Raising the Bar to Show the Way

Correctional Officers at Diamondback Correctional Facility Set a New Standard with The CCA Way

At most graduations, you can expect to see graduates presented with certificates or awards. But when 13 cadets graduated from pre-service training at Diamondback Correctional Facility, they took the floor to give a special presentation of their own.

The idea was birthed after the first day of training when Diamondback Chief of Security James Bryant issued a challenge.

"I speak to every new class on their first day and I challenge them to learn The CCA Way," says Bryant, who had just returned from Foundations training. "At Foundations, Mr. Kaiser presented The CCA Way and then asked who knew it completely – I was one of the few people there who knew it."

The experience further impressed upon Bryant the importance of The CCA Way for all employees.

To meet Bryant's challenge, Diamondback Training Manager Scott Walters, who conducted most of the training, and Assistant Training Manager Debbie McGee initiated a creative plan. "We came up with the idea to have the cadets give a CCA Way presentation to surprise the wardens and chiefs," Walters says.

With five weeks to memorize The CCA Way – including definitions of the guiding principles - the class had their work cut out for them. On graduation day, they interrupted the usual order of ceremony.

"It was near the end of the ceremony just before we concluded," says Lane Blair, Diamondback Warden. "The schedule listed a segment called 'class presentation,' and that's when they came up to give their presentation."

Shannondoah Johnson, one of the graduating cadets, kicked off the presentation.

"I gave a speech and recited the vision and mission," Johnson says. "I spoke about pre-service training and the pride and dedication that CCA has for both the company and the employees."

Each graduate followed by reciting one of the guiding principles, along with its definition, and then handed their signed CCA Way commitment cards to Blair.

"I was very pleasantly surprised," Blair says. "When the first graduate completed his part and reached into his pocket to present me with his signed CCA Way commitment card, it was one of those moving moments in my career when I saw my staff really take ownership of the company."

Blair wasn't alone in his response.

"Chief Bryant came in on his day off just for the graduation," Walter says. "It brought tears to his eyes."

Bryant was floored. "It caught me completely off guard," he says. "I told them they certainly answered the challenge."

Weeks later, graduates continued to receive kudos from co-workers. "I think everybody was really moved by the fact that this class was challenged to know The CCA Way and they took it one step further by doing this presentation and publicly committing to live by our guiding principles," Blair says.

Walters says it left an indelible impression on the class, too. "It really meant a lot not only to the chiefs but to me as well. I got to see how hard they worked on it behind the scenes and the impact it had on the class as a whole - it really brought them together as a team."

A new training class is underway at Diamondback, and Bryant issued his challenge once again.

"I gave them the CCA Way commitment cards," he says. "I'll continue to challenge each class that comes in."

By DeAndra Mack

Sound Out

Christopher Wesley at Stewart Detention Center:

Once again we learn that TRAINING IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS ALL Detention Centers together