On Jan. 19, the command team and 12 staff from the 169th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion attended the Leaders Training Program at Fort Polk, Louisiana, to plan and prepare for a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation later this spring. Kenneth Gill, the coach for Team 169th CSSB, said 169th CSSB team gained valuable experience working through the Military Decision Making Process, which will help the 169th CSSB staff plan and execute their JRTC rotation operations plan to sustain logistic activities for units designated in the operations order, and work through challenges with personnel and equipment shortages. The Leader Training Program is a commander and staff training event that is conducted as part of most Joint Readiness Training Center rotations. It focuses primarily on planning, said Lt. Col. Len Poirier, executive officer of the Vermont National Guards 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who the 169th CSSB will support during their JRTC rotation. LTP was first-time training for more than 50 percent of Team 169th CSSB. Seven of the 14 team members were new to the team in the last few weeks and most have never been to a JRTC rotation, although several had been to a National Training Center rotation. Overall, the Military Decision Making Process training was mentally challenging for even the seasoned staff and offered the junior lieutenants a preview of what is ahead as they advance in their careers.