Team Leader Tanner recounts his first two months of training
I write to you today from Vicksburg, Mississippi; home of the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. As of now, our AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 teams are serving in a variety of ways throughout the 11 states that make up our Southern Region. Some teams are serving as mentors to school aged children whereas others are providing relief to towns affected by disaster. These teams consist of eight to 12 highly capable, bright, and motivated Corps members along with a Team Leader (TL) to help guide them along their journey. They are out in the field and getting things done for America. However, what may go overlooked is how exactly they got to that point.
In early January, a vibrant group of Team Leaders arrived to campus. Some were veterans who had served in the past while others were eager to learn more about their duties. For the next month, they went through Team Leader Training (TLT) that consisted of everything a Team Leader needed to know to be a successful, safe, organized, and well-balanced leader. Everything they learned during TLT had a specific purpose. From filling out paper work correctly to safely handling a chainsaw for hours on end. They were given the resources, knowledge, and taught the skills to make the greatest impact possible and they had a blast doing it.
My name is Tanner Shepherd and I am a proud Team Leader for the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. I, along with the Corps, have had an amazing experience during TLT and Corps Training Institute (CTI) and I am honored to give you the inside scoop on both trainings.
My favorite part of TLT, and AmeriCorps NCCC in general, are the opportunities this program gives us for personal development. During our training, we were presented with obstacles. Whether it was an actual 15-foot wall, an emotional scenario, or the ability to drive a 15-passanger van, we developed the skills to tackle it. We sat down for eight-plus hours a day in a classroom learning about budget management, professional paperwork, and the guidance to lead a team for the next nine months. Our tool safety training consisted of traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to be instructed by the local Habitat for Humanity. While we were being educated on the importance of tool safety we were helping build a house in an area affected by a tornado in 2011. For our team bonding exercise we went to a ropes course in Saucier, MS that consisted of high and low element courses. During our time in Hattiesburg, MS, we were grateful enough to go through Camp Shelby’s LeaderShape exercise course. The month was jam-packed full of information, new experiences, and exciting times that we would have never gained if it was not for AmeriCorps NCCC.
Once the rest of the Corps got to campus the real preparations began. Each Corps member went through rigorous training to understand what he or she would be doing for the next nine months. They became certified in Adult CPR, driving a 15-passenger van, and safely operating a chainsaw. They went through exercises such as diversity training to expand their knowledge on leadership styles. The Corps demonstrated their newly found skills through hands-on activities such as a city park clean up in Hattiesburg, MS. They also stayed at Camp Lake Stephens located in Oxford, MS to help revitalize the campground, as well as participate in the local University’s ropes course for team building exercises. All of these trainings were to prepare them for the journey ahead.
The greatest part about TLT and CTI was the bonding that occurred. Before we came to AmeriCorps NCCC, we were individuals within our own groups. Now, after these trainings, we are a part of a much larger family. The bond that has been created within this family has been the most important. Throughout their journey they will endure hardships, but with their teams they will overcome. Through these next nine months they will bring communities together and they will “GET THINGS DONE!”
Check out his video I made for the Corps about arriving to campus and our first months of training!
![Team Leader Welcoming members to the campus]( "Training Video")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvGqQc1aK0
I write to you today from Vicksburg, Mississippi; home of the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. As of now, our AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 teams are serving in a variety of ways throughout the 11 states that make up our Southern Region. Some teams are serving as mentors to school aged children whereas others are providing relief to towns affected by disaster. These teams consist of eight to 12 highly capable, bright, and motivated Corps members along with a Team Leader (TL) to help guide them along their journey. They are out in the field and getting things done for America. However, what may go overlooked is how exactly they got to that point.
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The new Class 19 Team Leaders for the Southern Region
In early January, a vibrant group of Team Leaders arrived to campus. Some were veterans who had served in the past while others were eager to learn more about their duties. For the next month, they went through Team Leader Training (TLT) that consisted of everything a Team Leader needed to know to be a successful, safe, organized, and well-balanced leader. Everything they learned during TLT had a specific purpose. From filling out paper work correctly to safely handling a chainsaw for hours on end. They were given the resources, knowledge, and taught the skills to make the greatest impact possible and they had a blast doing it.
My name is Tanner Shepherd and I am a proud Team Leader for the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. I, along with the Corps, have had an amazing experience during TLT and Corps Training Institute (CTI) and I am honored to give you the inside scoop on both trainings.
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Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
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Chainsaw training in Hattiesburg, MS |
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CPR Training |
Delta 5 at the ropes course for team building. |
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River Unit hug! |
Check out his video I made for the Corps about arriving to campus and our first months of training!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvGqQc1aK0