Warrior Leader Training
Conferences & Events

Jackson Kerchis & Paul Krismer are the founders of Warrior Leader Training.

They have presented for AUSA, MCA, PNGAS, NGAMT, WINGA, NGAND, the WING, and more. Their sessions are at the intersection of psychology, resiliency, and readiness. Warrior Leader Training has provided a range of services to the military: keynotes, to workshops, to intense 3-day leadership programs, to multi-year training programs.

Jackson and Paul create custom programs for each client. In the context of the military, the objective is to develop leaders who strengthen command climate, build resilient and cohesive teams, and enhance readiness and lethality.

These are highlights of the impact of our leadership development work in the National Guard

1. Partnered with a recruiting and retention battalion to drive a 34% recruiting production turnaround meeting or exceeding all state recruiting and retention missions for the first time in six years.
2. Worked with excellent internal programs to support improved mental health and sexual harassment and assault prevention outcomes.
3. WLT training leadership participants overwhelmingly (94%) say they received the skills and knowledge to create a positive, high performing climate.

Surprising Science of Happy Soldiers and Readiness

We draw on a study (here) of nearly 1M Army soldiers that shows happier soldiers are more likely to win awards for performance and courage. This is the key to readiness—creating a command climate where soldier wellbeing will flourish. We make connections to mental health outcomes, recruiting/retention, and productivity. We then share practical tools to create the optimal command climate with a focus on 3 questions: How do you create cohesion? How do you support work-life balance? How do you develop emotionally intelligent (high EQ) leadership?

Create a “Magnet” Climate: How to Attract & Retain Soldiers & Airmen

Leaders must create environments that service members want to join—and choose to stay. This session explores the concept of a “magnet command climate,” where the climate of the organization draws in talent and fosters long-term commitment. We’ll break down the psychological drivers of retention, the impact of everyday leadership behaviors, and how to shape a command climate that builds trust, pride, and belonging. We’ll also share the case study of the Wisconsin Army National Guard that led a 34% improvement in production—meeting all state recruiting/retention missions for the first time in six years.

Cohesion Mastery

In this training we will explore the critical factor in military teams: cohesion. This is a sense of boundedness, trust, and connection. How do you make this happen? We explore the psychological science of how to create great teams that maximize Mission Command and foster loyalty.