The “Black Hat” Cadre Instructor is the face of the One Shepherd Regiment. These men and women are competent professionals who teach, mentor, and shape the next generation of Warrior Leaders. In our Regiment’s martial tradition, this is tantamount to a fourth degree black belt, the Yondan in the Japanese tradition, and the Sa Dan in the Korean tradition.
The Cadre Development Program (CDP) is a blood line – a yearlong certification process for each “Black Hat” Cadre Instructor (BHCI, pronounced “bick”) in service with the Regiment.
The CDP is also our only work-study program, meaning CDP tuition is paid by the Regiment in return for the instructional work conducted by each Green Hat Instructor Candidate (GHIC, pronounced “gick”) as they progress through a year of the CDP. For this reason, the CDP is by invitation only. Each GHIC is invited and sponsored by a Company Commander. In return, that company staff ensures each GHIC is properly placed into instructional assignments and is mentored along the pathway to being “Black Hatted.”
The CDP begins with the Cadre Development Course (CDC), a weekend workshop that is offered once per year. These two days of lecture, discussion, and practice explore the Regiment’s epistemic philosophy, pedagogical models of experiential and expeditionary learning, interrelation of action and activity theories, and learning motivation theory. Yet, this deep dive into theoretical concepts is only the beginning of a yearlong process.
Each GHIC must complete two semesters of work as instructional cadre:
- Assistant Instructor for a 2-Day Warrior Track Course
- Assistant Instructor for a 2-Day STX Seminar
- Observer-Controller for a 3-Day FTX Simulation
- Primary Instructor for a 2-Day Warrior Track Course
- Primary Instructor for a 2-Day STX Seminar
- Observer-Controller for a 3-Day FTX Simulation
Auxiliary Obligations:
- Attend Company-Level Semester Planning Meetings
- Familiarize with Assigned Course Design Documents
- Research, Prepare and Author Lesson Plans
- Mediate the Squad/Platoon After Action Review
- Counsel the Leader “Murder Board” Reflection Process
After completion of two semesters of instructional work, each GHIC is recognized as a certified instructor in front of the Rifle Company during the “Black Hat” ceremony. Earning the coveted “One Shepherd” triple tab, they become a Regiment asset as a BHCI and can serve in any Rifle Company in the Regiment.
