166th Regiment recognizes Amy as Instructor of the Quarter

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — A commitment to instructor development, training standards and professional excellence has earned Sgt. 1st Class Kurtis Amy selection as the 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute's (RTI) Instructor of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026.

Amy serves as the quality assurance noncommissioned officer for the 3rd Battalion, 166th Regiment NCO Academy. In his nomination, 1st Sgt. Gerald Funk, deputy commandant of the NCO Academy, highlighted Amy's technical expertise and leadership, citing his work coordinating the battalion's annual self-assessment, processing six Army Instructor Badges for cadre within the battalion, and providing backup instructional support for the Battle Staff NCO Course.

With 23 years of service in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Amy brings nearly three years of experience as a Battle Staff NCO Course instructor to his current quality assurance role, which he has held for more than a year.

His responsibilities include certifying and recertifying instructors, ensuring course documentation meets established requirements, and helping instructors earn recognition through the Faculty Development and Recognition Program.

“My goal is to be a resource for our instructors, whether that means answering their questions directly or helping them find the right answers as quickly as possible,” Amy said.

That support spans the academy's two primary courses, the Basic Leader Course and the Battle Staff NCO Course. Although Amy is not a Basic Leader Course instructor, he helps facilitators resolve questions about regulations and course requirements. He also draws on his previous teaching experience to support Battle Staff instructors and maintain continuity when additional assistance is needed.

“Having spent nearly three years teaching Battle Staff, I know the instructors and understand the challenges they face. I want to use that experience to support them, answer their questions and help keep the course running smoothly,” Amy said.

Amy is also expanding his expertise in course development. He is pursuing certification in both the Common Faculty Development–Instructor Course (CFD-IC) and the Common Faculty Development–Developer Course (CFD-DC). Once certified, he will be qualified to instruct both courses, increasing the RTI's capacity to develop instructors and course developers.

During a recent online developer course, Amy and other instructors adapted activities originally designed for in-person instruction by using Microsoft Teams breakout rooms and collaborative exercises. The approach helped students meet course objectives in a virtual environment while giving course developers examples of how to maintain student engagement and achieve learning outcomes online.

Amy's contributions have also extended internationally. In September 2026 he participated in an NCO development subject matter expert exchange at the Lithuanian Land Forces Training Center. The visit supported efforts to enhance tactical decision-making and build on more than 30 years of bilateral cooperation between the Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania.

During the exchange, Amy met with the center's commander and command sergeant major, along with personnel responsible for the Combat and Non-Kinetic Operations Course and Battle Staff NCO Course. Drawing on his experience as an instructor and course developer, he helped assess the Lithuanian Battle Staff program and identify opportunities to strengthen instruction and course development.

Amy also observed classes delivered in Lithuanian, including instruction that incorporated NATO materials in English, comparing the Lithuanian approach with the 166th Regiment's training methods. The exchange provided opportunities to share instructional practices and explore ways for the two training institutions to learn from one another.

Funk's nomination highlighted Amy's participation in the exchange as an example of his contributions to strengthening international partnerships and multinational interoperability.

Amy said his approach to leadership was shaped by former leaders who emphasized building personal connections with Soldiers, strengthening camaraderie during difficult tasks and challenging junior noncommissioned officers to exceed their own expectations.

He plans to continue developing his quality assurance expertise and pursuing additional qualifications to better support the regiment's instructors and training programs.

Through his work in quality assurance, instructor development and international partnerships, Amy helps strengthen the 166th Regiment's ability to deliver effective training and prepare Soldiers for the demands of military leadership.

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