I began my Patrol Pathfinder Course in September of 2002, having just returned from a six month deployment to Afghanistan. Three months later and 20 pounds lighter (incidentally 20 pounds more than I lost in Afghanistan), I’d passed. Still, while I may have received my torch, it wasn’t exactly covered in glory. On one particular
read more
Popular culture is full of stereotypes about military personnel as loud-mouth toughs, intimidators who browbeat their subordinates into obedience. Whether it’s Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, or Command Master Chief John James Urgayle in G.I. Jane, the characterization of a soldier as a hard-ass tormentor intent only on breaking somebody down in order
read more
Continued experimentation with poetry, would love any feedback.
Like many an officer on the career track, I did my time as an Executive Assistant. Yes, I walked away from being responsible for the lives of dozens of soldiers, hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment and finances, time-sensitive decisions about using lethal or non-lethal force, all so I could answer the phone and
read more
It’s often the case that bad news doesn’t get better with time, or easier to deliver. Several years ago, I was tasked as an assisting officer to the family of a soldier who’d died while on deployment. For those who don’t know, one of the duties in this situation can include accompanying the designated
read more
No blog on teamwork would be complete without the obligatory motivational poster… Ever had the pleasure of being part of a team that comes together? In the summer of 2001, the infantry battalion I was in basically only had enough soldiers for 2 of the 3 line companies. As one of the newest Platoon Commanders,
read more
On the eve of my first winter warfare exercise, a senior enlisted told me that winter training was like getting ready for a kick in the groin – you know it’s going to suck, but the reality is always worse than you think. He was right. Even with limited training aims, the cold and snow
read more
“Where’s the OC?” the section commander asked. “Uh…he’s on a recce,” I replied. Except the OC wasn’t on a recce. As the platoon commander, I knew very well that the major in charge of our company was at a local restaurant, drinking coffee and more importantly, staying warm. Why did it matter? The Battle of
read more
It was the summer of 2001 and I was almost finished my mechanized infantry platoon commander’s course, or Phase IV Infantry. To have a bit of fun, my course staff decided to set a few of us up on a joke ‘mission.’ The Phase III Infantry course , which was the dismounted infantry platoon commander’s
read more