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.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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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