Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
So 2017 is over, and what a year it has been. We’ve had drama, scandal, disasters, wars, outbreaks, and diseases, and I think that was just in August alone. I recall after 2016 we all said, "Well, we sure aren’t gonna do THAT again” and apparently we didn’t mean it. Still, with all the latent …
Continue reading "Predictions for 2018"
SPOILERS AHEAD. Most determine the great struggle in Star Wars to be that between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. But from a military perspective it has always been between a highly regimented Empire and a loosely organized Rebel force. And even within these communities there have been contentions as to how best …
Continue reading "A Leadership Vacuum: “The Last Jedi” and Mission Failure"
It's a simple sentence. Deceptively simple. And yet, it's one that people resist answering or get awkward if it gets brought up. What is worth fighting for? And further, what is worth dying for? Home? Family? Religion? Way of life? Economic pursuits? Safety and security? How about this one: what is worth killing for? Yes, …
Continue reading "What is Worth Fighting For?"
Today’s guest post comes from Major John Q. Bolton. Maj. Bolton is an officer deployed to Afghanistan. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy, an MBA from American Military University, and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the Command and General Staff College. An Army Aviator (AH-64D/E), his …
Continue reading "Guest Post: Military Scrutiny Isn’t a Bad Thing; In Fact, We Need More"
By Lt. Col. Jim Davitch The Star Wars storyline divides neatly into two sides: good and evil. The latter possess a qualitative and quantitative edge in terms of military hardware and personnel. The former clings to intangible advantages in pluck, optimism, and desperation. It is desperation that encourages the scrappy underdogs to take chances they …
Continue reading "The Force Awakens to High Risk HUMINT"
By Dan Kim Author's note: This fantastical post is the brainchild of a friend who joked about me reading a story to my daughter, but instead wanted me to read him a bedtime story about the Iran-Iraq War. After a few lines, the friend and ASO planted the seed, like, why not turn one of …
Continue reading "The Schoolyard Bully: A Bedtime Story of the Iran-Iraq Conflict"
She had a senior non-commissioned officer buy her lingerie, passing it off as a joke. I didn’t know. She was mentally broken down and denigrated, day after day, by a male officer who was her commander and who felt threatened by her presence. I didn’t know. She was propositioned - openly - by higher ranking …
Continue reading "I Didn’t Know"
So I'm driving right now, heading up the road from the National Capital Region, and I see on my left the long lines of marching hills. Treetopped ranks stretching into the distance. The South Mountain Range. Home of so much of what I've studied in war, in history, and culture; and suddenly my heart seems …
Continue reading "Drawn to the Battlefield"
Scene: a bar on the back-end of the galaxy. “Look, I've got some stuff to say. I was a proud servant of the Empire for a full 20 years. And I saw some serious shit. Hi, yes, my name is NL-689, but all my mates called me Null. Served all over the galaxy and it …
Continue reading "Stormtrooper Goes on Veterans Day Rant"
It’s the 100th anniversary of the U.S. participation in World War I, as many of you know. The Department of Defense has tapped the Army to lead the way for the whole organization when it comes to centennial activities and planning, because - let’s face it - it was an Army run show. Yes, the …
Continue reading "The Ghost of Black Jack Pershing: the US Army and the Centennial of WWI"
The Angry Staff Officer 
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