Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
It seems just the other day that the song "Cups," as sung by Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect, was all over every radio station in the country. Now, it barely comes on over the waves. Not unlike another old forgotten favorite: the war in Afghanistan. Not only is it in the news less, it literally received no treatment …
Continue reading "How “Cups” is Actually About the U.S. War in Afghanistan"
He bent low. His back ached. He could smell the earth below his face, the stinking, ever-present mud. Mercifully, free of gas. For now. The soft lip of the trench - or, what had been a trench before German artillery had blasted it to ever-living hell - was a dim reflection in the early morning …
Continue reading "“Of the Highest Order:” June 16, 1918"
WARNING! Rated D for Doctrine: Not to be read by those weak of heart, who have nightmares about Joint Publications, or who are deployed and operating under General Order 1. Scene: A dimly lit Tactical Operations Center inside the Combined Operations Center, or COC. The low glow of computer monitors casts a romantic hue …
Continue reading "A Sultry Doctrinal Operation"
I know you all are like me; you get excited when new doctrine gets released. Giddy, even. So I know that when the Army released Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1-02 Terms and Military Symbols you immediately downloaded the whole thing and had a good read. Or not. One thing always strikes me when going through this …
Continue reading "Military Graphics: What they SHOULD Mean"
There’s a moment on the television show “Scrubs” (the greatest thing to ever air on American television) when the young resident John Dorian (JD) becomes paralyzed by the fear of accidentally killing a patient by making a mistake. In this mindset, he veers away from making any risky decisions or undertaking any procedures that might …
Continue reading "World War III: Stop Trying to Prevent It"
Whoa there, high speed. Look at you, all brand new and shiny, right out of your basic officer leader course, hard-charging to take over your first platoon. Thing is, behind that brash exterior, you're probably confused as all get-out. After years of training in ROTC or a military academy (you OCS guys know all this stuff …
Continue reading "Thrown into the Deep End: Tips for New Platoon Leaders"
Today's guest post comes from Tim Shea (@trshea88), a former U.S. Army Captain hailing from Joint Base Lewis-McChord's now defunct 4th Stryker Brigade. In 2014, Tim traded the green pastures of Army life for the exhilarating, cutthroat world of economic development consulting. He maintains his sanity by writing here. To all the badge, tab, etc. lovers …
Continue reading "A Combat Badge Does Not a Soldier Make"
I was born in 1986, just a few years after Return of the Jedi rounded out the original Star Wars trilogy. I recall using a broomstick and a rubber bike handle to make a light saber, with which I maintained Galactic law and order for the weeds, trees, and flowers of my parents' farm. As I grew …
Continue reading "Star Wars: The Hope Awakens"
