Semi-active Winds member Trent Telenko, was was smart enough to start dancing more and blogging less, sends along this link to an article by writer Jim Lacey. Jim just returned from Iraq, and the portrait he draws of the commanders in the field is impressive. It even impressed Trent, whose concerns about the war include "not enough high ranking officers fired yet":
"The patrol was led by the company commander, who tries to get out on at least one patrol a day with his men. Remarkably, the brigade commander, Colonel Mark Milley was also going along. Milley, despite an awesome workload and responsibility for over 5,000 soldiers, makes time to go on at least two patrols a week. There are a lot of things Col. Milley could be doing rather than sharing the risks of combat patrols with his soldiers on a regular basis, but he believes that nothing is nearly as important as being seen by his soldiers at the points of real danger. Also coming along was Brigadier General Anthony Cucolo, who was on a fact-finding tour after spending the previous six months in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. Colonels and generals carrying rifles out on patrol with infantry squads is a long way from the common perception of senior officers sitting in the rear moving pins on maps, but it is the daily reality in Iraq."
There are yutzes in every large organization, but what Jim describes here offers a telling glimpse into modern American military culture. He's describing what Robin and her fellow instructors at West Point, who have just seen a class of their cadets graduate with pride, work hard every day to inclucate in their charges.
It would appear to be working. And these examples in honour, duty, and leadership... are definitely good news.
That sure sounds like the Army that I was taught about, but rarely saw. Excellent, for field grade officers to share the risk.
I was chewed out once as a lieutenant for shuttling to the back of the mess hall line. I'd been taught that officers eat after all the enlisted guys get theirs. My battery commander griped at me that I'd better eat, as I had things I was supposed to be doing. The same dweeb chewed me out for working so hard to ace Common Task Testing, where commons soldier skills are tested every year. We didn't get along very well. He thought that officers were above soldiering, and I thought that officers had better be the best at soldiering. Not to say that I was, but I made the effort.
I wonder how the bird colonel and general participate in the patrols? Sounds like they've got enough sense to not get into the LT's business.
I remember as a LT or CPT going on patrol with my men. The rule is The guy in charge is in charge (we have time to go on patrol, but not time to prepare for it like the patrol leader).
So the extra officers head out as additional riflemen that are stationed close to the crew served weapons. I used to carry a M16A1 with 203 and extra ammo.
Then if you find out something that has to be fixed right now, you snag the patrol leader, and let him fix it. The patrol leader usually knows that a few old heads along are an asset, and makes a point to get where he can control the crew served weapons, and take advantage of immediate advice.
A dead man has no ego, so you would never wait very long to make a suggestion.
One guy had a bad habit of opening up his map on the military crest of a hill over looking the objective. Yep, shot through the map. That happens near you once, and you learn not to mind causing hurt feelings if you can stop a bad behavior before it hurts someone.
Full Disclosure. I know Trent, he is a good guy.
Its so uplifting to read such examples of Character pointed out.
Perhaps the best news the past week was to see all the charges dropped against a man who followed the Pat Tillman example, leaving behind a top shelf income, conforts and a family behind to serve his country.
I hope none of our people hark to his example, and let themselves get killed to avoid what happened to Marine 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano
Frankly, ive had enough of the John Kerry style bullcrap.