Sharing one lesson at a time
A major part of military training and operations revolves around standardization. General training and principles that are in effect throughout the entire branch in a broad effort to mitigate as much confusion as possible. There is a reason that every member, regardless of military occupational specialty, regular enlisted, reserve, guard, officer, etc., goes through a …
Continue reading "Lesson 29: Be consistent, but not too predictable"
The chain of command in the military, for the most part, is rigid. There is not much room for interpretation. It is designed that way for a reason and the reason is a pretty good one. There is enough stress on the battlefield already. Adding the stress of who is in charge is unwelcome. Everyone …
Continue reading "Lesson 28: NCOs have the solution to any problem"
If you have ever ridden in a military vehicle, you know what I am talking about. It is discourteous to engage bodily functions in ANY vehicle if there are other people inside, but this is especially important when it comes to Humvees. This lesson goes beyond just bodily functions and bonds closely with being an …
This isn’t specific to officers or noncommissioned officers. This is one of the most difficult nuances to figure out when it comes to any environment, but it becomes increasingly difficult when you are in an environment that promotes a sense of stoic professionalism and a structure that is so rigid that, often, there appears to …
Continue reading "Lesson 26: Leadership tends to lack a sense of humor"
I speak from a place of bias, a place of personal experience, when I say that I believe the United States Armed Forces is one of the toughest military organizations in the world. We have some of the best tools, technologies, minds, and with a membership that is comprised entirely of volunteers, our commitment to …
Time to tear off the band aid known as the human ego. Are you ready for it? Here it goes. We have all done something so stupid that every time you look back and think about it, you get chills. You shiver a little at the thought that you could ever have been absent minded …
There are many principles that this lesson will tie into. There are times in life when you must take a risk, roll the dice, and hope that they land in your favor. Things don’t always go according to plan. There will come many times where you are put into a position to make choices where …
Continue reading "Lesson 23: It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission, most of the time"
Where do I even start with this one? If you know, you know. If you don’t, you might not believe me by the end. The United States Armed Forces is considered by many to be one of the most powerful military organizations in world history. Our weapons and technology are second to none, our entire …
Continue reading "Lesson 22: Few things will EVER cause you more grief than a reflective belt"
It is important to keep all your hopes and dreams alive for as long as possible. Most things in life that are worthwhile take a lot of patience, hard work, and time. It is easy, when denied a dream, to let that dream die, or adopt a new, lesser dream, for the sake of easier …
Continue reading "Lesson 21: Keep all your hopes and dreams to yourself"
Before the military, I never thought this was something I would have to say. There is a sort of trust that goes into soap dispensers when you are finished with your business and it is a trust that never crossed my mind to examine. Call it a lack of imagination, over trusting foolishness, a naïve …
Continue reading "Lesson 20: Beware of public soap dispensers"
Journeyman's Legacy 