Answering a question such as this is often difficult. It is difficult because there are a multitude of various factors that influence a person’s decision to serve in the armed forces. The primary factors that influenced my own decision to serve were the following: 1) a deep reverence for the tradition of military service within my family, 2) the culture of camaraderie and shared purpose in the Army, and 3) a desire to protect the liberties that we possess for the future enjoyment of my children. This type of language is often looked upon as cliché; I would argue that most of those who choose to serve share at least some of these motivations.
Military service is a tradition in my family. My father’s ancestors arrived in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, on what is now Long Island, in the mid-1600s as part of the Anabaptist movement. In the succeeding decades, the family made their way to New Jersey. My grandfather John Ruckman, joined the New Jersey militia immediately after the commencement of hostilities in the colonies. He volunteered on five separate occasions to extend his service and participated in the battles of Monmouth, Princeton, Trenton, and Germantown, among others. Almost 100 years later, his grandson, Thomas Ruckman, was a member of the Confederate Army’s 36th Virginia Partisan Rangers, who participated in the Battle of Gettysburg. As I was growing up, my father and grandfather constantly reiterated these stories and it was bound to rub off. Military service in some form was almost a foregone conclusion.
When I made the decision to enlist in the Army in 1996, I would be the first one to say that at the age of 20, I had no intention of making it a career. I expected to serve a single enlistment and like many others, move on to another endeavor in the private sector. I certainly did not expect that I would still be serving fourteen years later. Shortly after my enlistment, I discovered that the sense of camaraderie that exists in the service is infectious. I would argue that there are few professions in the world, aside from possibly law enforcement or firefighting, which provide the sense that the person standing beside you is willing to risk their personal safety to protect yours. That is a feeling that you would be hard-pressed to find in the private sector. That sense of shared purpose and commitment to the persons who serve with you is something that is hard to give up, and directly influenced my decision to remain in the Army, become an officer, and make the military my chosen profession.
At nineteen or twenty years of age, most young people are not particularly engaged or interested in international or domestic politics and history. I would argue that most of us at that age have a very naive view of the world and of our own experiences as a nation. Yes, we all had history courses throughout our education that attempt to teach us about our founding principles and the price that the men and women of the founding generation and successive generations have paid to obtain and secure the benefits of liberty that we enjoy in this country today. I would guess that many young people are interested in this history, but it just seems so distant in comparison to the lives that we lead today. I think that many of us as parents would agree that sometimes our kids eyes roll back when we try to tell them how lucky they are because they were fortunate enough to be born in this country.
Personally, I always believed that I had a healthy respect for the benefits that growing up in the United States provided to my family. It wasn’t until I met Soldiers that had immigrated to the United States from other countries and told me about their experiences that I began to feel that I took many things for granted. It really hit home as my Soldiers and I first set out on the streets of Baghdad. You realize that the world is indeed a dangerous and unforgiving place and liberty is a precious commodity that is constantly threatened and deserves to be protected at all costs.
Many of us now serving in the military have served multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other places. Repeated deployments have strained service-members and families to the breaking point, yet many of them choose to answer the call time and time again. In my opinion, these men and women continue to serve because they have seen the alternative, realize what is at stake, and understand that the American system of self government and individual liberty is exceptional and worth their sacrifice. Their willingness to sacrifice time and time again reinforces my faith in my country and motivates me to continue serving along with them.
Major Matt Ruckman
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Profession of Arms
Major Christopher DN. Washington
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." (Shead)
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote frames what being a member of the profession of arms is to me. As an intelligence officer in the U.S. military, I must hold the awareness and knowledge to assess problems and identify solutions. At times, these solutions guide unfamiliar paths, but in doing, so leave behind the standards for current/future members of the military professions to develop. Merriam Webster defines a profession as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Webster) With that, aside most professions have a code of ethics that guides their profession, on the other hand the profession of arms, that being the military has a code of ethics unlike doctors, lawyers or clergy. (FM-1) The code requires us to march in harm’s way, not to use a banal slogan, but U.S. military service members often pay the “ultimate sacrifice.” That ultimate sacrifice is evident in 5000 thousand Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines, who have lost their lives in the past decade while serving in the profession of arms.
It was not until my deployment in 2004, with 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) 2nd Infantry Division (ID) to Ramadi, Iraq did I truly appreciate the seriousness of the profession. As the S2 Battle Captain and Direct Support (DS), Military Intelligence (MI), Company Commander, I became a quick study of the Area of Operation (AOR), Al-Anbar Providence, which was the center of the Sunni Triangle. The Sunni Triangle in 2004, became the strong hold for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (AMZ), Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist organization. The seriousness of timely and accurate intelligence in the AOR was “life and death.” The sense of pride in knowing that you helped a fellow soldier from a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or Small Arms Fire (SAF) attack was enough provocation to handle 18-hour days for seven months straight. This selfless service became an azimuth in my moral compass.
2BCT 2ID had one of the highest fatality rates out of any BCT during OIF-I/II. The S2 shop was following 1BCT 1ID’s Tactic Techniques and Procedures (TTP) and in doing so, the enemy had adapted over time to our decision making cycle. I found it necessary to make my own path in solving some of the complex intelligence issues. My predecessor’s TTP’s were anachronistic for the current problem set. I took an out of the box approach that forded greater success in killing and capturing insurgents. The successes allowed for the first time in 50 years free elections in Al-Anbar providence.
"The Army's most important guiding values and standards are written in the Army Values, Soldier's Creed, and Warrior Ethos. These instill in every Soldier the will to win and make great personal sacrifices-sometimes the ultimate sacrifice-in selfless service to the Nation. In answering the call to duty, Soldiers voluntarily limit certain rights to become disciplined, competent practitioners of the art and science of war. In so doing, they guarantee the Nation's security." (FM-1)
In summary, as a leader within the profession of arms, you have to be willing to accept change, and adapt quickly to an ever-changing environment. In the responsibility of protecting, the country there are no mulligan’s and mistakes cost lives, therefore, blazing new roads, and not walking the path often taken are keys to success. As a member of the U.S. military, I am a profession of arms member who accomplishes missions/tasks that ordinary Americans are not charged to perform. The sense of pride received in accomplishing the more than ordinary missions/tasks fuels my continued service in arms.
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
___________________________
Mark Shead, “Leadership Quotes,” Leadership501, http://www.leadership501.com/leadership-quotes/316/ (accessed September 2, 2010).
Merriam Webster, s.v. “Profession,” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession (accessed September 2, 2010).
Department of the Army, FM-1 “The Army and the Profession of Arms,” (Department of the Army, 2004), 1-40-1-42, http://www.army.mil/fm1/chapter1.html (accessed September 2, 2010) cited hereafter FM-1.
FM-1, 1-82.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." (Shead)
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote frames what being a member of the profession of arms is to me. As an intelligence officer in the U.S. military, I must hold the awareness and knowledge to assess problems and identify solutions. At times, these solutions guide unfamiliar paths, but in doing, so leave behind the standards for current/future members of the military professions to develop. Merriam Webster defines a profession as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Webster) With that, aside most professions have a code of ethics that guides their profession, on the other hand the profession of arms, that being the military has a code of ethics unlike doctors, lawyers or clergy. (FM-1) The code requires us to march in harm’s way, not to use a banal slogan, but U.S. military service members often pay the “ultimate sacrifice.” That ultimate sacrifice is evident in 5000 thousand Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines, who have lost their lives in the past decade while serving in the profession of arms.
It was not until my deployment in 2004, with 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) 2nd Infantry Division (ID) to Ramadi, Iraq did I truly appreciate the seriousness of the profession. As the S2 Battle Captain and Direct Support (DS), Military Intelligence (MI), Company Commander, I became a quick study of the Area of Operation (AOR), Al-Anbar Providence, which was the center of the Sunni Triangle. The Sunni Triangle in 2004, became the strong hold for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (AMZ), Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist organization. The seriousness of timely and accurate intelligence in the AOR was “life and death.” The sense of pride in knowing that you helped a fellow soldier from a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or Small Arms Fire (SAF) attack was enough provocation to handle 18-hour days for seven months straight. This selfless service became an azimuth in my moral compass.
2BCT 2ID had one of the highest fatality rates out of any BCT during OIF-I/II. The S2 shop was following 1BCT 1ID’s Tactic Techniques and Procedures (TTP) and in doing so, the enemy had adapted over time to our decision making cycle. I found it necessary to make my own path in solving some of the complex intelligence issues. My predecessor’s TTP’s were anachronistic for the current problem set. I took an out of the box approach that forded greater success in killing and capturing insurgents. The successes allowed for the first time in 50 years free elections in Al-Anbar providence.
"The Army's most important guiding values and standards are written in the Army Values, Soldier's Creed, and Warrior Ethos. These instill in every Soldier the will to win and make great personal sacrifices-sometimes the ultimate sacrifice-in selfless service to the Nation. In answering the call to duty, Soldiers voluntarily limit certain rights to become disciplined, competent practitioners of the art and science of war. In so doing, they guarantee the Nation's security." (FM-1)
In summary, as a leader within the profession of arms, you have to be willing to accept change, and adapt quickly to an ever-changing environment. In the responsibility of protecting, the country there are no mulligan’s and mistakes cost lives, therefore, blazing new roads, and not walking the path often taken are keys to success. As a member of the U.S. military, I am a profession of arms member who accomplishes missions/tasks that ordinary Americans are not charged to perform. The sense of pride received in accomplishing the more than ordinary missions/tasks fuels my continued service in arms.
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
___________________________
Mark Shead, “Leadership Quotes,” Leadership501, http://www.leadership501.com/leadership-quotes/316/ (accessed September 2, 2010).
Merriam Webster, s.v. “Profession,” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession (accessed September 2, 2010).
Department of the Army, FM-1 “The Army and the Profession of Arms,” (Department of the Army, 2004), 1-40-1-42, http://www.army.mil/fm1/chapter1.html (accessed September 2, 2010) cited hereafter FM-1.
FM-1, 1-82.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
RED McGuire
Major Robert E. McGuire
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army or the US Government.
Kaplan’s Impending Anarchy- Sixteen Years Later
In 1994, Robert D. Kaplan published an article in The Atlantic Monthly entitled,” The Coming Anarchy.” His argument, which is actually included in the extended title of his article, is that “scarcity, crime, overpopulation tribalism, and disease are rapidly destroying the social fabric of our planet (Kaplan 94).” Kaplan used West Africa as the “prism” through which the looming and quite rapid destruction of our social fabric could be best understood. The doom of Western Africa being apparent, the rest of the world was soon to follow a “few decades hence.” Sixteen years later, just over a decade and a half, it has become quite apparent that Kaplan got it wrong. His erroneous prediction was the result of his presumptions about the observable phenomena in Western Africa and his broader application to the rest of the world. This essay addresses four such presumptions.
First, Kaplan presumed that Western Africa was doomed and that its demise was indicative of what soon would follow for the rest of the world. He then chose some other troubled regions to buttress his argument. In 2010, how is Western Africa, his “prism” doing? In a word, they are doing better. The abysmal period between 1990 and 1995 was followed by what may be the beginning of a new era for Western Africa. One indicator is the entrance of China into the African market which has encouraged new interest from the western powers (Lar 08). Not only has Western Africa proven to be alive, although arguably unhealthy, it may be on the cusp of disproving another of Kaplan’s presumptions- discounting the remarkable.
Second, Kaplan made the mistake of presuming that the historical trend of Western Africa would continue the same for the foreseeable future. He held, although perhaps unknowingly, a pessimistic uniformitarian view. Thoughtful observers will notice when looking at the course of human history that things have not continued at a predictably steady rate. There have been major events which altered an uniformitarian unfolding of history. Look at the renaissance period for example. This brief period catapulted humanity forward at a remarkable rate previously unseen. We have not slowed sense, at least in the developed world. This phenomenon is not relegated to the annals of the past. Pivotal change is possible now and in the future- even in Africa. Many times these pivotal changes are the result actions that confound another of Kaplan’s presumptions- people are utterly selfish.
Third, he discounts the potential and the impact of benevolent human action. He presumed the worst about human nature. Both Western Africans and the rest of humanity have a stake in, and therefore care, at some level, about what happens to the social fabric of our world. In the last sixteen years, Western Africa has been wrestling with the underlying causes and results of civil war. Progress has been slow and hard fought, but the genesis of the progress is the desire of Western African’s for change. They have not been alone in their efforts. In addition to the emerging economic interests from China and the West, there are numerous governmental aid programs and private non-profit charities that have come alongside the West African people. For example, the U.S. contributed nearly 6 billion dollars in Official Developmental Assistance (ODA) contributions to Sub-Saharan Africa between 2007 and 2008 (Shah 10). This does not account for money given by charities or dollars given by other governments who have a stake in the Western Africa. People care; they are doing something about the problem, and they are making a difference. Some of these contributions that make a difference are in resources other than money. The application of technological advances to address the problem of scarcity can have an enormous impact. Kaplan overlooked these as well.
Finally, Kaplan presumes that technology will not address the scarcity problem. Every so often, technology takes an exponential leap forward which generally has profound implications to our quality of life. One salient example of the type of technological advances that may have a long-term positive effect on the problem of scarcity is Ecological Engineering or Restoration. A recent example of this effort comes from China’s Loess Plateau. In 2005, the Chinese government, with help from the World Bank, successfully restored 35,000 square kilometers of ravaged plateau along the watershed of the Yellow River (Mozur 09). The cooperation of government, global financial institutions, and a cross section of various engineers and scientists demonstrated that the effects of environmental misuse can be addressed by a thoughtful and committed group of people. It is quite feasible that this example can be reproduced in Western Africa and in the broader global context as we pursue sources of energy less harmful to ecosystems which sustain scarce resources.
Although hind sight and the added benefit of making observations about someone else’s predictions tend to make arm chair quarterbacking a risk-free endeavor, one can see the pitfalls in Kaplan’s presumptions. Sure, in 1994 things were really bad in Western Africa and even a number places where the fighting for resources increased competition and conflict. Was the phenomenon in Western Africa, as fascinating as the analogy may have been, indicative of what was to come for the rest of the world? No, at least not yet. Africa is not the world, and, thus far has proven less a more hopeful “prism” through which to view the world. One aught not presume that things will continue at the same rate or in the same fashion over time without significant events that alter the potential outcomes. Things will and do change in an unpredictable fashion. An overly pessimistic view about the human condition is not helpful. Sure, we humans have our faults, but we can rise to the occasion every so often. Sometime in a way that changes everything. Finally, leaps in technology will happen. They may be separated by generations or even at times by millennia, but they are inevitable because we are creative and we like to be comfortable. One can be relatively certain of activity being devoted to sustaining life and luxury in the future. We may even be able to learn to share a little.
Bibliography
Kaplan, Robert D. The Coming Anarchy, how scarcity, crime, overpopulation, tribalism, and
disease are rapidly destroying the social fabric of our planet,
The Atlantic Monthly, February, 1994, http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/02/the-coming-anarchy/4670/
(accessed September 13, 2010)
Lar, Jimam. Africa Traction, Comments on Africa, No. 3, Conflict Security
and Development Group (CSDG), Kings College London, September 2008 http://www.securityanddevelopment.org/pdf/africa3.pdf,(accessed September 14, 2010)
Muzor, Paul. Lessons of the Loess, New York Times, December 10, 2009,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/opinion/10iht-edmozur.html,
(accessed September 15, 2009)
Shah, Anyup. Foreign Aid for Development Assistance, Global Issues, April 25, 2010
http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance
(accessed September 15, 2010)
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army or the US Government.
Kaplan’s Impending Anarchy- Sixteen Years Later
In 1994, Robert D. Kaplan published an article in The Atlantic Monthly entitled,” The Coming Anarchy.” His argument, which is actually included in the extended title of his article, is that “scarcity, crime, overpopulation tribalism, and disease are rapidly destroying the social fabric of our planet (Kaplan 94).” Kaplan used West Africa as the “prism” through which the looming and quite rapid destruction of our social fabric could be best understood. The doom of Western Africa being apparent, the rest of the world was soon to follow a “few decades hence.” Sixteen years later, just over a decade and a half, it has become quite apparent that Kaplan got it wrong. His erroneous prediction was the result of his presumptions about the observable phenomena in Western Africa and his broader application to the rest of the world. This essay addresses four such presumptions.
First, Kaplan presumed that Western Africa was doomed and that its demise was indicative of what soon would follow for the rest of the world. He then chose some other troubled regions to buttress his argument. In 2010, how is Western Africa, his “prism” doing? In a word, they are doing better. The abysmal period between 1990 and 1995 was followed by what may be the beginning of a new era for Western Africa. One indicator is the entrance of China into the African market which has encouraged new interest from the western powers (Lar 08). Not only has Western Africa proven to be alive, although arguably unhealthy, it may be on the cusp of disproving another of Kaplan’s presumptions- discounting the remarkable.
Second, Kaplan made the mistake of presuming that the historical trend of Western Africa would continue the same for the foreseeable future. He held, although perhaps unknowingly, a pessimistic uniformitarian view. Thoughtful observers will notice when looking at the course of human history that things have not continued at a predictably steady rate. There have been major events which altered an uniformitarian unfolding of history. Look at the renaissance period for example. This brief period catapulted humanity forward at a remarkable rate previously unseen. We have not slowed sense, at least in the developed world. This phenomenon is not relegated to the annals of the past. Pivotal change is possible now and in the future- even in Africa. Many times these pivotal changes are the result actions that confound another of Kaplan’s presumptions- people are utterly selfish.
Third, he discounts the potential and the impact of benevolent human action. He presumed the worst about human nature. Both Western Africans and the rest of humanity have a stake in, and therefore care, at some level, about what happens to the social fabric of our world. In the last sixteen years, Western Africa has been wrestling with the underlying causes and results of civil war. Progress has been slow and hard fought, but the genesis of the progress is the desire of Western African’s for change. They have not been alone in their efforts. In addition to the emerging economic interests from China and the West, there are numerous governmental aid programs and private non-profit charities that have come alongside the West African people. For example, the U.S. contributed nearly 6 billion dollars in Official Developmental Assistance (ODA) contributions to Sub-Saharan Africa between 2007 and 2008 (Shah 10). This does not account for money given by charities or dollars given by other governments who have a stake in the Western Africa. People care; they are doing something about the problem, and they are making a difference. Some of these contributions that make a difference are in resources other than money. The application of technological advances to address the problem of scarcity can have an enormous impact. Kaplan overlooked these as well.
Finally, Kaplan presumes that technology will not address the scarcity problem. Every so often, technology takes an exponential leap forward which generally has profound implications to our quality of life. One salient example of the type of technological advances that may have a long-term positive effect on the problem of scarcity is Ecological Engineering or Restoration. A recent example of this effort comes from China’s Loess Plateau. In 2005, the Chinese government, with help from the World Bank, successfully restored 35,000 square kilometers of ravaged plateau along the watershed of the Yellow River (Mozur 09). The cooperation of government, global financial institutions, and a cross section of various engineers and scientists demonstrated that the effects of environmental misuse can be addressed by a thoughtful and committed group of people. It is quite feasible that this example can be reproduced in Western Africa and in the broader global context as we pursue sources of energy less harmful to ecosystems which sustain scarce resources.
Although hind sight and the added benefit of making observations about someone else’s predictions tend to make arm chair quarterbacking a risk-free endeavor, one can see the pitfalls in Kaplan’s presumptions. Sure, in 1994 things were really bad in Western Africa and even a number places where the fighting for resources increased competition and conflict. Was the phenomenon in Western Africa, as fascinating as the analogy may have been, indicative of what was to come for the rest of the world? No, at least not yet. Africa is not the world, and, thus far has proven less a more hopeful “prism” through which to view the world. One aught not presume that things will continue at the same rate or in the same fashion over time without significant events that alter the potential outcomes. Things will and do change in an unpredictable fashion. An overly pessimistic view about the human condition is not helpful. Sure, we humans have our faults, but we can rise to the occasion every so often. Sometime in a way that changes everything. Finally, leaps in technology will happen. They may be separated by generations or even at times by millennia, but they are inevitable because we are creative and we like to be comfortable. One can be relatively certain of activity being devoted to sustaining life and luxury in the future. We may even be able to learn to share a little.
Bibliography
Kaplan, Robert D. The Coming Anarchy, how scarcity, crime, overpopulation, tribalism, and
disease are rapidly destroying the social fabric of our planet,
The Atlantic Monthly, February, 1994, http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/02/the-coming-anarchy/4670/
(accessed September 13, 2010)
Lar, Jimam. Africa Traction, Comments on Africa, No. 3, Conflict Security
and Development Group (CSDG), Kings College London, September 2008 http://www.securityanddevelopment.org/pdf/africa3.pdf,(accessed September 14, 2010)
Muzor, Paul. Lessons of the Loess, New York Times, December 10, 2009,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/opinion/10iht-edmozur.html,
(accessed September 15, 2009)
Shah, Anyup. Foreign Aid for Development Assistance, Global Issues, April 25, 2010
http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance
(accessed September 15, 2010)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Why I Serve
I serve my country, because it provides a sense of purpose to my life. At some point in our lives, we all find ourself searching for the meaning of life. We sit outside and stare up at the stars; contemplate the vastness of the universe ( and our relative insignificance), and ask ourselves the age old question, “Why am I here?” For some people this has a religious or spirtual answer, but for me I have created the answer through service to my country. I remember when I first figured this out. It was during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, and my mother and I were taking a tour of universities to get a better feel of where I should apply to attend college. In a flurried week-long trip, we visited Harvard, Yale, MIT, and a couple of other schools that I have now completely forgotten. I enjoyed the tours and the talks with current students at each of these places, but it wasn’t until we visited the United States Military Academy at West Point, that I found what I was looking for. From the moment we drove through the gates, I had decided that I wanted to attend college at West Point. From that point forward, contrary to what I told my mom, I never even applied to another school. I felt a connection and a path leading to the sense of purpose that I had been looking for at West Point. Through my service to our country, I feel part of something greater than myself.
While attending West Point, I was introducted to and I am constanstly reminded of another resason that I serve my country; the absolutely amazing people who are doing the same thing. I enjoy working with people who are committed to the same ideals as I am. Sometimes in the shuffle of countless emails and lengthy meetings, I lose sight of the truly amazing people that I am surrounded by; but some event always draws me back in. The most recent incident occurred at the retirement of a good friend of mine. He gave a deep and thoughtful farewell speech, issuing a wide swath of thank yous, scattered with a few statements that really hit home and allowed me to re-remember that it is the people that make the units we all serve in great. He told stories about fellow soldiers who had moved heaven and earth to help him in his times of greatest need, and relayed how everytime he was amazed at what other soldiers were willing to do to help a fellow soldier. I always say that the greatest thing about the military is that you will pick up the radio in the middle of some cold and rainy night; call up someone you have never met before and ask them to come out of their warm and dry tent and help you do something difficult and probably dangerous… and expect them to actually show up to help you, since 99 times out of 100, they will. Being able to work alongside of some of the most amazing people this country has to offer is another reason why I serve my country.
As I have gotten older and have had children of my own, another reason for my service to my country has come into being; the desire to set an example for my children. Unfortunately, I think that the modern world is full of examples of how to live your life for yourself, but very few role models of selfless service, what it means to serve others, and be part of something greater than yourself. There are countless professional athletes, musicisans, movie stars and other entertainers who offer a “good” role model of how to serve yourself, but there are few role models out there that get any press coverage who are selflessly serving others. It probably is a sign of the times, that the fact Lindsay Loughan is out of rehab appears to be of greater concern to most Americans than what is occuring in Iraq. I want my daughters to understand that there is more to life than self promotion and the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake; and the best way that I think I can teach them this is by showing them through my self less serve.
My service to our country has provided me the opportunity to repay our country for the opportunities it has provided to me and my family. My grandparents emigrated to this country when they were small children. This country presented them so many opportunities which they were able to take advantage of to create a better life for their children. My parents passed this down to me and allowed me the advantages that I have and can pass down to my children. I truly believe and try to live by the quote “For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (King James Bible - Luke 12). Through my service to our country I feel that I am able to do this.
I choose to write about this topic since I thought it would be very easy to do. Unfortunately as I got into it, I realized how sometimes it can be very difficult to put into words that which we defines us. Saying that I served my country since it provided me with a sense of purpose was an easy answer, but even though the other three stem from this root purpose, it was a little harder to articulate those. Working with amazing people who are focusing on serving their country, providing a role model for my children, and paying back this country for the opportunities that I have been provided are all reasons why I serve my country.
Major Todd Vydareny
Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
The views expressed in this blog are those of tthe author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.
While attending West Point, I was introducted to and I am constanstly reminded of another resason that I serve my country; the absolutely amazing people who are doing the same thing. I enjoy working with people who are committed to the same ideals as I am. Sometimes in the shuffle of countless emails and lengthy meetings, I lose sight of the truly amazing people that I am surrounded by; but some event always draws me back in. The most recent incident occurred at the retirement of a good friend of mine. He gave a deep and thoughtful farewell speech, issuing a wide swath of thank yous, scattered with a few statements that really hit home and allowed me to re-remember that it is the people that make the units we all serve in great. He told stories about fellow soldiers who had moved heaven and earth to help him in his times of greatest need, and relayed how everytime he was amazed at what other soldiers were willing to do to help a fellow soldier. I always say that the greatest thing about the military is that you will pick up the radio in the middle of some cold and rainy night; call up someone you have never met before and ask them to come out of their warm and dry tent and help you do something difficult and probably dangerous… and expect them to actually show up to help you, since 99 times out of 100, they will. Being able to work alongside of some of the most amazing people this country has to offer is another reason why I serve my country.
As I have gotten older and have had children of my own, another reason for my service to my country has come into being; the desire to set an example for my children. Unfortunately, I think that the modern world is full of examples of how to live your life for yourself, but very few role models of selfless service, what it means to serve others, and be part of something greater than yourself. There are countless professional athletes, musicisans, movie stars and other entertainers who offer a “good” role model of how to serve yourself, but there are few role models out there that get any press coverage who are selflessly serving others. It probably is a sign of the times, that the fact Lindsay Loughan is out of rehab appears to be of greater concern to most Americans than what is occuring in Iraq. I want my daughters to understand that there is more to life than self promotion and the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake; and the best way that I think I can teach them this is by showing them through my self less serve.
My service to our country has provided me the opportunity to repay our country for the opportunities it has provided to me and my family. My grandparents emigrated to this country when they were small children. This country presented them so many opportunities which they were able to take advantage of to create a better life for their children. My parents passed this down to me and allowed me the advantages that I have and can pass down to my children. I truly believe and try to live by the quote “For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (King James Bible - Luke 12). Through my service to our country I feel that I am able to do this.
I choose to write about this topic since I thought it would be very easy to do. Unfortunately as I got into it, I realized how sometimes it can be very difficult to put into words that which we defines us. Saying that I served my country since it provided me with a sense of purpose was an easy answer, but even though the other three stem from this root purpose, it was a little harder to articulate those. Working with amazing people who are focusing on serving their country, providing a role model for my children, and paying back this country for the opportunities that I have been provided are all reasons why I serve my country.
Major Todd Vydareny
Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
The views expressed in this blog are those of tthe author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Why I Serve My Country
Captain Wayne A. Sanders
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this "blog" are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Whether serving as a police officer, fireman, public official, or a member of the Armed Forces, serving your country comes at a great price. You and your loved ones make sacrifices in order to pursue a life of service to this great nation. These sacrifices can take many forms, including time away from home, financial hardships, and risks to personal safety. For these reasons and others not mentioned, only select individuals choose this path. In fact, many people ask me why I have decided to dedicate my life to serving in the United States Army. My answer may be surprising. I serve my country as a member of the Army because I believe the Army to be an honorable organization that protects freedom and democracy. I also serve my country because I feel that service to your country is a vital part of active citizenship. And finally, I continue my service in the military because I want my children to live in a safer world than I have lived. I am blessed to be a citizen of the United States of America and I am honored that I can serve in its defense.
The United States is arguably the greatest nation that has ever graced the global stage. It is also the only current superpower in the world. Holding such a distinction comes with great risk. Many other countries view the United States as an aggressive capitalistic society that constantly pushes their values of freedom and democracy upon other nations. This potentially threatens regional stability throughout the world and makes the United States a logical target for attack. The United States Army and other services of the Armed Forces have been entrusted with the defense of the nation. I can think of no other time in our nation’s history where national security has been more paramount. Because of rogue nation states such as Iran, China, and North Korea, the Armed Forces must prepare for conventional warfare against these formidable potential adversaries. However, given the current security threat posed by non-state actors such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah, the military must also prepare for irregular warfare against threats that do not acknowledge borders or rules of engagement. Therefore, as an intelligence professional, I choose to serve my country to counter both of these threats and protect freedom and democracy. If my analysis and intelligence collection skills can help keep Americans safe throughout the world, I will use them. I would rather be a player in the game of national defense than a spectator wondering who the players are.
Watching the news does not always guarantee that you are informed, nor does it afford you the opportunity to make a difference. I serve my country because I wish to make a positive difference. Many citizens of the United States watch the news and believe they have the answers to all of the country’s problems. However, all they ever do about it is rant to their neighbors or whoever will listen to them at the grocery store. Very few people actually choose to participate in the government process. I believe that serving the nation is a vital part of active citizenship. In order to understand the inner workings of an organization, you must actively become a part of it. If you believe that there are problems in the local legislature, stand up and be heard at city council meetings or volunteer to run a campaign. By actively participating in government, the general populace would better understand the constraints and limitations to domestic and foreign policy, and they would better understand the budgeting requirements to fund all the needed programs within a community. I serve my country because I want to actively participate in shaping the country’s future. Serving in the military may only afford me a small opportunity to do that, but I will gladly serve in that capacity.
As selfless as active participation in government may seem, one of the most selfish reasons that I serve my country involves my family’s future. I chose the Army as my method of public service because I want my children to grow up in a safer environment than my generation has. I do not want my children to worry about transnational drug smuggling rings, sex trafficking gangs, or terrorist organizations. I want my children to be able to grow up in a world free of these worries. Now, this may seem like a lofty and unrealistic pursuit. However, I believe that if more people volunteered to raise their right hand and promised to serve members of the Armed Forces, this dream may become a reality. National security requires resources, personnel, and time to develop. Since September 11, 2001, a multitude of great Americans have come forth to help defend the nation. However, the military still consists of less than one percent of the American people. Imagine what our national security forces would look like if the military consisted of even five percent. We could secure our borders more effectively from the influences of Mexican drug cartels. We could track underground terrorist sleeper cells currently operating within the United States more effectively. I believe that my children can grow up in a safer world. However, it all begins with brave Americans willing to dedicate their lives to the service to this country.
Every time I hear Lee Greenwood’s version of “Proud to Be an American,” I tear up with pride. Every time I see the Stars and Stripes, I stand up and pause at its greatness. Many great Americans have given their lives in service to the United States of America. I am glad that I can be counted among those who have served this democratic republic. I serve because I support the ideals of freedom and democracy. I serve because I want to make a difference as an active citizen. But I also serve because I want my family to be safe, living a better life than I have lived. I want my children to grow up free of the worries that have plagued my life since I was a child. I serve my country because there is nothing else that I would rather do. I am a patriot!
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this "blog" are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Whether serving as a police officer, fireman, public official, or a member of the Armed Forces, serving your country comes at a great price. You and your loved ones make sacrifices in order to pursue a life of service to this great nation. These sacrifices can take many forms, including time away from home, financial hardships, and risks to personal safety. For these reasons and others not mentioned, only select individuals choose this path. In fact, many people ask me why I have decided to dedicate my life to serving in the United States Army. My answer may be surprising. I serve my country as a member of the Army because I believe the Army to be an honorable organization that protects freedom and democracy. I also serve my country because I feel that service to your country is a vital part of active citizenship. And finally, I continue my service in the military because I want my children to live in a safer world than I have lived. I am blessed to be a citizen of the United States of America and I am honored that I can serve in its defense.
The United States is arguably the greatest nation that has ever graced the global stage. It is also the only current superpower in the world. Holding such a distinction comes with great risk. Many other countries view the United States as an aggressive capitalistic society that constantly pushes their values of freedom and democracy upon other nations. This potentially threatens regional stability throughout the world and makes the United States a logical target for attack. The United States Army and other services of the Armed Forces have been entrusted with the defense of the nation. I can think of no other time in our nation’s history where national security has been more paramount. Because of rogue nation states such as Iran, China, and North Korea, the Armed Forces must prepare for conventional warfare against these formidable potential adversaries. However, given the current security threat posed by non-state actors such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah, the military must also prepare for irregular warfare against threats that do not acknowledge borders or rules of engagement. Therefore, as an intelligence professional, I choose to serve my country to counter both of these threats and protect freedom and democracy. If my analysis and intelligence collection skills can help keep Americans safe throughout the world, I will use them. I would rather be a player in the game of national defense than a spectator wondering who the players are.
Watching the news does not always guarantee that you are informed, nor does it afford you the opportunity to make a difference. I serve my country because I wish to make a positive difference. Many citizens of the United States watch the news and believe they have the answers to all of the country’s problems. However, all they ever do about it is rant to their neighbors or whoever will listen to them at the grocery store. Very few people actually choose to participate in the government process. I believe that serving the nation is a vital part of active citizenship. In order to understand the inner workings of an organization, you must actively become a part of it. If you believe that there are problems in the local legislature, stand up and be heard at city council meetings or volunteer to run a campaign. By actively participating in government, the general populace would better understand the constraints and limitations to domestic and foreign policy, and they would better understand the budgeting requirements to fund all the needed programs within a community. I serve my country because I want to actively participate in shaping the country’s future. Serving in the military may only afford me a small opportunity to do that, but I will gladly serve in that capacity.
As selfless as active participation in government may seem, one of the most selfish reasons that I serve my country involves my family’s future. I chose the Army as my method of public service because I want my children to grow up in a safer environment than my generation has. I do not want my children to worry about transnational drug smuggling rings, sex trafficking gangs, or terrorist organizations. I want my children to be able to grow up in a world free of these worries. Now, this may seem like a lofty and unrealistic pursuit. However, I believe that if more people volunteered to raise their right hand and promised to serve members of the Armed Forces, this dream may become a reality. National security requires resources, personnel, and time to develop. Since September 11, 2001, a multitude of great Americans have come forth to help defend the nation. However, the military still consists of less than one percent of the American people. Imagine what our national security forces would look like if the military consisted of even five percent. We could secure our borders more effectively from the influences of Mexican drug cartels. We could track underground terrorist sleeper cells currently operating within the United States more effectively. I believe that my children can grow up in a safer world. However, it all begins with brave Americans willing to dedicate their lives to the service to this country.
Every time I hear Lee Greenwood’s version of “Proud to Be an American,” I tear up with pride. Every time I see the Stars and Stripes, I stand up and pause at its greatness. Many great Americans have given their lives in service to the United States of America. I am glad that I can be counted among those who have served this democratic republic. I serve because I support the ideals of freedom and democracy. I serve because I want to make a difference as an active citizen. But I also serve because I want my family to be safe, living a better life than I have lived. I want my children to grow up free of the worries that have plagued my life since I was a child. I serve my country because there is nothing else that I would rather do. I am a patriot!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What the Professional Military Ethic means to me
Major Charles Hartley
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Three words synonymous with serving in the military are Duty, Honor and Country. What does it mean to have honor? What does it take to be honorable? Soldiers know right from wrong, it is one of the many common bonds that exist between those of us in uniform. Ethics have been commonplace in the American military since its inception. Rules must be applied to derive a professional force whether in combat or garrison, if these rules are broken those in violation need to be held accountable for their actions. The globe looks to the United States Military for guidance in many ways; our ethical standards should set the bar for other countries to attain as well. The foundation of ethics from the American military institution is a model for all and has matured me to adulthood and provided me the cornerstone of morality that I use in and out of uniform.
It’s no secret that civilian employers seek former service members for employment due to their resiliency and strong work ethic. General’s Washington, Grant and Eisenhower are probably the best examples of Soldiers that transitioned to very successful careers out of uniform. Many government and non-government organizations host job fairs that cater exclusively to Service Members ready for the work force. Eager employers seek not only the leadership, knowledge and skill set of the US Service Member but also the moral tenacity. 18 years ago I transitioned to a civilian career after coming off of active duty. Like most of my co-workers I was recruited because of my military service. My employer demanded a strong work ethic and prospered with the team that he had built. In addition to my civilian job it seemed right for me to continue my military service and join the National Guard. The moral foundation that I received in basic training is the premise for my continued education and success in my civilian career and strong work ethic.
What would Ethics be if they did not lie within the institution? Many military institutions and sub-institutions have a “code”, standard ideals of how to live, work and perform. As a prior enlisted Soldier and now officer I have seen both perspectives of how the Army teaches and conducts ethics. The Soldier’s/NCO’s creed and Warrior Ethos are the standards that Soldier’s live by today. These ethics instill the willingness to accept the challenge and the desire to accomplish the mission despite all adversity; this is what makes our military mighty and great. The National Guard mirrors the policies and procedures set forth by Big Army and also conducts ethics training on an annual basis to remind and ensure that its Soldiers are held to a higher standard. Ethics to me is a promise, a promise to do the right thing, a promise that is based on trust. I trust that the institution will take care of my family when I am not there. I trust that the institution will provide for the ones that I love until I return. I trust the institution will provide for the ones I love if I don’t return. Without this trust I am not able to perform my duty, I am not capable of focus. Knowing that my family is provided for enables me to seek the trust of my Soldiers and perform my job unhindered.
As an officer I need to set the ethical example despite being in or out of uniform, a unit is a reflection of its leaders; my soldiers are looking towards me for guidance and direction. As a leader and as a commander I always live and conduct myself by the “code”. This responsibility is great and I take it seriously, the soldier’s in my unit are somebody’s son, daughter or spouse. These individuals have put their trust in me, and ethics and trust work hand in hand.
Ethics on the battlefield is especially important, if compromised the result could be fatal or an embarrassment to the United States or Host Nation governments. As a former team leader of a Police Mentor Team in Afghanistan, my Soldiers needed to be disciplined in ethics. These professionals by conducting themselves as such are setting the example in theater and conducting counter insurgency by adhering to the principles set forth. Rules of engagement and battle drills are the two most important of these principles. Doing the right thing on the battlefield is a must, whether conducting a humanitarian drop or detainee operations, the media machine will be quick to make Soldiers famous or infamous.
It’s said that the United States of America is a superpower, but no superpowers are required to adhere to the professional military ethic, only a willingness to do what is right. I am proud to associate myself with a “brotherhood” of individuals held to a higher standard who truly know the meaning of honor and what it takes to be honorable.
"The views expressed in this Blog are those of the author and do not reflect any official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Three words synonymous with serving in the military are Duty, Honor and Country. What does it mean to have honor? What does it take to be honorable? Soldiers know right from wrong, it is one of the many common bonds that exist between those of us in uniform. Ethics have been commonplace in the American military since its inception. Rules must be applied to derive a professional force whether in combat or garrison, if these rules are broken those in violation need to be held accountable for their actions. The globe looks to the United States Military for guidance in many ways; our ethical standards should set the bar for other countries to attain as well. The foundation of ethics from the American military institution is a model for all and has matured me to adulthood and provided me the cornerstone of morality that I use in and out of uniform.
It’s no secret that civilian employers seek former service members for employment due to their resiliency and strong work ethic. General’s Washington, Grant and Eisenhower are probably the best examples of Soldiers that transitioned to very successful careers out of uniform. Many government and non-government organizations host job fairs that cater exclusively to Service Members ready for the work force. Eager employers seek not only the leadership, knowledge and skill set of the US Service Member but also the moral tenacity. 18 years ago I transitioned to a civilian career after coming off of active duty. Like most of my co-workers I was recruited because of my military service. My employer demanded a strong work ethic and prospered with the team that he had built. In addition to my civilian job it seemed right for me to continue my military service and join the National Guard. The moral foundation that I received in basic training is the premise for my continued education and success in my civilian career and strong work ethic.
What would Ethics be if they did not lie within the institution? Many military institutions and sub-institutions have a “code”, standard ideals of how to live, work and perform. As a prior enlisted Soldier and now officer I have seen both perspectives of how the Army teaches and conducts ethics. The Soldier’s/NCO’s creed and Warrior Ethos are the standards that Soldier’s live by today. These ethics instill the willingness to accept the challenge and the desire to accomplish the mission despite all adversity; this is what makes our military mighty and great. The National Guard mirrors the policies and procedures set forth by Big Army and also conducts ethics training on an annual basis to remind and ensure that its Soldiers are held to a higher standard. Ethics to me is a promise, a promise to do the right thing, a promise that is based on trust. I trust that the institution will take care of my family when I am not there. I trust that the institution will provide for the ones that I love until I return. I trust the institution will provide for the ones I love if I don’t return. Without this trust I am not able to perform my duty, I am not capable of focus. Knowing that my family is provided for enables me to seek the trust of my Soldiers and perform my job unhindered.
As an officer I need to set the ethical example despite being in or out of uniform, a unit is a reflection of its leaders; my soldiers are looking towards me for guidance and direction. As a leader and as a commander I always live and conduct myself by the “code”. This responsibility is great and I take it seriously, the soldier’s in my unit are somebody’s son, daughter or spouse. These individuals have put their trust in me, and ethics and trust work hand in hand.
Ethics on the battlefield is especially important, if compromised the result could be fatal or an embarrassment to the United States or Host Nation governments. As a former team leader of a Police Mentor Team in Afghanistan, my Soldiers needed to be disciplined in ethics. These professionals by conducting themselves as such are setting the example in theater and conducting counter insurgency by adhering to the principles set forth. Rules of engagement and battle drills are the two most important of these principles. Doing the right thing on the battlefield is a must, whether conducting a humanitarian drop or detainee operations, the media machine will be quick to make Soldiers famous or infamous.
It’s said that the United States of America is a superpower, but no superpowers are required to adhere to the professional military ethic, only a willingness to do what is right. I am proud to associate myself with a “brotherhood” of individuals held to a higher standard who truly know the meaning of honor and what it takes to be honorable.
"The views expressed in this Blog are those of the author and do not reflect any official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Why I Serve
MAJ Tim Stewart
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
I have spent the better part of fourteen years posted in faraway countries. I have been several time zones and several hundred, even thousands of miles away from my family and my friends. The time away was exemplified for me when last fall I flew back to the U.S. from Yemen for my grandmother’s funeral, and I saw members of my extended family who had not only entered grade school while I was away, but were now graduating from college, and on the verge of getting married. To those who saw me for the first time in over a decade, I was something of a mythical beast--talked of at times yet never seen. At that point, I was again forced to review (and answer repeatedly) a question that I had often thought about in the dark quiet hours of the morning staring out over a foreign land, while a foreign people slept nearby—why do I do it?
Why do I serve my country? What has caused me to spend all of my adult life in locations where I consider myself fortunate if I can see either my brother, or my mother, or my father for a Thanksgiving or a Christmas? For me, the answer lies in the definitions of my chosen vocation, the profession of arms.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.M-W.com) the term “arms” can either mean it can mean military service, or open hostilities. In my career I have had the privilege of one, and the misfortune of the other. Indeed, the questions I was asked after the funeral were almost entirely from those two veins, vacillating between fear, and bordering at times on awe.
For me, the decision to serve my country was simple. One simply does not take without giving back, so I naturally gravitated towards the profession of arms that I have selected as my career. The sacrifices that I have endured and continue to endure are firmly rooted in the definition of ‘arms’ pertaining to military service. For me, my job, indeed my entire adult life has been focused on military service to my country and the attached ethics and culture surrounding it. In many ways, I think it was the culture that drew me towards the military, as opposed to some other service to the nation. I desired to serve with honorable people, who had a sense of service greater than of self, and were willing to make great sacrifices towards the noble end that service was focused on. I wanted to be able to say that I was one of those people that rarely walked past a mistake, that I was a brick in the wall that let others sleep the night away in peace, and that I was connected by tradition and experience with those great patriots who went before and sacrificed in order to provide me with the opportunity for the education and childhood that I enjoyed.
I think the professional aspect of military service appealed to my analytical side as well; the ethics of the American soldier are well understood by not only most Americans, but most of the world, although most would be hard pressed to articulate them. They are centered on protecting the innocent in an honorable manner. They are about tempering violence with compassion, and the U.S. military takes as much pride in its pictures of sandbagging for hurricanes as it does with pictures of engaging insurgents. I would argue that often we take more pride in the sandbags.
There is another definition to arms, and that involves hostility, both in dealing with it and producing it. This is the root of the fearful questions from half-remembered relatives, who somehow saw my last decade and a half of absence as a whirlwind tour from one conflict, one battle to another. For them, military service consists of only what they see today on the news: combat, violence, loss and death. The irony becomes that while this is the state for which most of my time in service has been focused on, preparing for, and dealing with—it is not the creator of the things that leap to mind first when I look back over the course of my career to date. It has been a shaping aspect of my life, but not a defining one. For me, the periods of violence were not as memorable as the people I knew at those times and shared those experiences with. For all the time away from family and friends, and for all the time spent in either remote locations, “sub-optimal conditions”, or both, I have met some of the finest people I could hope to meet (not all of them American), experienced events that I would not have thought possible, and enjoyed more than I would have hoped for.
I think my answers have taken me back to where I began. For me, there was no option on “if” to serve, only with whom, and it is the culture and the people in the U.S. military to whom I was drawn who make it possible to remember the good in the face of overwhelming bad. I have looked on in joy at a comrade’s newborn baby, I have handed a folded American flag to a grieving set of parents as we laid their son to rest. I’ve watched soldiers fall asleep standing while in the middle of a conversation from exhaustion, and I’ve seen them rally at a friend’s house after work to help them move yet again. In the end, I serve because I’m with the best people I know doing the most important thing I can think of, providing the opportunity given to me, to others.
The views expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Goverment.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
I have spent the better part of fourteen years posted in faraway countries. I have been several time zones and several hundred, even thousands of miles away from my family and my friends. The time away was exemplified for me when last fall I flew back to the U.S. from Yemen for my grandmother’s funeral, and I saw members of my extended family who had not only entered grade school while I was away, but were now graduating from college, and on the verge of getting married. To those who saw me for the first time in over a decade, I was something of a mythical beast--talked of at times yet never seen. At that point, I was again forced to review (and answer repeatedly) a question that I had often thought about in the dark quiet hours of the morning staring out over a foreign land, while a foreign people slept nearby—why do I do it?
Why do I serve my country? What has caused me to spend all of my adult life in locations where I consider myself fortunate if I can see either my brother, or my mother, or my father for a Thanksgiving or a Christmas? For me, the answer lies in the definitions of my chosen vocation, the profession of arms.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.M-W.com) the term “arms” can either mean it can mean military service, or open hostilities. In my career I have had the privilege of one, and the misfortune of the other. Indeed, the questions I was asked after the funeral were almost entirely from those two veins, vacillating between fear, and bordering at times on awe.
For me, the decision to serve my country was simple. One simply does not take without giving back, so I naturally gravitated towards the profession of arms that I have selected as my career. The sacrifices that I have endured and continue to endure are firmly rooted in the definition of ‘arms’ pertaining to military service. For me, my job, indeed my entire adult life has been focused on military service to my country and the attached ethics and culture surrounding it. In many ways, I think it was the culture that drew me towards the military, as opposed to some other service to the nation. I desired to serve with honorable people, who had a sense of service greater than of self, and were willing to make great sacrifices towards the noble end that service was focused on. I wanted to be able to say that I was one of those people that rarely walked past a mistake, that I was a brick in the wall that let others sleep the night away in peace, and that I was connected by tradition and experience with those great patriots who went before and sacrificed in order to provide me with the opportunity for the education and childhood that I enjoyed.
I think the professional aspect of military service appealed to my analytical side as well; the ethics of the American soldier are well understood by not only most Americans, but most of the world, although most would be hard pressed to articulate them. They are centered on protecting the innocent in an honorable manner. They are about tempering violence with compassion, and the U.S. military takes as much pride in its pictures of sandbagging for hurricanes as it does with pictures of engaging insurgents. I would argue that often we take more pride in the sandbags.
There is another definition to arms, and that involves hostility, both in dealing with it and producing it. This is the root of the fearful questions from half-remembered relatives, who somehow saw my last decade and a half of absence as a whirlwind tour from one conflict, one battle to another. For them, military service consists of only what they see today on the news: combat, violence, loss and death. The irony becomes that while this is the state for which most of my time in service has been focused on, preparing for, and dealing with—it is not the creator of the things that leap to mind first when I look back over the course of my career to date. It has been a shaping aspect of my life, but not a defining one. For me, the periods of violence were not as memorable as the people I knew at those times and shared those experiences with. For all the time away from family and friends, and for all the time spent in either remote locations, “sub-optimal conditions”, or both, I have met some of the finest people I could hope to meet (not all of them American), experienced events that I would not have thought possible, and enjoyed more than I would have hoped for.
I think my answers have taken me back to where I began. For me, there was no option on “if” to serve, only with whom, and it is the culture and the people in the U.S. military to whom I was drawn who make it possible to remember the good in the face of overwhelming bad. I have looked on in joy at a comrade’s newborn baby, I have handed a folded American flag to a grieving set of parents as we laid their son to rest. I’ve watched soldiers fall asleep standing while in the middle of a conversation from exhaustion, and I’ve seen them rally at a friend’s house after work to help them move yet again. In the end, I serve because I’m with the best people I know doing the most important thing I can think of, providing the opportunity given to me, to others.
The views expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Goverment.
The reasons why I serve my country
Major Christopher Alger
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The reasons I serve in the military is a question I have asked myself many times prior to and during my career as a military officer. My experiences with and reasons to serve the military started when I was thirteen years of age, for pure fun and the sense of belonging and continue to change and evolve as I serve now at thirty-six. A trip back down my life will reveal my reasons for serving.
I was first drawn to the military in high school when friends were enrolled in Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). These friends were joining the armed drill team and beginning to learn drill and ceremony and marching maneuvers. After school they practiced and it caught my attention. I participated and enjoyed marching and soon signed up for JROTC as well. I valued the new friends I made and the comradeship which drill team and JROTC provided. I participated in ROTC for my four years of high school and continued to excel within the unit, attaining the highest ranking position within my high school unit.
As a freshman at college I wasn’t convinced I wanted to join Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and make the military a career. This would have been logical having completed four years for JROTC. I was still very young, only seventeen, and away from home and family for the first time. I joined a fraternity and it fulfilled my need for friends and a sense of belonging with them. ROTC and the military was the farthest thing on my mind.
A year later, as a sophomore, my best friend from high school, who also participated in JROTC with me, was attending the same college and was accepted to pledge my fraternity. Upon his arrival we discussed joining ROTC. Having been involved in Navy JROTC, it was natural for us to want to join the Navy ROTC unit. The only issue was that once again this Navy unit was split between two colleges with the headquarters office/unit at the other college. The headquarters unit was only twelve miles away but neither my friend nor I had a vehicle to get us there. We overcame this by meeting others within the unit who would be able to transport us. Other issues or concerns for me with the Navy ROTC was their expectation for us to wear our Navy uniform on the college campus and to our classes at least one day per week and the need for us to attend mandatory Navy ROTC study tables in the evenings. Both of these requirements cramped my life style at the time. I wanted to fit in with my fraternity style of living and not be labeled as a “ROTC Nazi” in my uniform while on campus. Study tables weren’t appealing as a sophomore, having done so for my freshmen year within the fraternity. Needless to say, my stint in Navy ROTC did not last long.
Later that same year, I started talking with another fraternity brother who was involved in Army ROTC. This unit was set up much differently than the Navy unit, providing fun and excitement through Ranger Challenge, rifle ranges and rappelling classes. Class was only 1 hour per week and wearing of the uniform was not a requirement on campus. This was enough to convince me to join up and try Army ROTC. After my first year in the unit I was identified by the unit’s leadership and was provided an opportunity to attend the Army’s Airborne school and Fort Benning, GA. Upon graduation and earning my airborne wings, I was hooked and wanted to be an Army Officer. Once again I felt the comradeship and esprit de corps which you don’t find anywhere besides the military.
Upon graduation of college I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. It was always a dream of mine to fly and having been disqualified on an Army flight physical prevented me from assessing Aviation Branch. The Medical Service Corps (MSC) offered me a second opportunity to pass the physical and attend aviation school as a medical evacuation pilot.
The MSC was new to me and I really didn’t want a career in the medical field with shots, needles and blood being a hard thing for me to see and stomach. As fate should have it, I was not but into a position of having to view these things, as a medical platoon leader. Rather, I started a role in medical logistics, ordering medical supplies when I reported to my first unit, the Army Medical Activity in Fort Eustis, VA.
I enjoyed the challenge of medical logistics and believed it was a great career field offering me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and make me competitive in the real world if I should get out of the Army. Soon my thoughts and dream of wanting to fly went away and I became completely satisfied in the world of medical logistics.
Another desire I had and a reason why I joined the military was to travel. My mother, who passed away just prior to my college graduation, was German and she loved Germany. She took my eldest brother and me there for three months when I was seven. I enjoyed visiting there and had a want to return. I started working with my career/branch officer after two years at Fort Eustis and was able to get assigned to a Medial Logistics Battalion in Pirmasens, Germany. Just after arrival to my new unit I flew back to Fort Eustis and was married. My new spouse joined me in Germany and we soon started our almost four year honeymoon traveling all around Germany and Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed the life style the military provided. The benefits of job and health care along with our opportunity to travel could not be matched. I served in the military for personnel pleasure. I was successful in my job, able to support my spouse and felt I had all the opportunities I needed. If I wanted to get out I could. With the experience and knowledge I gained while serving I could sustain a satisfactory lifestyle.
Then September 11th came. The world changed that day and my desire to serve greatly increased. I needed to be in the Army and do all I could to serve my country and the people of the United States. I believe this feeling was felt by all and many of them soon stepped up and joined the Military to do all that they could do.
The Army has been great to me and my family for the last 14 years. The opportunities I have had, the experiences and the education I have gained are second to none. I serve in the military because it makes me proud and a better person for it. I have a military affiliation for almost 23 years of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The reasons I serve in the military is a question I have asked myself many times prior to and during my career as a military officer. My experiences with and reasons to serve the military started when I was thirteen years of age, for pure fun and the sense of belonging and continue to change and evolve as I serve now at thirty-six. A trip back down my life will reveal my reasons for serving.
I was first drawn to the military in high school when friends were enrolled in Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). These friends were joining the armed drill team and beginning to learn drill and ceremony and marching maneuvers. After school they practiced and it caught my attention. I participated and enjoyed marching and soon signed up for JROTC as well. I valued the new friends I made and the comradeship which drill team and JROTC provided. I participated in ROTC for my four years of high school and continued to excel within the unit, attaining the highest ranking position within my high school unit.
As a freshman at college I wasn’t convinced I wanted to join Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and make the military a career. This would have been logical having completed four years for JROTC. I was still very young, only seventeen, and away from home and family for the first time. I joined a fraternity and it fulfilled my need for friends and a sense of belonging with them. ROTC and the military was the farthest thing on my mind.
A year later, as a sophomore, my best friend from high school, who also participated in JROTC with me, was attending the same college and was accepted to pledge my fraternity. Upon his arrival we discussed joining ROTC. Having been involved in Navy JROTC, it was natural for us to want to join the Navy ROTC unit. The only issue was that once again this Navy unit was split between two colleges with the headquarters office/unit at the other college. The headquarters unit was only twelve miles away but neither my friend nor I had a vehicle to get us there. We overcame this by meeting others within the unit who would be able to transport us. Other issues or concerns for me with the Navy ROTC was their expectation for us to wear our Navy uniform on the college campus and to our classes at least one day per week and the need for us to attend mandatory Navy ROTC study tables in the evenings. Both of these requirements cramped my life style at the time. I wanted to fit in with my fraternity style of living and not be labeled as a “ROTC Nazi” in my uniform while on campus. Study tables weren’t appealing as a sophomore, having done so for my freshmen year within the fraternity. Needless to say, my stint in Navy ROTC did not last long.
Later that same year, I started talking with another fraternity brother who was involved in Army ROTC. This unit was set up much differently than the Navy unit, providing fun and excitement through Ranger Challenge, rifle ranges and rappelling classes. Class was only 1 hour per week and wearing of the uniform was not a requirement on campus. This was enough to convince me to join up and try Army ROTC. After my first year in the unit I was identified by the unit’s leadership and was provided an opportunity to attend the Army’s Airborne school and Fort Benning, GA. Upon graduation and earning my airborne wings, I was hooked and wanted to be an Army Officer. Once again I felt the comradeship and esprit de corps which you don’t find anywhere besides the military.
Upon graduation of college I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. It was always a dream of mine to fly and having been disqualified on an Army flight physical prevented me from assessing Aviation Branch. The Medical Service Corps (MSC) offered me a second opportunity to pass the physical and attend aviation school as a medical evacuation pilot.
The MSC was new to me and I really didn’t want a career in the medical field with shots, needles and blood being a hard thing for me to see and stomach. As fate should have it, I was not but into a position of having to view these things, as a medical platoon leader. Rather, I started a role in medical logistics, ordering medical supplies when I reported to my first unit, the Army Medical Activity in Fort Eustis, VA.
I enjoyed the challenge of medical logistics and believed it was a great career field offering me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and make me competitive in the real world if I should get out of the Army. Soon my thoughts and dream of wanting to fly went away and I became completely satisfied in the world of medical logistics.
Another desire I had and a reason why I joined the military was to travel. My mother, who passed away just prior to my college graduation, was German and she loved Germany. She took my eldest brother and me there for three months when I was seven. I enjoyed visiting there and had a want to return. I started working with my career/branch officer after two years at Fort Eustis and was able to get assigned to a Medial Logistics Battalion in Pirmasens, Germany. Just after arrival to my new unit I flew back to Fort Eustis and was married. My new spouse joined me in Germany and we soon started our almost four year honeymoon traveling all around Germany and Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed the life style the military provided. The benefits of job and health care along with our opportunity to travel could not be matched. I served in the military for personnel pleasure. I was successful in my job, able to support my spouse and felt I had all the opportunities I needed. If I wanted to get out I could. With the experience and knowledge I gained while serving I could sustain a satisfactory lifestyle.
Then September 11th came. The world changed that day and my desire to serve greatly increased. I needed to be in the Army and do all I could to serve my country and the people of the United States. I believe this feeling was felt by all and many of them soon stepped up and joined the Military to do all that they could do.
The Army has been great to me and my family for the last 14 years. The opportunities I have had, the experiences and the education I have gained are second to none. I serve in the military because it makes me proud and a better person for it. I have a military affiliation for almost 23 years of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.
What being a member of the profession of arms means to me
Major Tage Rainsford
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as “a principal calling, vocation, or employment requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Profession, 2010) While not often looked on in such light by the public, the military should be categorized as a profession.
A person cannot walk down to their local military installation and apply for a job; there are barriers to entry. An individual must first visit his or her recruiter and ensure that they meet the physical and mental conditions of entry. They must then participate in a rigorous training regimen that involves both physical and intellectual study and development. Only after successful completion of this training, does a person earn the right to call themselves a member of the uniformed services -- the profession of arms.
This author entered the profession of arms over fourteen years ago as an officer in the United States Army and while I completed the steps and conditions mentioned above in order to gain entry to the profession of arms, being a member of said profession means more to me than just having met the barriers to entry. Membership in this prestigious profession allows me to be part of something larger then myself, a legacy organization with a sense of pride that is unrivaled and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment and of giving back.
Aristotle said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” (Quotations by Aristotle, 2006) This summarizes how I feel being a member of the profession of arms, part of something larger than myself that cumulatively, is greater than any grouping that its individuals could be. A great illustration of this would be the operations that have occurred in Iraq over the past seven years.
In 2006 and 2007, I was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 25th Infantry Division responsible for operations in Northern Iraq. Although I was but one individual in an organization that was over 25,000 people strong, none of us could have accomplished our personal missions without the efforts of each and every one of the other members of the team. From cooks to mechanics, aviators to infantrymen and privates to generals, not one individual could have accomplished their mission by themselves. Put into action, the professional military achieved something that had been missing from that area for some time, peace and stability. I would argue that no other organization in the world could have come together as a profession and accomplish what the U.S. military did. Integral to this synergy though, is the legacy from which the military draws its strength.
For over 235 continuous years, the military and U.S. Army in particular, has been a professional organization, charged with serving the nation. This history, heritage and resulting esprit de corps grows like a snowball and contributes to the greatness of the profession of arms. Not only does my membership allow me to feel as if I am part of something bigger as described before, but I now feel part of a living organization. I am not surviving off the glory of the past or merely passing time in the present; I am contributing to the future and helping to make the profession grow stronger by adding to the snowball effect.
Finally, being a member of this great profession provides me with a personal feeling and sense of accomplishment, service and gratitude. In looking back on my career thus far, I have had the opportunity to serve with an untold number of professionals, dedicated to the service of their country. I am often overcome by feelings of pride and joy when I think of my contributions to and membership in the profession. Duty, honor and country may ring through as a cliché to those who have never served, but their meaning is undeniable to those of us privileged enough to be a part of this profession.
While on the surface, the barriers to entry alone would classify the military as a profession; it is more than that to this author. The sense of pride that I feel from being part of something bigger than I am, with hundreds of years of history to build on, the opportunity to add to that legacy, all combined by the sense of accomplishment that I feel day in and day out. Those things make me proud to be part of the profession of arms.
Some may argue that in this day and age of turmoil, multiple wars and a never-ending operational tempo, the military should be thankful for my service and continuance to fill the ranks even though it is no longer required of me. I would argue that the honor is mine, and I awake thankful every morning for the opportunity to serve this great profession for yet one more day.
Works Cited
Profession. (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession
Quotations by Aristotle. (2006, February). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from The MacTutor History of Mathematics Web site: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Quotations/Aristotle.html
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as “a principal calling, vocation, or employment requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Profession, 2010) While not often looked on in such light by the public, the military should be categorized as a profession.
A person cannot walk down to their local military installation and apply for a job; there are barriers to entry. An individual must first visit his or her recruiter and ensure that they meet the physical and mental conditions of entry. They must then participate in a rigorous training regimen that involves both physical and intellectual study and development. Only after successful completion of this training, does a person earn the right to call themselves a member of the uniformed services -- the profession of arms.
This author entered the profession of arms over fourteen years ago as an officer in the United States Army and while I completed the steps and conditions mentioned above in order to gain entry to the profession of arms, being a member of said profession means more to me than just having met the barriers to entry. Membership in this prestigious profession allows me to be part of something larger then myself, a legacy organization with a sense of pride that is unrivaled and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment and of giving back.
Aristotle said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” (Quotations by Aristotle, 2006) This summarizes how I feel being a member of the profession of arms, part of something larger than myself that cumulatively, is greater than any grouping that its individuals could be. A great illustration of this would be the operations that have occurred in Iraq over the past seven years.
In 2006 and 2007, I was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 25th Infantry Division responsible for operations in Northern Iraq. Although I was but one individual in an organization that was over 25,000 people strong, none of us could have accomplished our personal missions without the efforts of each and every one of the other members of the team. From cooks to mechanics, aviators to infantrymen and privates to generals, not one individual could have accomplished their mission by themselves. Put into action, the professional military achieved something that had been missing from that area for some time, peace and stability. I would argue that no other organization in the world could have come together as a profession and accomplish what the U.S. military did. Integral to this synergy though, is the legacy from which the military draws its strength.
For over 235 continuous years, the military and U.S. Army in particular, has been a professional organization, charged with serving the nation. This history, heritage and resulting esprit de corps grows like a snowball and contributes to the greatness of the profession of arms. Not only does my membership allow me to feel as if I am part of something bigger as described before, but I now feel part of a living organization. I am not surviving off the glory of the past or merely passing time in the present; I am contributing to the future and helping to make the profession grow stronger by adding to the snowball effect.
Finally, being a member of this great profession provides me with a personal feeling and sense of accomplishment, service and gratitude. In looking back on my career thus far, I have had the opportunity to serve with an untold number of professionals, dedicated to the service of their country. I am often overcome by feelings of pride and joy when I think of my contributions to and membership in the profession. Duty, honor and country may ring through as a cliché to those who have never served, but their meaning is undeniable to those of us privileged enough to be a part of this profession.
While on the surface, the barriers to entry alone would classify the military as a profession; it is more than that to this author. The sense of pride that I feel from being part of something bigger than I am, with hundreds of years of history to build on, the opportunity to add to that legacy, all combined by the sense of accomplishment that I feel day in and day out. Those things make me proud to be part of the profession of arms.
Some may argue that in this day and age of turmoil, multiple wars and a never-ending operational tempo, the military should be thankful for my service and continuance to fill the ranks even though it is no longer required of me. I would argue that the honor is mine, and I awake thankful every morning for the opportunity to serve this great profession for yet one more day.
Works Cited
Profession. (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession
Quotations by Aristotle. (2006, February). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from The MacTutor History of Mathematics Web site: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Quotations/Aristotle.html
Why I serve my country by Larry Sharif
Major Larry Sharif
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S Government."
To many people, service to your country can be described as being one of the proudest and patriotic things an individual can do in his or her lifetime. For some, it can be described as fulfilling their civic duty as a citizen of this country. From the early beginnings of time up to the present there have been many opportunities for individuals to serve their country in one capacity or another. They have served as police officers, firemen, or doctors, who fulfill his or her commitment to his country by helping those who are sick. Out of all the opportunities to so serve one’s country I believed that joining the military, especially the Army, was the best way for me to pay for my college tuition, take on challenges that most Americans do not want to do or cannot do to serve my country and last but not least fulfill my civic duties as a American Soldier.
As a teenager in growing up in the Midwest I always played some type of sport in high school, no matter if it was baseball, basketball, and football. I remember during my senior year in high school an Army Recruiter would come out every evening during our football practices and sit and watch us run drills, plays and scrimmage. After the practice he would come up to us and ask those of us who were still around if they had ever thought about joining the military, especially the Army. The majority of the team who was still there would always say, “No thanks,” and run off to escape the recruiter. Normally I would stay there to hear his spill or pitch but in the back of my mind knowing I was going straight to college with a scholarship for football and baseball. He would always say if you have any questions don’t hesitate to stop by the recruiting office to talk to him. The recruiting office happened to be located right next to our public library. One day after speaking with my father, an Army Veteran, he told me go by and see the recruiter and see what the military has to offer. That day came and I stopped by the recruiter’s office and he showed me video of World War 2, video of basic training and some other stuff. He also talked about how the Army could pay for my college just in case I didn’t get those scholarships I was expecting to get. He also told me about the Army Reserve Program where I could be a citizen Soldier, which didn’t seem to bad considering I could go to college and be a part of the Army once a month and two weeks in the summer. After finding out I was not going to be receiving the scholarships I called the recruiter and told him to sign me up.
I told the recruiter I wanted to do all the challenging things he had shown me in the videos. He showed me all the challenging training I would receive in basic training and other training programs I could go after finishing my basic and advanced individual training (AIT) that would challenge me mentally and physically even more. I remember calling home during basic training and telling my parents everything challenging I had done and how I felt like Superman at times. I remember writing my buddies back at home and explaining the feeling of going through the Gas Chamber, repelling off a tower, and firing the numerous weapon systems that the average American citizen would not have the confidence or skill sets to do. Up to this point by serving my country, I had my college tuition being paid for, and I was doing challenging things most Americans would never even contemplate doing. Army life was great until September 11, 2001.
I remember September 11, 2001 I was preparing to brief our Brigade Commander during our monthly Commander’s Update Brief, when our BDE S2 walked in and whispered something in the Brigade Commander’s ear. From that moment on my outlook on the Army had changed from just being in the Army to do challenging things to now protecting our country and allies from terrorism. At that point it had become my civic duty as a Soldier to ensure the protection of this country with a new outlook that encompasses it is a privilege now more than ever to serve this country. I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from Oct 05 – Aug 06 as Company Commander of a Quartermaster unit and even though I missed my family and friends I felt proud to be doing what we were doing for our country. I remember coming back from deployment and how people asking me,” Do I think we should have been there,” and my response always was I took a oath to defend the constitution bottom line!
I have volunteered numerous times to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan and it’s not for the combat pay, or the challenging events that will take place but it’s my civic duty to protect this country; a duty that I take highly and I’m proud to wear this uniform. I always think what our military or country would be like today if 9-11 never occurred. One thing I do know is that my perception then of what civic duty to your country is totally different now and I am proud to serve my country as part of my civic duty.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S Government."
To many people, service to your country can be described as being one of the proudest and patriotic things an individual can do in his or her lifetime. For some, it can be described as fulfilling their civic duty as a citizen of this country. From the early beginnings of time up to the present there have been many opportunities for individuals to serve their country in one capacity or another. They have served as police officers, firemen, or doctors, who fulfill his or her commitment to his country by helping those who are sick. Out of all the opportunities to so serve one’s country I believed that joining the military, especially the Army, was the best way for me to pay for my college tuition, take on challenges that most Americans do not want to do or cannot do to serve my country and last but not least fulfill my civic duties as a American Soldier.
As a teenager in growing up in the Midwest I always played some type of sport in high school, no matter if it was baseball, basketball, and football. I remember during my senior year in high school an Army Recruiter would come out every evening during our football practices and sit and watch us run drills, plays and scrimmage. After the practice he would come up to us and ask those of us who were still around if they had ever thought about joining the military, especially the Army. The majority of the team who was still there would always say, “No thanks,” and run off to escape the recruiter. Normally I would stay there to hear his spill or pitch but in the back of my mind knowing I was going straight to college with a scholarship for football and baseball. He would always say if you have any questions don’t hesitate to stop by the recruiting office to talk to him. The recruiting office happened to be located right next to our public library. One day after speaking with my father, an Army Veteran, he told me go by and see the recruiter and see what the military has to offer. That day came and I stopped by the recruiter’s office and he showed me video of World War 2, video of basic training and some other stuff. He also talked about how the Army could pay for my college just in case I didn’t get those scholarships I was expecting to get. He also told me about the Army Reserve Program where I could be a citizen Soldier, which didn’t seem to bad considering I could go to college and be a part of the Army once a month and two weeks in the summer. After finding out I was not going to be receiving the scholarships I called the recruiter and told him to sign me up.
I told the recruiter I wanted to do all the challenging things he had shown me in the videos. He showed me all the challenging training I would receive in basic training and other training programs I could go after finishing my basic and advanced individual training (AIT) that would challenge me mentally and physically even more. I remember calling home during basic training and telling my parents everything challenging I had done and how I felt like Superman at times. I remember writing my buddies back at home and explaining the feeling of going through the Gas Chamber, repelling off a tower, and firing the numerous weapon systems that the average American citizen would not have the confidence or skill sets to do. Up to this point by serving my country, I had my college tuition being paid for, and I was doing challenging things most Americans would never even contemplate doing. Army life was great until September 11, 2001.
I remember September 11, 2001 I was preparing to brief our Brigade Commander during our monthly Commander’s Update Brief, when our BDE S2 walked in and whispered something in the Brigade Commander’s ear. From that moment on my outlook on the Army had changed from just being in the Army to do challenging things to now protecting our country and allies from terrorism. At that point it had become my civic duty as a Soldier to ensure the protection of this country with a new outlook that encompasses it is a privilege now more than ever to serve this country. I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from Oct 05 – Aug 06 as Company Commander of a Quartermaster unit and even though I missed my family and friends I felt proud to be doing what we were doing for our country. I remember coming back from deployment and how people asking me,” Do I think we should have been there,” and my response always was I took a oath to defend the constitution bottom line!
I have volunteered numerous times to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan and it’s not for the combat pay, or the challenging events that will take place but it’s my civic duty to protect this country; a duty that I take highly and I’m proud to wear this uniform. I always think what our military or country would be like today if 9-11 never occurred. One thing I do know is that my perception then of what civic duty to your country is totally different now and I am proud to serve my country as part of my civic duty.
The reasons I serve my country
Major Jennifer Snelson
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
There are many reasons people choose to serve in the military. For some, it is a sense of patriotism. Others join out of a sense of civic duty. For many, it is simply a means to an end. It is a way to pay for school or improve one’s socioeconomic status. My choice to serve my country encompasses all of these and more.
I am one of many who grew up in the military culture. My father was an infantry officer who loved his job. He loved the idea of protecting the citizens of the United States from what was sometimes a known, and sometimes an unknown, enemy. He was a defender of everything that makes this nation great. There is no doubt, his patriotism and sense of duty provided the foundation for who I have become. Patriotism and selfless service were the way of life then and have continued to be the way of life now.
All too often, people take what they have for granted. Living in Germany in the time of the Cold War, I learned that the freedoms we have come at a price. Nowhere was this more evident than the Berlin Wall. What a striking demarcation of the difference between democracy and communism. I wish everyone could have seen this. It truly brings home the freedoms Americans have and how fragile those freedoms are. I knew then, and now, if it were not for the men and women who serve this great nation, we could easily lose our freedoms that we value so greatly. I admired their sacrifice for the greater good and viewed them as true role-models to be looked up to.
Although, the Cold War has long been over, the threat to the United States and its ideals and values is no less today than they were then. We are simply fighting a different enemy. I know now, as I always have, that without men and women, who have ingrained in them a sense of duty to the nation, we are in great peril of losing our way of life. Each and every member of the armed services has made the conscious decision to make the sacrifices to protect these rights. I am glad to be one of them and cannot imagine a greater profession than that of protecting this great country and everything it stands for.
Yes, I originally joined the military out of my military upbringing. I, along with every other member of the military, have endured hardships out of a sense of duty- a need to protect what I and the American people value so greatly, our freedom. A never faltering patriotism to this great nation reminds me and my family why I do what I do every day. These are not the only reasons I continue to serve though.
What may be the greatest reason of all for my continued service to this country is my duty to my fellow soldier. Tours in Iraq and Afghanistan opened my eyes to what exactly the price is for our freedoms. Treating wounded and dying soldiers, many of whom are still in their teens, has driven home to me the cost of what we as a nation often take for granted. It amazes me day after day the imminent dangers our servicemen and women are willing to endure to protect this country and what it stands for. I know that often their courage stems from the knowledge that their battle buddies, unit members and eventually the Army’s medical department will take care of them. When others are willing to sacrifice so much on faith, I cannot walk away. I know that I endure nothing compared to these brave young men and women. They are the true heroes and deserve to have the best treatment waiting for them.
For anyone who questions why people serve this country, I encourage you to come to the nation’s capitol and visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, and any of the surrounding military medical facilities. First, you will be shocked by the sacrifices our Wounded Warriors and their family members have made in the protection of the United States. More importantly though, you will be filled with awe at the unwavering patriotism and sense of duty these unsung heroes still display.
Everyday, I reflect on the sacrifices our young servicemen and women make. I know that somewhere, someone is willingly going into danger to protect our freedoms on the pure faith that they will be taken care of. This sense of duty and act of faith are what keep me in this profession I have chosen. There is no greater career than caring for those who are willing to sacrifice everything for the freedom of our nation.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
There are many reasons people choose to serve in the military. For some, it is a sense of patriotism. Others join out of a sense of civic duty. For many, it is simply a means to an end. It is a way to pay for school or improve one’s socioeconomic status. My choice to serve my country encompasses all of these and more.
I am one of many who grew up in the military culture. My father was an infantry officer who loved his job. He loved the idea of protecting the citizens of the United States from what was sometimes a known, and sometimes an unknown, enemy. He was a defender of everything that makes this nation great. There is no doubt, his patriotism and sense of duty provided the foundation for who I have become. Patriotism and selfless service were the way of life then and have continued to be the way of life now.
All too often, people take what they have for granted. Living in Germany in the time of the Cold War, I learned that the freedoms we have come at a price. Nowhere was this more evident than the Berlin Wall. What a striking demarcation of the difference between democracy and communism. I wish everyone could have seen this. It truly brings home the freedoms Americans have and how fragile those freedoms are. I knew then, and now, if it were not for the men and women who serve this great nation, we could easily lose our freedoms that we value so greatly. I admired their sacrifice for the greater good and viewed them as true role-models to be looked up to.
Although, the Cold War has long been over, the threat to the United States and its ideals and values is no less today than they were then. We are simply fighting a different enemy. I know now, as I always have, that without men and women, who have ingrained in them a sense of duty to the nation, we are in great peril of losing our way of life. Each and every member of the armed services has made the conscious decision to make the sacrifices to protect these rights. I am glad to be one of them and cannot imagine a greater profession than that of protecting this great country and everything it stands for.
Yes, I originally joined the military out of my military upbringing. I, along with every other member of the military, have endured hardships out of a sense of duty- a need to protect what I and the American people value so greatly, our freedom. A never faltering patriotism to this great nation reminds me and my family why I do what I do every day. These are not the only reasons I continue to serve though.
What may be the greatest reason of all for my continued service to this country is my duty to my fellow soldier. Tours in Iraq and Afghanistan opened my eyes to what exactly the price is for our freedoms. Treating wounded and dying soldiers, many of whom are still in their teens, has driven home to me the cost of what we as a nation often take for granted. It amazes me day after day the imminent dangers our servicemen and women are willing to endure to protect this country and what it stands for. I know that often their courage stems from the knowledge that their battle buddies, unit members and eventually the Army’s medical department will take care of them. When others are willing to sacrifice so much on faith, I cannot walk away. I know that I endure nothing compared to these brave young men and women. They are the true heroes and deserve to have the best treatment waiting for them.
For anyone who questions why people serve this country, I encourage you to come to the nation’s capitol and visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, and any of the surrounding military medical facilities. First, you will be shocked by the sacrifices our Wounded Warriors and their family members have made in the protection of the United States. More importantly though, you will be filled with awe at the unwavering patriotism and sense of duty these unsung heroes still display.
Everyday, I reflect on the sacrifices our young servicemen and women make. I know that somewhere, someone is willingly going into danger to protect our freedoms on the pure faith that they will be taken care of. This sense of duty and act of faith are what keep me in this profession I have chosen. There is no greater career than caring for those who are willing to sacrifice everything for the freedom of our nation.
LTC Pete Cuenca
Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.
Why should an emergency medicine physician (62A) stay in the Army? Many junior officers I mentor ask me this question searching for the magic answer that makes their decision to stay on active duty easy. Unfortunately, I tell them that this decision is a personal one and no mentor should ever tell his/her mentee what to do or what to think. Instead, I counsel them on why I choose to serve my country as an officer in the Army. The personal and professional rewards a career in military medicine provides an individual far supersedes any monetary or professional benefit civilian medicine can offer. Serving our country as an officer in the Army is the greatest and most professionally rewarding experience physicians can have.
Those who choose not to remain in the Army cite better financial compensation as an important factor for leaving the Army. It is true that civilian emergency medicine physicians earn two to three times the salary of Army 62As. However, the Army allows its 62As to conduct off duty-employment which can help to reduce this financial disparity. In addition, the 62A retention bonuses are worth up to $40,000.00 a year for a four year contract. Though, the difference in pay exists between those that serve and those that do not, this delta is negligible considering all the other benefits the Army provides its 62As. Emergency medicine physicians in the Army earn enough money to provide a lifestyle for their families that only the top third of Americans enjoy.
Arguments against continued service as a 62A also purport the idea that no longer having to deploy is a reason to quit military service. Deployments do take time away from family and loved ones that can never be replaced. On the other hand, the increased number of hours that civilian emergency physicians must work to earn their salaries, over time and their careers, exceeds the time spent away from home on deployments. Time spent deployed is easier to tolerate because you are serving your fellow soldiers and their families. In addition, your loved ones have the support of the Army community while you are deployed. Working in the civilian medical community, you are beholden to the almighty dollar. The civilian organization you work for cares only that you cover your shifts. It does not care that a family member is sick or that you need to attend a family event. This is not the case in the Army.
The patient population we care for in the Army makes service to country an easy choice as a 62A. Young men and women on active duty volunteer to go in harm’s way to serve our country. Caring for their injuries and illnesses is a personal and professional privilege very few physicians experience. Providing healthcare to the dependent family members who sacrifice so much for this country is an honor. Treating retirees and disabled veterans who have made physical and emotional sacrifices for this country is a sacred responsibility that this country must bear and it is an honor to do it. All of those the military cares for are educated and respectful persons who deserve the best treatment possible and are always grateful for it. The thankfulness that patients in the Army give to a physician can be so great at times that the physician sometimes feel shame for it. This feeling rarely occurs in the civilian sector.
Fellow emergency medicine physicians in the Army look out for one another. The professional respect and camaraderie shared among 62A is something that cannot be found in the civilian community. The bond shared between men and women who have deployed and cared for horrendously wounded soldiers together is something that does not exist in the civilian community. It is this admiration that we share for one another that makes working together a joy. The support fellow officers provide one another is not out of respect for money or status, but out of admiration for the shared knowledge that we are making difference that few physicians get the opportunity to do.
All physicians in the Army, not just 62As, are called upon to be leaders and mentors to soldiers. Responsibility and privilege of leadership are unique to the military. The leadership experience share by all 62As develops character, honor, discipline, and humility. This is not something that cannot be gained by “simply showing up to work and doing your shift.” It involves a personal investment of time and energy that is not required if you simply are working for an hourly wage in the community. 62As become better persons for having the opportunity to lead and be led in the Army. It is this opportunity that makes the profession of arms an easy choice for officers.
In conclusion, service to our country as an emergency medicine physician in the Army is demanding and requires sacrifice from both the officer and his/her loved ones. However, the benefits reaped from a career in the Army more than make up for this. Outstanding patients and their appreciation of care, the professional fellowship of 62As, and the lessons of leadership offered by service to our country make deciding on a career in military medicine an easy decision for those who want to make a difference in the world and for their country.
Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.
Why should an emergency medicine physician (62A) stay in the Army? Many junior officers I mentor ask me this question searching for the magic answer that makes their decision to stay on active duty easy. Unfortunately, I tell them that this decision is a personal one and no mentor should ever tell his/her mentee what to do or what to think. Instead, I counsel them on why I choose to serve my country as an officer in the Army. The personal and professional rewards a career in military medicine provides an individual far supersedes any monetary or professional benefit civilian medicine can offer. Serving our country as an officer in the Army is the greatest and most professionally rewarding experience physicians can have.
Those who choose not to remain in the Army cite better financial compensation as an important factor for leaving the Army. It is true that civilian emergency medicine physicians earn two to three times the salary of Army 62As. However, the Army allows its 62As to conduct off duty-employment which can help to reduce this financial disparity. In addition, the 62A retention bonuses are worth up to $40,000.00 a year for a four year contract. Though, the difference in pay exists between those that serve and those that do not, this delta is negligible considering all the other benefits the Army provides its 62As. Emergency medicine physicians in the Army earn enough money to provide a lifestyle for their families that only the top third of Americans enjoy.
Arguments against continued service as a 62A also purport the idea that no longer having to deploy is a reason to quit military service. Deployments do take time away from family and loved ones that can never be replaced. On the other hand, the increased number of hours that civilian emergency physicians must work to earn their salaries, over time and their careers, exceeds the time spent away from home on deployments. Time spent deployed is easier to tolerate because you are serving your fellow soldiers and their families. In addition, your loved ones have the support of the Army community while you are deployed. Working in the civilian medical community, you are beholden to the almighty dollar. The civilian organization you work for cares only that you cover your shifts. It does not care that a family member is sick or that you need to attend a family event. This is not the case in the Army.
The patient population we care for in the Army makes service to country an easy choice as a 62A. Young men and women on active duty volunteer to go in harm’s way to serve our country. Caring for their injuries and illnesses is a personal and professional privilege very few physicians experience. Providing healthcare to the dependent family members who sacrifice so much for this country is an honor. Treating retirees and disabled veterans who have made physical and emotional sacrifices for this country is a sacred responsibility that this country must bear and it is an honor to do it. All of those the military cares for are educated and respectful persons who deserve the best treatment possible and are always grateful for it. The thankfulness that patients in the Army give to a physician can be so great at times that the physician sometimes feel shame for it. This feeling rarely occurs in the civilian sector.
Fellow emergency medicine physicians in the Army look out for one another. The professional respect and camaraderie shared among 62A is something that cannot be found in the civilian community. The bond shared between men and women who have deployed and cared for horrendously wounded soldiers together is something that does not exist in the civilian community. It is this admiration that we share for one another that makes working together a joy. The support fellow officers provide one another is not out of respect for money or status, but out of admiration for the shared knowledge that we are making difference that few physicians get the opportunity to do.
All physicians in the Army, not just 62As, are called upon to be leaders and mentors to soldiers. Responsibility and privilege of leadership are unique to the military. The leadership experience share by all 62As develops character, honor, discipline, and humility. This is not something that cannot be gained by “simply showing up to work and doing your shift.” It involves a personal investment of time and energy that is not required if you simply are working for an hourly wage in the community. 62As become better persons for having the opportunity to lead and be led in the Army. It is this opportunity that makes the profession of arms an easy choice for officers.
In conclusion, service to our country as an emergency medicine physician in the Army is demanding and requires sacrifice from both the officer and his/her loved ones. However, the benefits reaped from a career in the Army more than make up for this. Outstanding patients and their appreciation of care, the professional fellowship of 62As, and the lessons of leadership offered by service to our country make deciding on a career in military medicine an easy decision for those who want to make a difference in the world and for their country.
Why do we serve in the military?
Frequently, those who serve in the military are asked why they chose to serve and why they continue to do so. It is practical, fitting and admirable to explain these decisions with an answer that simplistically refers to an inescapable emotional tide of selfless service and call to duty. I, like others, have tailored my answers in this fashion numerous times. In truth, the reasons why I serve my country are both numerous and complex. In this essay, I will explain what I believe to be the three primary motives for my continued service: (1) a sense of duty, (2) a common bond and (3) security. Some may be more powerful and influential than others; however, they undoubtedly all play a significant role.
As mentioned, a sense of duty is the most common response given for one’s reason to serve their country. It is undeniable that this call to service is a key component to my core values and my professional fulfillment. Although it does not guide me alone, it would be difficult to argue that it is not the overriding factor in many of my decisions. Officers and Soldiers may join the service for many reasons; however, I believe that few would continue to serve beyond their obligations if they were not driven by some manifestation of a sense or call to duty. This internal motive is often more conveniently packaged in the term of selfless service.
Selfless service is ultimately evoked by feelings of loyalty to one’s country and nationalistic pride. Raised in a family rooted in military tradition, I believe that I grew up with an internal sense of loyalty and pride that makes military service a perfect fit. Most people envision themselves in a career that is both fulfilling and meaningful; I am no different in this capacity. Presented with decision points, I have always chosen to remain in the service. In retrospect and forward thinking, I just fail to see myself in a career that provides such a tangible opportunity to feel good about what I am doing and a feeling that I am making a difference. Likewise, when I see others who have made the opposite decision and harbor visible feelings of regret (such as my wife), I am convinced that I would respond in the same.
However, loyalty and duty can be fleeting when the supporting conditions do not support and maintain their existence. Moreover, I am human and therefore respond to other motives. While, it would be difficult to shake my sense of duty, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that I am at least subconsciously influenced by other factors that are not entirely selfless.
One of these factors is can be characterize as the sharing of a common bond. The Army is my way of life and has been for my entire life. My father served in the military for thirty years and continues to hold the mark for the shortest term of military in our family (his brother and my grandfather each served beyond thirty years). When I am around others in the military I feel a sense of familiarity. The military is an extended family. There is no experience or job outside of the Army where I could ever imagine experiencing the bonds or level of camaraderie that I experience with my peers and Soldiers both in and out of combat. I serve in the military because I am comfortable with the people, the mission and the values.
Is this common bond intertwined or related to the previously described call of duty?...Absolutely. But conversely, one could say that I remain in the military because I fear the possibilities or uncertainty in the “outside world”. This assessment may be true to an extent. However, it is my choice to follow this path which, while to some degree is self serving, remains admirable and, in my opinion, in parallel with the majority of those who serve.
Finally, and least altruistically, it would be significant case of omission if I did not list security as an important reason for my continued service. Security is predominately categorized as economic security which I will address, but takes forms not exclusive to money. The military demands a high level of flexibility and sacrifice but provides numerous forms of compensation. While offset by deployments and other activities that take me away from my family, I am fully aware that the Army provides a level of time compensation that is not always available in the civilian sector. How many civilian organizations offer as non-working government holidays, thirty days leave, and a supervisor’s prerogative to grant absences or tardiness to “take care of family issues”. We often take for granted the flexibility provided to attend to a sick child or attend a early recital without the consequence of expending leave.
Economic security is provided by the Army in the forms of comparable pay, job security, health benefits and retirement. The latter two have always been driving influences for continued military service but as the economy remains in a slump, job security is emerging as a viable compliment. Few other industries offer the opportunity to secure retirement pay and health benefits at such an early age. While I am admittedly not concerned about my ability to acquire a comparable position in the civilian sector, I am strongly influenced by the goal of retirement. Anyone with a reasonable economic acumen would conclude the same thing that I did when I entered the down slope of a twenty year career; leaving at this point just doesn’t make fiscal sense.
I have provided a broad stroke in trying to cover the reasons for my military service. While the call of duty, sense of common bond, and security are true factors, they only highlight the top layer of a complex network of mental and physical factors that influence my decisions. Further introspection, may reveal factors that are more dominantly weighted than others; however, as a true Operations Research and Systems Analyst (ORSA), I believe that I cannot truly define their individual impacts and sensitivity unless a factor itself is either removed or changed. In the meantime, the context of time will likely shape my answer and lead me to describe a palatable call to duty and selfless service.
Major Mark Zais
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
As mentioned, a sense of duty is the most common response given for one’s reason to serve their country. It is undeniable that this call to service is a key component to my core values and my professional fulfillment. Although it does not guide me alone, it would be difficult to argue that it is not the overriding factor in many of my decisions. Officers and Soldiers may join the service for many reasons; however, I believe that few would continue to serve beyond their obligations if they were not driven by some manifestation of a sense or call to duty. This internal motive is often more conveniently packaged in the term of selfless service.
Selfless service is ultimately evoked by feelings of loyalty to one’s country and nationalistic pride. Raised in a family rooted in military tradition, I believe that I grew up with an internal sense of loyalty and pride that makes military service a perfect fit. Most people envision themselves in a career that is both fulfilling and meaningful; I am no different in this capacity. Presented with decision points, I have always chosen to remain in the service. In retrospect and forward thinking, I just fail to see myself in a career that provides such a tangible opportunity to feel good about what I am doing and a feeling that I am making a difference. Likewise, when I see others who have made the opposite decision and harbor visible feelings of regret (such as my wife), I am convinced that I would respond in the same.
However, loyalty and duty can be fleeting when the supporting conditions do not support and maintain their existence. Moreover, I am human and therefore respond to other motives. While, it would be difficult to shake my sense of duty, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that I am at least subconsciously influenced by other factors that are not entirely selfless.
One of these factors is can be characterize as the sharing of a common bond. The Army is my way of life and has been for my entire life. My father served in the military for thirty years and continues to hold the mark for the shortest term of military in our family (his brother and my grandfather each served beyond thirty years). When I am around others in the military I feel a sense of familiarity. The military is an extended family. There is no experience or job outside of the Army where I could ever imagine experiencing the bonds or level of camaraderie that I experience with my peers and Soldiers both in and out of combat. I serve in the military because I am comfortable with the people, the mission and the values.
Is this common bond intertwined or related to the previously described call of duty?...Absolutely. But conversely, one could say that I remain in the military because I fear the possibilities or uncertainty in the “outside world”. This assessment may be true to an extent. However, it is my choice to follow this path which, while to some degree is self serving, remains admirable and, in my opinion, in parallel with the majority of those who serve.
Finally, and least altruistically, it would be significant case of omission if I did not list security as an important reason for my continued service. Security is predominately categorized as economic security which I will address, but takes forms not exclusive to money. The military demands a high level of flexibility and sacrifice but provides numerous forms of compensation. While offset by deployments and other activities that take me away from my family, I am fully aware that the Army provides a level of time compensation that is not always available in the civilian sector. How many civilian organizations offer as non-working government holidays, thirty days leave, and a supervisor’s prerogative to grant absences or tardiness to “take care of family issues”. We often take for granted the flexibility provided to attend to a sick child or attend a early recital without the consequence of expending leave.
Economic security is provided by the Army in the forms of comparable pay, job security, health benefits and retirement. The latter two have always been driving influences for continued military service but as the economy remains in a slump, job security is emerging as a viable compliment. Few other industries offer the opportunity to secure retirement pay and health benefits at such an early age. While I am admittedly not concerned about my ability to acquire a comparable position in the civilian sector, I am strongly influenced by the goal of retirement. Anyone with a reasonable economic acumen would conclude the same thing that I did when I entered the down slope of a twenty year career; leaving at this point just doesn’t make fiscal sense.
I have provided a broad stroke in trying to cover the reasons for my military service. While the call of duty, sense of common bond, and security are true factors, they only highlight the top layer of a complex network of mental and physical factors that influence my decisions. Further introspection, may reveal factors that are more dominantly weighted than others; however, as a true Operations Research and Systems Analyst (ORSA), I believe that I cannot truly define their individual impacts and sensitivity unless a factor itself is either removed or changed. In the meantime, the context of time will likely shape my answer and lead me to describe a palatable call to duty and selfless service.
Major Mark Zais
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The Reasons Why I Serve My Country
Major Joel Dillon
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
My name is Joel Dillon, and I am a Major in the United States Army. I have been associated with the military for 17 years and have been on active duty for the past 13 years. The purpose of this essay is to explain why I originally chose to serve my country, and why I continue to serve now.
I joined the Army on June 28th, 1993 shortly after graduating from high school. I had been fortunate enough to be able to attain an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and I started my Army career there as a freshman, or “Plebe.” Obtaining an appointment had been a complicated and time-consuming process, but deciding to attend West Point was not a difficult decision for me. I am from a family of limited means in West Virginia and the son of a coal miner. With the encouragement of my parents, I had worked very hard as a student in school so that I could obtain enough scholarship money for a college education. Due to my good performance, I received offers from many high-quality civilian schools and service academies during my senior year in high school. However, I chose to join the Army and attend West Point. The four primary reasons I chose this route are outlined below.
The first and foremost reason I chose to serve was because I felt that I had a duty to give back to the country that has given me so much. I have always been patriotic, and I have also always respected members of the military and what they do to protect our nation. I wanted to do my part as well. My father, my uncle, and both of my grandfathers had served in the military, and they valued the skills and experiences the military had given to them. My community respected members of the military, and that played an important role in my decision as well. I saw it as my duty as a citizen to help support the nation.
The second reason I chose to serve was because I wanted to receive an education. As I mentioned earlier, I had worked very hard during school to have the opportunity to go to college, and I wanted to receive a top-notch education in engineering. Given the fact that I also wanted serve my nation, West Point seemed to provide me with the perfect combination – offering an incredible college education and also the opportunity to serve the nation and give back to my community as an officer once I graduated. West Point is also a highly-respected institution, and its graduates have gone on to achieve many great things. This was very appealing to me, and I when I was offered the opportunity to attend, I did not hesitate to accept, even though I knew it would be very challenging. I have never once regretted that decision. In fact, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The third reason I chose to serve was to have the chance to lead Soldiers. The American Soldier represents the best that America has to offer. I wanted to lead, and I also wanted to serve in the Infantry. The first day I arrived at West Point, during a brief respite from the yelling of upperclassmen, my new roommate asked me why I decided to come there. I told him that I wanted to be an Infantry officer and lead Soldiers in combat. Now 17 years later, I am an Infantry officer who was given the extraordinary opportunity to lead Soldiers in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I would not trade those experiences for the world.
The final reason I joined the military was to gain valuable job experience. When I initially went to West Point, I was not sure how long I intended to stay in the Army, but I knew that having military experience would be valuable to many employers. I made the commitment to myself before I graduated from West Point that I would only stay in the Army as long as I was having fun. Now, over 13 years later, and after multiple training and combat deployments, I can say with confidence that I am still having fun. The leadership and management experience that I have received has been truly incredible. Additionally, I am now moving into the Army Acquisition Corps where I will be an Assistant Product Manager for Soldier equipment. The experience I will gain in this new line of work will also be very valuable in the civilian sector when I eventually retire from the Army.
Looking back on my decision to serve the military at this point in my life, I must say that I would not change anything. The Army has given me incredible opportunities that would not have been possible if I had not decided to serve. I have been given enormous responsibilities; I have been challenged on a daily basis; I have seen parts of the world that few other Americans will ever see; and I have grown as a leader, as a person, and a citizen. The Army also recently sent me back to school to receive my Master’s Degree from an Ivy League college. It is hard to believe that the son of a West Virginia coal miner has been given the opportunities that the Army has given me. That is what is so great about our nation and about our military, and that is why I chose to serve and why I am happy to continue serving now.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
My name is Joel Dillon, and I am a Major in the United States Army. I have been associated with the military for 17 years and have been on active duty for the past 13 years. The purpose of this essay is to explain why I originally chose to serve my country, and why I continue to serve now.
I joined the Army on June 28th, 1993 shortly after graduating from high school. I had been fortunate enough to be able to attain an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and I started my Army career there as a freshman, or “Plebe.” Obtaining an appointment had been a complicated and time-consuming process, but deciding to attend West Point was not a difficult decision for me. I am from a family of limited means in West Virginia and the son of a coal miner. With the encouragement of my parents, I had worked very hard as a student in school so that I could obtain enough scholarship money for a college education. Due to my good performance, I received offers from many high-quality civilian schools and service academies during my senior year in high school. However, I chose to join the Army and attend West Point. The four primary reasons I chose this route are outlined below.
The first and foremost reason I chose to serve was because I felt that I had a duty to give back to the country that has given me so much. I have always been patriotic, and I have also always respected members of the military and what they do to protect our nation. I wanted to do my part as well. My father, my uncle, and both of my grandfathers had served in the military, and they valued the skills and experiences the military had given to them. My community respected members of the military, and that played an important role in my decision as well. I saw it as my duty as a citizen to help support the nation.
The second reason I chose to serve was because I wanted to receive an education. As I mentioned earlier, I had worked very hard during school to have the opportunity to go to college, and I wanted to receive a top-notch education in engineering. Given the fact that I also wanted serve my nation, West Point seemed to provide me with the perfect combination – offering an incredible college education and also the opportunity to serve the nation and give back to my community as an officer once I graduated. West Point is also a highly-respected institution, and its graduates have gone on to achieve many great things. This was very appealing to me, and I when I was offered the opportunity to attend, I did not hesitate to accept, even though I knew it would be very challenging. I have never once regretted that decision. In fact, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The third reason I chose to serve was to have the chance to lead Soldiers. The American Soldier represents the best that America has to offer. I wanted to lead, and I also wanted to serve in the Infantry. The first day I arrived at West Point, during a brief respite from the yelling of upperclassmen, my new roommate asked me why I decided to come there. I told him that I wanted to be an Infantry officer and lead Soldiers in combat. Now 17 years later, I am an Infantry officer who was given the extraordinary opportunity to lead Soldiers in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I would not trade those experiences for the world.
The final reason I joined the military was to gain valuable job experience. When I initially went to West Point, I was not sure how long I intended to stay in the Army, but I knew that having military experience would be valuable to many employers. I made the commitment to myself before I graduated from West Point that I would only stay in the Army as long as I was having fun. Now, over 13 years later, and after multiple training and combat deployments, I can say with confidence that I am still having fun. The leadership and management experience that I have received has been truly incredible. Additionally, I am now moving into the Army Acquisition Corps where I will be an Assistant Product Manager for Soldier equipment. The experience I will gain in this new line of work will also be very valuable in the civilian sector when I eventually retire from the Army.
Looking back on my decision to serve the military at this point in my life, I must say that I would not change anything. The Army has given me incredible opportunities that would not have been possible if I had not decided to serve. I have been given enormous responsibilities; I have been challenged on a daily basis; I have seen parts of the world that few other Americans will ever see; and I have grown as a leader, as a person, and a citizen. The Army also recently sent me back to school to receive my Master’s Degree from an Ivy League college. It is hard to believe that the son of a West Virginia coal miner has been given the opportunities that the Army has given me. That is what is so great about our nation and about our military, and that is why I chose to serve and why I am happy to continue serving now.
Chaplain (Major) Daniel Finkhousen
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
“The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U. S. Government”
Why do I serve my country?
A Question of Conscience
The events that transpired in Somalia during the battle of Mogadishu as demonstrated in the movie “Blackhawk Down” were heart rending and difficult to watch. I cannot pretend to understand the emotions experienced by those actually there, but I am proud of them and the courage they displayed. To me a key element of interest was the conversation in the mess hall prior to the special operations sergeant returning to the engagement. He addressed the question “Why do we do it”. His answer, we do it for the guy standing next to us. I find that line at the center of my thought for why I continue to serve in the military.
Many of my colleagues can quote a long history of their filial relationship to the United States Military. I have friends in the service who can trace their heritage back to relatives that actively served in the military during WWI or WWII. I do not have that heritage. What I do have is a heart for our country and the willingness to serve those willing to sacrifice their time, energy and even life in order to carry out the orders given by their chain of command.
I am proud to be an American and delighted to be an American soldier. It is a wonderful privilege to see young men and women enter the military, many without a clear sense of purpose or direction for their future, and see their lives take shape through the influence and molding of the professional soldiers given the responsibility of training them. I know they are gaining experience and developing relationships that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
It is my desire to make our country a better and safer place. The military gives me the opportunity to do both. My task gives me a sense of even greater opportunity for I get the privilege of serving those who serve our country. As a chaplain I get to bring God to soldiers and soldiers to God. I have the joy of a dual responsibility. My appointment by the government to take care of the warrior blends well with my appointment by God to do the same. In accordance with my conscience, that internal burning desire or drive, I could not realize more joy than getting to live and experience a life serving the warriors and the families of the United States military.
A Question of Calling
What does it mean to be called? The Old Testament book Samuel records an incident that expresses well what it means to be called. Samuel went to sleep one night and during the night he heard a voice saying to him, “Samuel, Samuel”. Samuel thought it was Eli, the high priest sleeping in the next room, calling him. Samuel got out of bed, went to Eli and asked what he wanted. After the third time the event transpired Eli sensed that it was the Lord calling Samuel and told him the next time he heard the voice to answer, “Speak Lord for your servant listens” (1 Samuel 3:10).
Samuel’s calling involved three key elements. The first element was a need for a prophetic voice.
The second element was an ear that would listen. The third element was a voice willing to speak.
Israel needed a prophetic voice. Israel needed correction and instruction which should come as no surprise for each of us individually and collectively need the same. As a previous aviator, I discovered that I couldn’t put in a single input and expect the helicopter to get where I wanted to go. It takes constant correction and guidance from the pilot for an aircraft to get to its final destination. Life is not so different from flying. An uncorrected flight path is called a crash. So too, an uncorrected life is also called a crash.
In order for Israel to receive correction it was vital that God could get an ear that would listen. There is a vast difference between hearing and listening. Many arguments are avoided in family life through the speaker - listener techniques taught in Strong Bonds marriage retreats conducted by the chaplaincy. What is said does not always equate with what is meant. Getting to the meaning is the vital difference between hearing and listening.
Finally, it takes more than a need for correction and an ear to listen. It takes a voice willing to speak. I was told about an auto accident that could have been avoided if a word of caution would have been spoken rather than a grunt given. The soldier didn’t notice a driver coming from his right but the passenger did. A corrective response would have been, “three o’clock, car, stop.” That would have been the simple to the point exchange of information necessary. The blood curdling scream did little but raise blood pressure and cause the driver to be tensed for the impact.
It is a wonderful joy to serve the military as a part of the team that shapes and molds the fine young men and women of our nation. The warriors represent, in my opinion, the finest people on the globe. Do they need correction, guidance and direction? Of course, we all do. I could not create a better scenario to fulfill my conviction and answer my call.
If you’d like more information on serving in the military as an Army chaplain please visit the Army Chaplaincy site at: http://www.chapnet.army.mil/.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
“The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U. S. Government”
Why do I serve my country?
A Question of Conscience
The events that transpired in Somalia during the battle of Mogadishu as demonstrated in the movie “Blackhawk Down” were heart rending and difficult to watch. I cannot pretend to understand the emotions experienced by those actually there, but I am proud of them and the courage they displayed. To me a key element of interest was the conversation in the mess hall prior to the special operations sergeant returning to the engagement. He addressed the question “Why do we do it”. His answer, we do it for the guy standing next to us. I find that line at the center of my thought for why I continue to serve in the military.
Many of my colleagues can quote a long history of their filial relationship to the United States Military. I have friends in the service who can trace their heritage back to relatives that actively served in the military during WWI or WWII. I do not have that heritage. What I do have is a heart for our country and the willingness to serve those willing to sacrifice their time, energy and even life in order to carry out the orders given by their chain of command.
I am proud to be an American and delighted to be an American soldier. It is a wonderful privilege to see young men and women enter the military, many without a clear sense of purpose or direction for their future, and see their lives take shape through the influence and molding of the professional soldiers given the responsibility of training them. I know they are gaining experience and developing relationships that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
It is my desire to make our country a better and safer place. The military gives me the opportunity to do both. My task gives me a sense of even greater opportunity for I get the privilege of serving those who serve our country. As a chaplain I get to bring God to soldiers and soldiers to God. I have the joy of a dual responsibility. My appointment by the government to take care of the warrior blends well with my appointment by God to do the same. In accordance with my conscience, that internal burning desire or drive, I could not realize more joy than getting to live and experience a life serving the warriors and the families of the United States military.
A Question of Calling
What does it mean to be called? The Old Testament book Samuel records an incident that expresses well what it means to be called. Samuel went to sleep one night and during the night he heard a voice saying to him, “Samuel, Samuel”. Samuel thought it was Eli, the high priest sleeping in the next room, calling him. Samuel got out of bed, went to Eli and asked what he wanted. After the third time the event transpired Eli sensed that it was the Lord calling Samuel and told him the next time he heard the voice to answer, “Speak Lord for your servant listens” (1 Samuel 3:10).
Samuel’s calling involved three key elements. The first element was a need for a prophetic voice.
The second element was an ear that would listen. The third element was a voice willing to speak.
Israel needed a prophetic voice. Israel needed correction and instruction which should come as no surprise for each of us individually and collectively need the same. As a previous aviator, I discovered that I couldn’t put in a single input and expect the helicopter to get where I wanted to go. It takes constant correction and guidance from the pilot for an aircraft to get to its final destination. Life is not so different from flying. An uncorrected flight path is called a crash. So too, an uncorrected life is also called a crash.
In order for Israel to receive correction it was vital that God could get an ear that would listen. There is a vast difference between hearing and listening. Many arguments are avoided in family life through the speaker - listener techniques taught in Strong Bonds marriage retreats conducted by the chaplaincy. What is said does not always equate with what is meant. Getting to the meaning is the vital difference between hearing and listening.
Finally, it takes more than a need for correction and an ear to listen. It takes a voice willing to speak. I was told about an auto accident that could have been avoided if a word of caution would have been spoken rather than a grunt given. The soldier didn’t notice a driver coming from his right but the passenger did. A corrective response would have been, “three o’clock, car, stop.” That would have been the simple to the point exchange of information necessary. The blood curdling scream did little but raise blood pressure and cause the driver to be tensed for the impact.
It is a wonderful joy to serve the military as a part of the team that shapes and molds the fine young men and women of our nation. The warriors represent, in my opinion, the finest people on the globe. Do they need correction, guidance and direction? Of course, we all do. I could not create a better scenario to fulfill my conviction and answer my call.
If you’d like more information on serving in the military as an Army chaplain please visit the Army Chaplaincy site at: http://www.chapnet.army.mil/.
Why I Serve My Country
MAJ Chantal-Anne Fieldman
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
When I left home for college in autumn of 1995, I had no idea that joining the military was in my future. As a young 18-year old, I was focused on beginning my college experience at a private school in western Massachusetts, making friends, leaving my parents (the ball and chain of authority and discipline!), and generally having as much fun as possible. Although I had some aspirations to be a state trooper and study Criminal Justice, I was still open to other opportunities, and frankly, not altogether positive of either my choice of a major nor my intention of being a law enforcement officer after college. I innately knew, however, that I wanted to be a leader, to see the world, and be part of something bigger than myself, my small town and small school.
My college experience began just as I’d hoped: plenty of friends, tons of partying, and a plethora of activities. Unfortunately, my report card did not reflect what I had hoped- my grades were less than stellar. I knew that if I wanted to stay in college, not only would I have to pay for my tuition, but I needed to earn better grades than I was receiving. A friend of mine who was involved in the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) invited me to attend a class with him and experience what ROTC and the United States Army had to offer.
I was promptly introduced to the cadre and told that we would be repelling the following week off of a 90-foot dam approximately 30 minutes away by Chinook and was I interested? Over the course of the next several days, I met other students who were motivated to be part of something exciting and different, and be part of a team. When I attended Physical Training (PT), the other students and cadre supported and encouraged me to run faster, climb higher, and lift more. After attending classes for two weeks, I decide to sign up for the program. I realized that the program offered a level of discipline that I had lacked since leaving home. It offered me the opportunity to be self-disciplined: to get up early for PT, achieve the grades and GPA I needed to obtain a scholarship, and to maintain my field equipment. The program began to teach me how to become a responsible adult, a leader, and a follower.
As I became part of the ROTC team and conducted infantry tactics in the woods near my college, I thought of the men and women who had fought for the freedom of our country. I thought of the wars that the USA had been involved in, the campaigns that our military served in, and the type of person who sacrificed his or her time, energy, and life to protect and keep the freedoms that we as Americans hold so dear. I realized that I wanted to be part of our history, to do something honorable, and to be part of something bigger than myself. I wanted to serve our country! I believed that the military would provide me the opportunity to learn self-discipline and shape me into a leader, while providing direction for my future and developing in me the honorable values that I respected and expected from our men and women in uniform.
The following year, I applied for a scholarship and became active in the monthly Field Training Exercises, the PT program, and the ROTC classes and labs. During my sophomore year, I was granted a two-year scholarship to become a commissioned officer and serve in the U.S. Army for four years. The scholarship covered my tuition, housing, and even provided me with a monthly stipend for spending. I realized that not only did the ROTC program afford me a chance to grow as a student and a leader, it also was a financially sound decision to continue my college education. Joining ROTC and ultimately the United States Army was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
Now, with eleven years of service under my belt, two tours to Korea, and two deployments to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, I really can say that I have seen the world, become a true leader, and shaped the lives of American Soldiers. Now I understand that the units I have been part of, and the Soldiers I have helped to train, have protected the freedoms of America and contributed to making other countries more empowered and safer, while helping to establish and protect their freedoms.
I initially served our country to satisfy the drive in me: so that I could be part of something bigger, so that I could see the world. Looking back, and now facing the future, I serve for us: I serve for my family, alongside of and for my fellow Soldiers, and for the citizens of America, all of which I am proud to be a part of. It has been an honor to serve this country, knowing that every day, I and my family live in the best country in the world: the United States of America, land of the free, home of the brave.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
When I left home for college in autumn of 1995, I had no idea that joining the military was in my future. As a young 18-year old, I was focused on beginning my college experience at a private school in western Massachusetts, making friends, leaving my parents (the ball and chain of authority and discipline!), and generally having as much fun as possible. Although I had some aspirations to be a state trooper and study Criminal Justice, I was still open to other opportunities, and frankly, not altogether positive of either my choice of a major nor my intention of being a law enforcement officer after college. I innately knew, however, that I wanted to be a leader, to see the world, and be part of something bigger than myself, my small town and small school.
My college experience began just as I’d hoped: plenty of friends, tons of partying, and a plethora of activities. Unfortunately, my report card did not reflect what I had hoped- my grades were less than stellar. I knew that if I wanted to stay in college, not only would I have to pay for my tuition, but I needed to earn better grades than I was receiving. A friend of mine who was involved in the Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) invited me to attend a class with him and experience what ROTC and the United States Army had to offer.
I was promptly introduced to the cadre and told that we would be repelling the following week off of a 90-foot dam approximately 30 minutes away by Chinook and was I interested? Over the course of the next several days, I met other students who were motivated to be part of something exciting and different, and be part of a team. When I attended Physical Training (PT), the other students and cadre supported and encouraged me to run faster, climb higher, and lift more. After attending classes for two weeks, I decide to sign up for the program. I realized that the program offered a level of discipline that I had lacked since leaving home. It offered me the opportunity to be self-disciplined: to get up early for PT, achieve the grades and GPA I needed to obtain a scholarship, and to maintain my field equipment. The program began to teach me how to become a responsible adult, a leader, and a follower.
As I became part of the ROTC team and conducted infantry tactics in the woods near my college, I thought of the men and women who had fought for the freedom of our country. I thought of the wars that the USA had been involved in, the campaigns that our military served in, and the type of person who sacrificed his or her time, energy, and life to protect and keep the freedoms that we as Americans hold so dear. I realized that I wanted to be part of our history, to do something honorable, and to be part of something bigger than myself. I wanted to serve our country! I believed that the military would provide me the opportunity to learn self-discipline and shape me into a leader, while providing direction for my future and developing in me the honorable values that I respected and expected from our men and women in uniform.
The following year, I applied for a scholarship and became active in the monthly Field Training Exercises, the PT program, and the ROTC classes and labs. During my sophomore year, I was granted a two-year scholarship to become a commissioned officer and serve in the U.S. Army for four years. The scholarship covered my tuition, housing, and even provided me with a monthly stipend for spending. I realized that not only did the ROTC program afford me a chance to grow as a student and a leader, it also was a financially sound decision to continue my college education. Joining ROTC and ultimately the United States Army was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
Now, with eleven years of service under my belt, two tours to Korea, and two deployments to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, I really can say that I have seen the world, become a true leader, and shaped the lives of American Soldiers. Now I understand that the units I have been part of, and the Soldiers I have helped to train, have protected the freedoms of America and contributed to making other countries more empowered and safer, while helping to establish and protect their freedoms.
I initially served our country to satisfy the drive in me: so that I could be part of something bigger, so that I could see the world. Looking back, and now facing the future, I serve for us: I serve for my family, alongside of and for my fellow Soldiers, and for the citizens of America, all of which I am proud to be a part of. It has been an honor to serve this country, knowing that every day, I and my family live in the best country in the world: the United States of America, land of the free, home of the brave.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Leadership Lesson
Major Josh Richardson
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Leadership Lesson
Have you ever been to a marksmanship range with no ammo, or night driver’s training with no vehicles? Have you ever conducted a tactical reconnaissance in a high threat area with an unclear picture of exactly what questions you were supposed to help answer? Have you ever cancelled family plans and coordinated for a babysitter, just to realize that the company Christmas party never materialized? We’ve all fallen prey to poor planning, whether in training, combat, or in garrison. Military organizations are designed to operate in very dangerous and complex environments, using terms such as mission, commander’s intent, key tasks, and end state to frame the definition of success. Effective plans revolve around how to communicate to all levels what must be done to achieve success; all the while anticipating friction and variables that will cause the plan to change. The most important lesson I have learned as a leader is that success in any environment requires detailed planning.
As a company commander in training and in combat, my unit’s day to day tasks were inherently dangerous. Whether conducting live-fire training at home-station or conducting full-spectrum combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, risks had to be accounted for and minimized as much as possible. The Army uses the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) to analyze problems and guide the formulation of plans (operations order) in combat as well as training situations. Another tool used to plan training is the Eight-Step Training model. Both processes, when properly used, force leaders to address a plan’s risk and adjust as necessary to reduce the dangers faced during execution. For example, while conducting a site reconnaissance at a live-fire training range (step #2 of the Eight-Step Training Model), a leader revises his tentative plan, simplifying the maneuver in order to better fit the given terrain. He will later validate this with other leaders in the unit during the train-the-trainer step. Likewise, during the MDMP, leaders analyze the scheme of maneuver in detail, comparing various courses of action in order to arrive at the plan most likely to succeed. In all cases, leaders that rely on detailed planning reduce risk and increase the chance of mission success.
Army units operate in very complex environments. As a company commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was routine for my company to have three separate combat operations ongoing simultaneously, with each of these three platoon operations requiring detailed coordination with other Department of Defense (DOD) elements, host-nation forces, and local leaders. Failure to plan in detail in environments such as this is at worst catastrophic, and at best yields poor results that don’t meet the defined end state for successful operations. Proper planning using the MDMP ensures efforts are synchronized, support (lethal and logistic) is pre-positioned, and coordination is completed prior to the execution phase of the operation. In addition, any good leader values input from other members of the unit. Good planners become skilled at incorporating ideas and input from experts within the ranks early in the planning process, before the plan is finalized and moving into the execution phase. As in combat, quality training events are immensely complex and require just as much, if not sometimes more, coordination and synchronization. For that matter, morale functions designed to reward the unit and build esprit de corps should be planned with comparable seriousness – failure in this instance can produce very embarrassing results.
Finally, it is well-recognized that even the best plans don’t survive LD (line of departure). This is a harsh reminder that conditions on the battlefield will change and the unit must adapt to unforecasted obstacles in order to achieve success. Contingencies such as road blocks along infiltration routes, failed coordination with friendly adjacent units, and loss of planned aircraft come to mind from my time as a company commander in combat. As skilled as we became at anticipating friction, there were always developments for which we hadn’t planned that would pop up at some point in any operation. Understanding this underscores further the need for detailed planning. If, as a leader, you are able to clearly communicate the mission, intent, key tasks, and endstate, then your unit will be armed with the tools to overcome friction and achieve success. Leader preparation for training is no different. “Murphy” will cast his vote at the worst possible time, and coordinated and confirmed resources will fall through. A detailed training plan allows for this and prevents wasting Soldiers’ time.
The much-used maxim “hope is not a method” as applied to military planning stands as a reminder that it is a leader’s duty to plan in detail, and reminds us that the failure to do so can have disastrous effects. This most important lesson is as applicable to training and garrison operations as it is to combat operations, and, as much as anything else, will define the morale, character, and effectiveness of a unit.
"The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Leadership Lesson
Have you ever been to a marksmanship range with no ammo, or night driver’s training with no vehicles? Have you ever conducted a tactical reconnaissance in a high threat area with an unclear picture of exactly what questions you were supposed to help answer? Have you ever cancelled family plans and coordinated for a babysitter, just to realize that the company Christmas party never materialized? We’ve all fallen prey to poor planning, whether in training, combat, or in garrison. Military organizations are designed to operate in very dangerous and complex environments, using terms such as mission, commander’s intent, key tasks, and end state to frame the definition of success. Effective plans revolve around how to communicate to all levels what must be done to achieve success; all the while anticipating friction and variables that will cause the plan to change. The most important lesson I have learned as a leader is that success in any environment requires detailed planning.
As a company commander in training and in combat, my unit’s day to day tasks were inherently dangerous. Whether conducting live-fire training at home-station or conducting full-spectrum combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, risks had to be accounted for and minimized as much as possible. The Army uses the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) to analyze problems and guide the formulation of plans (operations order) in combat as well as training situations. Another tool used to plan training is the Eight-Step Training model. Both processes, when properly used, force leaders to address a plan’s risk and adjust as necessary to reduce the dangers faced during execution. For example, while conducting a site reconnaissance at a live-fire training range (step #2 of the Eight-Step Training Model), a leader revises his tentative plan, simplifying the maneuver in order to better fit the given terrain. He will later validate this with other leaders in the unit during the train-the-trainer step. Likewise, during the MDMP, leaders analyze the scheme of maneuver in detail, comparing various courses of action in order to arrive at the plan most likely to succeed. In all cases, leaders that rely on detailed planning reduce risk and increase the chance of mission success.
Army units operate in very complex environments. As a company commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was routine for my company to have three separate combat operations ongoing simultaneously, with each of these three platoon operations requiring detailed coordination with other Department of Defense (DOD) elements, host-nation forces, and local leaders. Failure to plan in detail in environments such as this is at worst catastrophic, and at best yields poor results that don’t meet the defined end state for successful operations. Proper planning using the MDMP ensures efforts are synchronized, support (lethal and logistic) is pre-positioned, and coordination is completed prior to the execution phase of the operation. In addition, any good leader values input from other members of the unit. Good planners become skilled at incorporating ideas and input from experts within the ranks early in the planning process, before the plan is finalized and moving into the execution phase. As in combat, quality training events are immensely complex and require just as much, if not sometimes more, coordination and synchronization. For that matter, morale functions designed to reward the unit and build esprit de corps should be planned with comparable seriousness – failure in this instance can produce very embarrassing results.
Finally, it is well-recognized that even the best plans don’t survive LD (line of departure). This is a harsh reminder that conditions on the battlefield will change and the unit must adapt to unforecasted obstacles in order to achieve success. Contingencies such as road blocks along infiltration routes, failed coordination with friendly adjacent units, and loss of planned aircraft come to mind from my time as a company commander in combat. As skilled as we became at anticipating friction, there were always developments for which we hadn’t planned that would pop up at some point in any operation. Understanding this underscores further the need for detailed planning. If, as a leader, you are able to clearly communicate the mission, intent, key tasks, and endstate, then your unit will be armed with the tools to overcome friction and achieve success. Leader preparation for training is no different. “Murphy” will cast his vote at the worst possible time, and coordinated and confirmed resources will fall through. A detailed training plan allows for this and prevents wasting Soldiers’ time.
The much-used maxim “hope is not a method” as applied to military planning stands as a reminder that it is a leader’s duty to plan in detail, and reminds us that the failure to do so can have disastrous effects. This most important lesson is as applicable to training and garrison operations as it is to combat operations, and, as much as anything else, will define the morale, character, and effectiveness of a unit.
"The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
LTC Peter G. Deveaux
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The Reasons I Serve My Country
On September 10, 2001, I took my Board Certification Exam in General Surgery in Baltimore, Md. On next morning, I flew from Dulles International Airport on my way back to my young family at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where I served as the Chief of General Surgery. I was a young Major in the United States Army, proud father of one young son, relieved to have successfully passed the final hurdle on my journey towards becoming a practicing general surgeon. My goals at that time were to finish up my last eighteen months of active duty service, fulfill my scholarship obligations, and start a lucrative private practice. My plans included buying a large home, having more children, and purchasing a brand new truck. I recall being filled with optimism about my bright future.
By the time I landed in Chicago three hours later, the world had changed. Planes which had taken off from Dulles, at the same time as mine, filled with other optimistic young professionals, families and innocent civilians had crashed into the World Trade Center Towers. Hundreds were known to be dead. By
the end of the day, over three thousand innocent civilians had been murdered in the greatest act of terrorism to date. As I watched the smoking ruins of the towers on television, I knew that our country would soon be at war. I resolved that as a soldier I would stay in the Army and serve my country to avenge those who had died, to serve as a source of strength for my family and other Americans as part of the greatest military power the world had ever seen, and to be part of a force that would act to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again.
As a surgeon, I knew that it was unlikely that I personally would be required to shoot a weapon at the enemy. I also knew that my specialty, trauma surgery, would place me in harms’ way as I supported thoseelements of the armed forces close to the front. We are taught in medical school to do no harm. Indeed, ifan injured enemy combatant was brought to my forward surgical team, my obligation as a physician and human was to show compassion and treat injuries, regardless of political persuasion, religious bent or political ideology. The Oath of Hippocrates says nothing, however, about supporting our troops with the finest surgical capability so they can feel confident about conducting their mission: to close with and destroy the enemy by violent means. With every enemy combatant brought to our unit dead or alive but definitely out of the fight, I felt that I was contributing, in some small but meaningful way to avenging those whose life had been ended by these terrorists.
America had been brought to its’ knees on September 11, 2001. Our national confidence had been diminished. As a society, the premise that the United States was powerful, even invincible, was shaken. On a national level we looked for strong leaders to guide us through this period. We looked towards institutions of strength, the military especially, for a response to this act of aggression. My wife and young son, and especially my aging parents, looked at me as a source of strength in the immediate days following the attacks. While there were those who said America should become more isolationist, and others who suggested retreating from world-wide obligations, I knew that the United States would answer these attacks with a military response. A nation relies upon those strong, brave and able to shoulder any burden placed upon it by aggressors. Our society would call upon its’ sons and daughters in uniform and place them in harms’ way. As a soldier, to shirk that solemn responsibility would be disgraceful and un-American.
Simply killing the enemy and destroying their training camps in the wastelands of Afghanistan would not provide the measure of closure necessary to regaining American strength. The enemies of America,and indeed the entire world, needed to know that a new era had arrived, one in which America and her allies would join together to eradicate the roots of terror and fight terrorists and those who supported them wherever they existed. As I held my young son shortly after returning home, I realized that he had been born into a world where freedom and liberty had a new meaning. I realized how the fight against terror, tyranny and intolerance would not be won in my lifetime or his. I realized that freedom and peace require constant defense against those who would use terror and aggression as a means of enforcing their will upon others. My priorities no longer included the pursuit of wealth and comfort. Looking into his newborn eyes I realized that my life now had a new purpose. As a surgeon in the United States Army,my new calling would be to provide for a more secure future for my family and for my country by providing medical care to soldiers dedicated to the War on Terror.
Nearly a decade has passed since I boarded a plane on a beautiful Fall morning and headed towards thestart of a comfortable life. Four deployments later in support of the Global War on Terror, I am proud to have played a role in securing our nation’s liberty. I have seen the personal sacrifices made by countless men and women, including many of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. When I see their names etched on tombstones and in the obituaries, I count the blessings this Nation and military have provided me, and remember the reasons that I serve.
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government"
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The Reasons I Serve My Country
On September 10, 2001, I took my Board Certification Exam in General Surgery in Baltimore, Md. On next morning, I flew from Dulles International Airport on my way back to my young family at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where I served as the Chief of General Surgery. I was a young Major in the United States Army, proud father of one young son, relieved to have successfully passed the final hurdle on my journey towards becoming a practicing general surgeon. My goals at that time were to finish up my last eighteen months of active duty service, fulfill my scholarship obligations, and start a lucrative private practice. My plans included buying a large home, having more children, and purchasing a brand new truck. I recall being filled with optimism about my bright future.
By the time I landed in Chicago three hours later, the world had changed. Planes which had taken off from Dulles, at the same time as mine, filled with other optimistic young professionals, families and innocent civilians had crashed into the World Trade Center Towers. Hundreds were known to be dead. By
the end of the day, over three thousand innocent civilians had been murdered in the greatest act of terrorism to date. As I watched the smoking ruins of the towers on television, I knew that our country would soon be at war. I resolved that as a soldier I would stay in the Army and serve my country to avenge those who had died, to serve as a source of strength for my family and other Americans as part of the greatest military power the world had ever seen, and to be part of a force that would act to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again.
As a surgeon, I knew that it was unlikely that I personally would be required to shoot a weapon at the enemy. I also knew that my specialty, trauma surgery, would place me in harms’ way as I supported thoseelements of the armed forces close to the front. We are taught in medical school to do no harm. Indeed, ifan injured enemy combatant was brought to my forward surgical team, my obligation as a physician and human was to show compassion and treat injuries, regardless of political persuasion, religious bent or political ideology. The Oath of Hippocrates says nothing, however, about supporting our troops with the finest surgical capability so they can feel confident about conducting their mission: to close with and destroy the enemy by violent means. With every enemy combatant brought to our unit dead or alive but definitely out of the fight, I felt that I was contributing, in some small but meaningful way to avenging those whose life had been ended by these terrorists.
America had been brought to its’ knees on September 11, 2001. Our national confidence had been diminished. As a society, the premise that the United States was powerful, even invincible, was shaken. On a national level we looked for strong leaders to guide us through this period. We looked towards institutions of strength, the military especially, for a response to this act of aggression. My wife and young son, and especially my aging parents, looked at me as a source of strength in the immediate days following the attacks. While there were those who said America should become more isolationist, and others who suggested retreating from world-wide obligations, I knew that the United States would answer these attacks with a military response. A nation relies upon those strong, brave and able to shoulder any burden placed upon it by aggressors. Our society would call upon its’ sons and daughters in uniform and place them in harms’ way. As a soldier, to shirk that solemn responsibility would be disgraceful and un-American.
Simply killing the enemy and destroying their training camps in the wastelands of Afghanistan would not provide the measure of closure necessary to regaining American strength. The enemies of America,and indeed the entire world, needed to know that a new era had arrived, one in which America and her allies would join together to eradicate the roots of terror and fight terrorists and those who supported them wherever they existed. As I held my young son shortly after returning home, I realized that he had been born into a world where freedom and liberty had a new meaning. I realized how the fight against terror, tyranny and intolerance would not be won in my lifetime or his. I realized that freedom and peace require constant defense against those who would use terror and aggression as a means of enforcing their will upon others. My priorities no longer included the pursuit of wealth and comfort. Looking into his newborn eyes I realized that my life now had a new purpose. As a surgeon in the United States Army,my new calling would be to provide for a more secure future for my family and for my country by providing medical care to soldiers dedicated to the War on Terror.
Nearly a decade has passed since I boarded a plane on a beautiful Fall morning and headed towards thestart of a comfortable life. Four deployments later in support of the Global War on Terror, I am proud to have played a role in securing our nation’s liberty. I have seen the personal sacrifices made by countless men and women, including many of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. When I see their names etched on tombstones and in the obituaries, I count the blessings this Nation and military have provided me, and remember the reasons that I serve.
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government"
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