Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
If you've been in the Army longer than five minutes, you've probably been called "warrior" already. Or maybe "hero," usually used sarcastically when referring to basic trainees. But "warrior" is not used sarcastically. We have the "Best Warrior" competition. Soldiers injured in combat or in training go to "Warrior Transition Units." Thankfully, training for new …
Continue reading "Stop Calling Us Warriors"
"Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy." - John Adams, Speech to the U.S. House of Representatives on Foreign Policy (July 4, 1821) Monsters. For the Clinton administration, it …
Continue reading "In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Trump Administration and Iran"
This is an excerpt from First Order Center for Lessons Learned Publication, Light Infantry Operations in Forested Terrain and Treatment of Indigenous Peoples. Scene: Imperial stormtroopers are seated in rows of benches as a hologram of the Forest Moon of Endor looms over them. Their company commander steps forward to begin the briefing. Captain: "Listen up, troopers, …
Continue reading "Mandatory Briefings: the Imperial Edition"
With Thanksgiving coming up this week - and your imminent return home to see your dear beloved family with whom you have not visited since the recent election - we here at Angry Staff Officer thought you might enjoy a short reprieve before you are forced to have an actual face-to-face discussion about politics with …
Continue reading "5 Common Things Military Servicemembers Do that Only Make Sense to Them"
It’s Veterans Day. Which means a proliferation of “thank you for your service” posts across social media from civilians which will be matched by the “I’m so special that you can’t understand my service,” posts from some – not all – veterans. This is what experts would say is indicative of the civilian-military divide that has …
Continue reading "What can Fallout 4 Teach us About Veterans Day?"
Fezzik: "Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid or something?" Westley: "Oh no. It's just they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.” -The Princess Bride Ever since I started writing under the guise of Angry Staff Officer, I've had a lot of people ask me, …
Continue reading "What’s in a Name? Blogging under a Pseudonym"
Shakespeare apparently once said that, “Clothes make the man.” Well, in the Army, we all have to wear pretty much the same thing: colorful pajamas. And there’s not much you can do to accessorize - barring our hair, but that’s another story entirely. Which leaves us only a few ways to express the individuality that …
Continue reading "The Army Stance: What it Says About You"
If the Global War on Terrorism ever became sentient, chugged a RipIt, donned a reflective PT belt, lit up a Marlboro Red, and rose up in human form, it would turn fifteen today. And it would be an ornery little punk. Fifteen years ago - on September 20, 2001 - President George W. Bush breathed …
Continue reading "Dealing with a Teenage Global War on Terrorism"
Like many junior officers, I hear a lot about “professional development.” We hear about it from senior leaders, it is almost always on our officer evaluations, we are told to develop our subordinates, and we assume that leader development exists...somewhere. Some of us have even been developed professionally, apparently. Most often, however, it seems …
Continue reading "Full Spectrum Professional Development"
Battles are planned by generals and won by sergeants, so the saying goes. The saying didn't include anything about who runs things in the meantime. That's because the people who run things were very keen on ensuring that their names are left out of popular sayings. Those people are the specialists of the U.S. Army. …
Continue reading "The Real Army Mob: The E-4 Mafia"
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