This topic is very near to my heart. There have been far too many suicides in the Army during the last decade, several of whom I either knew personally as dear friends, were friends with their spouse and family, or served with. There is no easy way to talk about this topic. There is no …
Resilience, the Army, and Suicide Read More »
I don’t think most people dream of becoming a 92Y Supply Specialist when they join the Army. I know I sure never would have thought it was important when I was a new Private. I quickly learned that property accountability exists at every level in the Army, and we sure sign for a lot of …
Five Reasons to be a 92Y in the Army National Guard Read More »
In November 2013, I was fortunate enough to attend Master Resilience Trainer (MRT) at Fort Custer, Michigan. The course is two weeks long. The first week is Monday through Saturday, the second week is Monday through Thursday (travel day on Friday for someone like me living in Klamath Falls, Oregon). The purpose of MRT, as …
Army Master Resilience Trainer Course: An Overview Read More »
I have been in the Oregon Army National Guard for just over ten years. I enlisted as a PV1, and worked my way up to SGT. I learned a lot over the 7 years I spent in the enlisted ranks before going to OCS and starting a new career path. I am fortunate to have …
My Experience from New Soldier to NCO Read More »
I remember my date of rank for Sergeant (8 April 08). It was a huge honor, and I felt a certain weight of responsibility on my shoulders that wasn’t the same as before. I was eager to take the next step in my career, and I knew the adage that to whom a lot is …
Four Things You Will Learn as a Brand New E-5 Sergeant Read More »
I have written a little bit about what I do currently, as a part of the Brigade’s Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron. It’s been my experience as an officer, but today I would like to share what it was like working in the aviation battalion in my state. It is where I spent …
My Experience in an Army Aviation Battalion Read More »
There are few things more exciting than career progression. A huge step for any Soldier is their first promotion into the NCO Corps. One essential piece to this promotion is the completion of Warrior Leader Course, which marks the beginning of Non-Commissioned Officer Education System (NCOES). What should you know to prepare for WLC? What …
Four Tips to Help You Prepare for the Army Warrior Leader Course Read More »
We have been seeing more and more Medal of Honor (MoH) awards lately (that have been long overdue), and that is the highest honor that could be given to any servicemember. The Medal of Honor is extremely hard to earn (mostly impossible for the majority of us), and it should be that way! However, it …
The Army Distinguished Service Cross: A History and Overview Read More »
Being a team leader is where the rubber meets the road. I think it is one of the most important jobs in the entire military. It is the first leadership position one can earn, but also has the most responsibility. Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants, as well as the Commander and First Sergeant, get all …
Five Things Every Army Team Leader Should Know and Do Read More »
In an ideal world, we would be perfectly prepared for any job we get. We would know everything, and never make a mistake. We would be a combination of Audie Murphy, Douglas MacArthur, and Paul Revere. Well, reality isn’t always so neat and awesome. We are humans, we have a learning curve, and we make …
Top Four Mistakes That New Army NCOs Make Read More »
