41st Infantry Brigade Leadership Summit prepares next generation of Oregon Guard leaders

CAMP WITHYCOMBE, Ore. — The Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team brought together emerging leaders from across the brigade July 31 for its annual Leadership Summit, investing in the next generation of officers and noncommissioned officers through a day focused on leadership, history and selfless service.

Now in its second year, the summit was created to equip emerging leaders with practical tools they can take back to their units while reinforcing the values and traditions that have defined the brigade for more than a century. The event included a physical fitness challenge, leadership development sessions, emotional intelligence training, a 41st-centric historical scavenger hunt at the Oregon Military Museum and the presentation of the Bud Lewis Award.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, organized the summit in coordination with the brigade staff and command team with Company Commander Capt. Andrew Shute serving as the lead planner and helped coordinate and finalize the event.

"The goal was established over a year ago to invest in our junior leaders throughout the brigade and try to impart leadership abilities they can take out to the remote units," said Lt. Col. Nicholas Conley, brigade operations officer for the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. "Investing in our junior leaders is the best thing we can do to pass along our experiences and our knowledge."

Throughout the day, brigade leaders emphasized that effective leadership extends beyond technical proficiency. Sessions focused on communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork and developing Soldiers while creating a stronger sense of connection across the brigade.

"We want to create an environment where we bring in some of our up-and-coming leaders and start giving them tools," said Col. Paul Dyer, commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. "The first step is learning where we come from and being proud. Then it's asking, 'How can I help you achieve your goals? How can I make you better? How can I make you feel part of this thing we have?'"

A Transformational Moral Leadership session focused on emotional intelligence and moral empathy. The Transformational Moral Leadership Training program is an approved curriculum through Building Strong and Ready Teams and the National Guard CARES program. The training is designed to foster empathy and understanding within teams while helping leaders recognize how emotions affect their decisions, relationships and responses to stress.

During the emotional intelligence module, participants examined self-awareness and how recognizing their reactions to stressful situations can help them manage stress earlier, make better choices and build stronger relationships with the Soldiers they lead.

Chaplain (Col.) Jacob A. Scott, Oregon National Guard state chaplain, said the training directly supports the Oregon National Guard’s vision of developing strong leaders. The Moral Empathy module, the second of four modules in the full curriculum, focuses on emotional intelligence to help Soldiers better understand themselves, their reactions and the people they lead. Scott said building those skills can help Soldiers become more thoughtful and effective leaders.

During lunch, Soldiers also had an opportunity to connect with representatives from more than 10 organizations supporting the event. Resources included financial counseling, family and readiness support, education benefits, employment assistance and other programs available to service members and their families.

One of the summit's featured speakers was retired Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. Conley, the former Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard and a former command sergeant major of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Drawing on more than 35 years of military service, Conley encouraged participants to embrace the unique responsibility of serving as citizen-Soldiers.

Reflecting on moments such as Oregon wildfire response and the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Conley described how the National Guard transformed both his understanding of leadership and his sense of purpose.

"The organization changed me from a selfish servant to a selfless servant," Conley said. "Don't wait to understand what being a citizen-Soldier means. There's no organization like this in the world."

Conley challenged the brigade's emerging leaders to carry those lessons back to their units by investing in their Soldiers, supporting their communities and strengthening the organization for future generations. Building on that message, Command Sgt. Maj. Tyson Bumgardner led Soldiers through the history of the 41st Infantry Brigade, tracing its lineage from World War I through the Pacific campaigns of World War II, Cold War service and modern-day deployments. Soldiers also participated in a 41st-centric historical scavenger hunt at the Oregon Military Museum, focusing on the brigade's efforts across its legacy. Bumgardner reminded attendees that they are part of a legacy built by generations of Oregon citizen-Soldiers.

"I want you to know that you're part of a very special unit," Bumgardner said. "You're part of a story that's been in progress for a long time."

Conley said understanding that history helps strengthen the brigade's identity.

"The team mentality is what carries over from this event," he said. "Being connected, knowing who our organization is, what it's made up of and rallying around that Sunset patch makes us stronger as a brigade."

The day also included a physically demanding fitness event designed to reinforce one of the Army's core leadership principles which is leading from the front.

"We do hard things in our organization, and that's what sets us apart," Conley said. "We should be proud of that. We're fortunate to be part of a team that gets to do those hard things."

The summit concluded with the presentation of the Bud Lewis Award to Staff Sgt. Jason Mahnesmith. Established by the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the award honors the legacy of Bud Lewis, a decorated World War II combat veteran who served with K Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Biak before returning home to continue a lifetime of service as a respected Portland police officer, mentor and community volunteer. The award recognizes Soldiers who exemplify Lewis' quiet professionalism, tactical excellence and unwavering commitment to both Soldiers and their communities.

Dyer said Lewis' influence extended far beyond his military service. After spending several hours with him, Dyer came away inspired not only by Lewis' wartime experiences but by the humility and compassion that defined his life.

"It was his attitude more than anything," Dyer said. "He invested in the people around him and was simply a good person."

Dyer said Lewis continued serving others throughout his life, volunteering throughout the community and mentoring those around him. The brigade created the award to preserve that legacy and inspire future leaders to serve both in uniform and in their communities.

According to the award citation, Mahnesmith was recognized for exceptionally meritorious service while positively impacting Soldiers and the community, embodying the qualities of duty, honor, country and tactical proficiency that defined Lewis' life. A plaque bearing Mahnesmith's name will be permanently displayed within the brigade headquarters to recognize his lasting contribution to the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team's legacy.

For many participants, the summit reinforced that leadership is measured not only by mission accomplishment but also by the investment leaders make in their Soldiers and communities.

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