Leadership Seminar, July 31-August 4: “Courage to Take the Lead: Pathway to Developing Principled Leaders”

As part of the preparation for the start of the academic year, the Commandant’s office routinely sponsors a leadership seminar for selected rising cadet leaders.  This activity is critical in the individual and group development of these cadets as they prepare to assume responsibility for the Corps of Cadets.  For the 2006 Leadership Seminar, the cadets selected as Human Affairs Officers and NCOs were integrated into all the seminar activities.

Upon arrival to the seminar, cadets immediately begin assuming their leadership position and roles.  Morning and afternoon physical training activities incorporated teambuilding and confidence-boosting exercises.  Cadets were expected be in sufficient physical shape in order to participate and set a good example for their peers.  Each day of the seminar was organized around a specific theme in a sequential and progressive approach:

Monday, July 31 – A Team of Leaders
Tuesday, Aug 1 – Know Thy Self/Effective Communications
Wednesday, Aug 2 – Teambuilding
Thursday, Aug 3 – Problem-Solving
Friday, Aug 4 – Train the Trainers

A major portion of the seminar involved working in small groups that changed on a recurring basis.  During group work, cadets rotated within their group through the following leadership positions:

Facilitator – guided the discussion
Scribe – took notes and transcribed comments onto easels
Timekeeper – kept discussion and group work inside the allotted time
Presenter – when called upon, presented the results of the groups’ discussion/work
Observer – evaluated the groups performance and when called upon presented their observations

The seminar was by led LTC Weart with the help of battalion tactical officers, our ROTC Cadre, and college staff.  Lunches featured an inspirational guest speaker that helped tie in the subject and theme for the day.  The seminar utilized guest speakers such as Align Consulting contract team, the Commandant, and Coach Higgins.  To add even more emphasis to the seminar, a special meal, the Principled Leaders Dinner, was held on Tuesday night at the Holliday Alumni Center with President Rosa as the special guest speaker.  (Materials included in the seminar are attached). 

The seminar ended on Friday morning with the cadet leaders ready to begin work with the rest of their cadre members and to prepare for the arrival of the Class of 2010. 

Attachment: Definitions of leadership.doc
Attachment: What Makes for An Effective Leader.doc
Attachment: Cadet Leadership Quotes.doc
Attachment: Communication Skills_part 1_v3.ppt