter expertise. The overall goal is to provide training and knowledge to spouses and family members of Soldiers at all ranks to support the total Army effort.

Veronica Shinholster, one of the current SLDC students and wife of Sgt. Maj. Willie Shinholster, said she wished she had taken advantage of this type of resource long ago.

“It would have been good for me to learn this when my husband became a first sergeant – or even earlier, said Shinholster. “I hope other spouses take advantage of it now. It’s never too early or too late to do it.”
Sharon Padgett, wife of Master Sgt. Douglas Padgett, echoed that thought. “My time is coming to be a leader in my husband’s unit, so I need to be ready, said Padgett. “That is why this course is so important. I want to be effective. As a young military spouse, I didn’t know that something like this might be available. I want to help today’s junior spouses know that it does – and that they need to take it – no matter what the rank of their Soldier.”

Padgett added that the classes not only improve leadership skills, but also help spouses improve their personal relationships. After many years of marriage, she found one of the courses taught in SLDC about personality types helped her to understand the way she and her husband interact.

“He had this class through the military a few years ago to help him work more effectively with his Soldiers.” she said. “But now I can see how it can help me, too.”

The next SLDC has openings for late February, although space is currently limited, according to Richardson. She added she has not turned down anyone who wants to attend. The current class graduates in about three weeks with a ceremony at the academy, complete with photographs, certificates and proud spouses applauding. This time, however, it will be the Soldiers in the audience and their supportive SLDC graduates in the spotlight.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Oct. 5, 2006

	Master Sgt. Troy Falardeau SLDC guest instructor and USASMA Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Dale answers the questions from spouses (left to right) Marebel Gallardo, Claudia Perez and Danii Sedillo. USASMA trains Soldiers, spouses Master Sgt. Troy Falardeau USASMA Class 57 Wives and husbands of Soldiers are often asked to assume mission-essential, but volunteer responsibilities in the Army community – often with only their life experiences to guide them. The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy provides training to senior enlisted spouses to make the task easier for them and more beneficial to the Army. Spouses of Class 57 students, including international students, are eligible to attend the Spouse Leadership Development Course. The course offered is a seven week, 42-hour course to help them understand and assist the Army community with topics such as communications, personality styles, effective listening and public speaking. The training also provides leadership skills which enhance their personal and professional lives. It is managed by Sgt. Maj. Linda Richardson, a member of the USASMA staff. She and volunteer instructors from the Fort Bliss community teach most of the classes. “Many of the students who attend this course seek more confidence or knowledge to take on leadership positions in the Army community and to coach and mentor junior spouses, said Richardson. “We want to help them gain that, since they are a vital part of the leadership team.” “These senior enlisted spouses are role models, younger spouses in units look up to them for guidance and support. They think the wife or husband of a sergeant major or command sergeant major knows everything. The truth is some of them have been married to their Soldier for only six months or may have never been asked to play an active role in their previous commands.” Richardson conducts the course five times a year with up to 20 students per class. The class meets twice a week for three hours. Although the class has been taught for several years, it continues to evolve. This year’s class, includes a health awareness component – which mirrors one of the additions to the Sergeants Major Course. Spouses can do a health screening and then discuss their results, one-on-one, with a health care professional from the USASMA Health Promotion Office, and with assistance from William Beaumont Army Medical Center. A common theme among students is the importance of being given a voice. Gloria Coronado, wife of Command Sgt. Major Edgardo Coronado, said the classes she took gave her, “confidence to say what needed to be said,” as well as the knowledge to do her job more professionally. As a former drug and alcohol abuse counselor for a nonprofit organization in California, she said she knows first-hand the importance of those two skills; she had to use them when she was asked to provide moral support to the wife of an officer from a previous unit when her husband was killed in Iraq. “The training in this course makes it easier for me to do something difficult like that,” said Gloria. Many of the spouses find the course fills another vital role: team-building. Jana Lidmanska, fiancé of Command Sgt. Major Lubomir Volny from the Czech Republic, said the course, “is not just about education. It’s important for socialization and finding friends – people who listen and share experiences and give different points of view.” As a former member of the Czech military, she said she knows how important this is when facing a leadership challenge. She has collected the e-mail addresses of her fellow students and is prepared to call on them when confronted with unfamiliar topics in her home country. Michelle Lewis, wife of Senior Chief Petty Officer Edward Lewis, a Coast Guard student in Class 57, is an example of that resource. She said she has been active in her husband’s units in the past, and as a former radar operator in the Coast Guard, she is familiar with the organization, “but that could change, said Lewis. “I don’t face the same challenges as an Army spouse because the Coast Guard doesn’t currently deploy for extended periods, and usually not overseas. If that changed, I am glad that I know how Army Family Readiness Groups operate, so I would know what to do and who to ask.” According to Richardson, SLDC is a program unique to the academy, but its goals mesh well with those of Army Community Services and Army Family Team Building. Those agencies support SLDC with instructors and subject matter expertise. The overall goal is to provide training and knowledge to spouses and family members of Soldiers at all ranks to support the total Army effort. Veronica Shinholster, one of the current SLDC students and wife of Sgt. Maj. Willie Shinholster, said she wished she had taken advantage of this type of resource long ago. “It would have been good for me to learn this when my husband became a first sergeant – or even earlier, said Shinholster. “I hope other spouses take advantage of it now. It’s never too early or too late to do it.” Sharon Padgett, wife of Master Sgt. Douglas Padgett, echoed that thought. “My time is coming to be a leader in my husband’s unit, so I need to be ready, said Padgett. “That is why this course is so important. I want to be effective. As a young military spouse, I didn’t know that something like this might be available. I want to help today’s junior spouses know that it does – and that they need to take it – no matter what the rank of their Soldier.” Padgett added that the classes not only improve leadership skills, but also help spouses improve their personal relationships. After many years of marriage, she found one of the courses taught in SLDC about personality types helped her to understand the way she and her husband interact. “He had this class through the military a few years ago to help him work more effectively with his Soldiers.” she said. “But now I can see how it can help me, too.” The next SLDC has openings for late February, although space is currently limited, according to Richardson. She added she has not turned down anyone who wants to attend. The current class graduates in about three weeks with a ceremony at the academy, complete with photographs, certificates and proud spouses applauding. This time, however, it will be the Soldiers in the audience and their supportive SLDC graduates in the spotlight.