Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
Two shots. Three. Six more, in quick succession. Ian woke with a start. Sharp cracks and deep echoes twanged in his ears, shaking him awake and out of his hammock. Even in sleep, he'd noted the familiar pattern of sounds that overlaid his subconscious. Nine shots in total. The bay was shrouded in complete darkness. …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Fourteen"
On July 18, 2020, an African-American woman took command of a military unit that once used to be part of rebel general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's famous "Stonewall Brigade." Captain Candice Bowen became the first woman to command an infantry company in the Virginia National Guard, assuming command of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment. …
Continue reading "A Tarnished Legacy: Confederate Battle Honors and the Army National Guard"
Sure, at first glance, you wouldn't think that a TV show about a doctors, nurses, and a crazy janitor at teaching hospital would have anything to do with the military. However, both the military and the medical professions have a lot in common: life and death decisions, long periods of boredom punctuated with brief moments …
Continue reading "How “Scrubs” Characters are Basically Your Military Unit"
The ideas presented by the founders - debated, argued, and finally articulated in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 - were not just meant for the people of that century. They were meant for all who would come after them. They stand as an idea, not as something that has been enshrined into existence. The …
Continue reading "An Ongoing American Revolution"
Scene: Stormtrooper barracks in Nevarro City, as seen in "The Mandalorian." Sergeant TK-7831 walks in to address his squad. TK-7831: "Quiet down, this is an Imperial facility, not a Bantha-breeding ground." TK-9938: "Wait, how would you know what that is, sergeant?" TK-7831: "When you've been wearing armor as long as I have - wait, shut …
Continue reading "Stormtrooper Safety Brief"
Water rushes and curves around the rock where I happen to be sitting. Bits of fluff from the tree on the other side of the stream lightly ride the swell of air over the water. A butterfly lands, hesitantly, on my knee. All noise aside from that of the water fades into obscurity. This moment, …
Continue reading "Finding Peace for the Army Mind"
There were forty-two prisoners at final count, including the wounded. Doc was already treating the wounded as 3rd Platoon scoured the rest of the ship for any other boarders who might have escaped. Transports were coming over from Essex, carrying additional troops and more sensor equipment for hull scans. COMSEC was established and so information …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Thirteen"
Stay in the military long enough, and you'll gain rank. Rank comes with privileges and responsibilities. But it also comes with something else: something more dangerous. Ego. Now, one might say that if you're aiming to be a leader in the military then you're going to have ego anyways. People who strive for leadership positions …
Continue reading "Leader, Know Thyself"
I've put this off for a while now. It's as if putting it into words means that it's all real. Which I guess it is. On April 12 - Easter Sunday - my father died. Even now, a month on, that sentence makes little sense to me. Trying to write a remembrance for your father's …
Continue reading "Beans under a Carolina-Blue Sky: Remembering my Father"
While perusing Twitter, I saw this piece pop up: "Is #MilTwitter Worth It?" Since I often ask myself that same question, I clicked on the link and read the author's thoughts. He points out - rightly, in some cases - that Twitter can be a bit of dumpster fire. And MilTwitter an especially smelly dumpster …
Continue reading "Yes, #MilTwitter is Still Worthwhile"
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