Tag: ACTIVE DUTY

  It has been awhile since my first post, Recruiting Command demands a lot of my time!

  I last left off talking about my first unit, the 514th Ground Ambulance Company at FT. Lewis, WA.  I was there from 1994 to 1999, and I had a good time.  Finally though, it was time for me to move on.  I was a newly promoted E-5 and I wanted to challenge myself both mentally and physically.  The opportunity arose for me to Reenlist for Germany!  I jumped at the chance, and willingly rose my Right Hand.

  My unit of assigment was 2nd BN, 2nd Infantry Regiment, part of 3rd BDE, 1st Infantry Division.  I was proud to be a part of the Army's most prestigious and battle tested Division.  I arrived in Germany to find out that my unit was in Kosovo.  My first deployment!  I was excited to go!  I was made a Platoon medic in Aco, 2-2IN.  I LOVED my job, it was everything I was hoping it would be.  I was "Doc", the guy to come to when you were sick, or injured, or just needed to talk.

  I spent 6 months in Kosovo and returned to Germany to refit and train for our next deployment, which ended up being back in Kosovo, to the same place as before.  By that time I was the Senior Medic for Aco.  I was the head medical authority of the Company, the Commanders right hand man when it came to his Infantrymens' medical health.  I was in charge of 3 Platoon medics, and two M113 Tracked ambulances and the crews.  We had another succesful deployment in Kosovo, and watched the initial invasion of Iraq on the T.V.  our deployment was extended by 3 months, and we just knew that our turn would come to go to Iraq.

  February 2004 we were on a plane headed to beautiful sunny Iraq.  We all knew that this would not be like our deployments to Kosovo, this was the real deal this time.  The Big Red One was ready, we were going to make our mark in Iraq, and in the history books.

  We were based at FOB Normandy, near Muqdadiyah, in the Diyala province.  The BN had many fights during our time there, and always came out victorious.  We lost many good friends and leaders, especially during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, but they did not die in vain.  The 2nd BN 2nd IN regiment will forever be in the annals of history, and in my thoughts.  I am proud to have served.

  My medical skills were tested the whole year in Iraq.  I had a great Physicians Assistant, and BN Surgeon.  I learned so much there, that I could operate independently if the need arose.  I knew my stuff, and the men of Aco respected me and trusted me with their lives.

  I reenlisted in Iraq, and upon our redeployment  I was moving back to FT. Lewis.  My next blog will be about my experiences as a medic in one of the Army's newest units, a Stryker BDE............

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  Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be a soldier.  My Grandfather was in WW2 in General Pattons' prestigious 4th Armored Division.  I remember sitting on his lap entranced by the stories of his time in Germany during the War.  He was my hero, always was and always will be.

  I enlisted into the Army's Delayed Entry program the minute I turned 18.  I remember telling my folks that I was going in the Army, and they were not to thrilled at the idea.  My Dad wanted me to join the Air Force because it was "safer".  I knew in my heart of hearts that the Army was were I belonged.  I knew that ever since I sat on Poppas lap and listened to his stories, saw the tears in his eyes.

  When I took the ASVAB, I had no clue as to what I wanted to do in the Army, I never really thought about it.  I just KNEW that the Army was for me.  Once my scores came back and I sat down with my Recruiter to pick out a job, only one of those jobs really stood out to me: 91B-Medical Specialist, (Now 68W-Healthcare Specialist).  My Recruiter was a grizzled old Infantryman and he said that Medic was the best job in the Army according to him.  He told me of all the great things his Medics did during Desert Storm, how they are some of the bravest soldiers he had ever seen.  I knew at that moment that this was the job that would make my Poppa proud.  MEDIC!

 After a glorious 8 weeks at FT. Leonard Wood MO., I went to FT. Sam Houston for training.  10 weeks of shots, IV's, practicing bandaging, Emergency Medical Technician training, etc.  I found the training easy, and it just reinforced my thoughts that this was the career I was destined for.

  My first Permanent duty station was the 514th Medical Company, Ground Ambulance, at FT. Lewis Washington.  I was expecting, HOPING that I would be sent to and Infantry Battalion, where "Doc" was the man, the guy that was always there to help. Patching up bullet holes, stitching up bar fight injuries on a Saturday Night.  Definitely not the case!  I was assigned as an Ambulance driver, and did a lot of Range covereage, medical coverage for the Washington Special Olympics, Cobra Gold in Thailand, etc.  It wasnt what I was expecting, but I still loved my job and thought I was making a difference.  Me making the decision to enlist and serve my Country was the first step.

Stay tuned for part 2!

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Growing up in east central Pennsylvania with a dad who was a long-time high school history teacher, it should be no surprise that Gettysburg was a regular vacation spot for my family.  In fact, visiting the battlefields and museums of Gettysburg became a kind of annual pilgrimage for us.  Over the years, the bookshelves at my parent's home have become filled with books recounting the history of the Civil War.  Perhaps the most compelling of those books are those which recount the stories told by the Soldiers themselves through the countless diaries and letters that have been preserved to tell the story of the War from the perspective of those who fought it. 

In fact, the most compelling and important stories surrounding any war are the recollections of the men and women who fought it.  In recent years, for example, one of the most popular television series of all-time, Band of Brothers, recounted the story of E Company of the Second Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as it trained and fought in the Second World War.  The series was based upon Stephen Ambrose' book of the same name and the book was based largely upon the writings and letters of the men of Easy Company as well as interviews of the surviving men of Easy. 

Like Soldiers past, it is important for the men and women serving in the military today and particularly those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan to tell their stories so that future generations can understand these wars and those who have fought in them.  For the most compelling and important stories that will be told about these wars will not be those imagined by Hollywood screenwriters who may have no real experience of the wars but rather by those who have served in uniform and who have served on the front lines.  It is important that those in the military today share their experiences of war through their writing or art or whatever other medium they choose to express themselves.  For it is through these first-hand accounts that the true story of war is told by the men and women tasked with fighting it. 

In some effort to practice what I have preached, I would like to share one of my personal poems about one of my experiences.  I encourage other men and women in uniform around the globe, whether they are or may become writers, poets, artists, screenwriters or just simply people with a story to tell, to tell those stories as they go through life so that others may understand the kinds of sacrifices they have made and the events and history they have witnessed.

At the Airport In Baltimore

An old man buys me a cup of coffee.

He reminds me of my grandfather,

Who will be waiting for me in Harrisburg.

He guessed I was in the service

By my short hair and quick walk.

He is headed to Connecticut

To spend Christmas with his daughter

Who has just made him a grandfather

For the third time.

She and her husband want him to come and live with them.

He'd like that.

He tells me his wife died a year ago

And he feels lonely.

In Connecticut, he'll spend every day with his grandchildren.

He used to teach high school,

Coach football on weekends.

His daughter has horses.

He remembers a brown pony he had as a boy in Texas.

He rode her to school, sometimes, when it was cold.

When he was nineteen,

The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

He joined the Marines

And island-hopped across the South Pacific.

He tells me he sometimes dreams of his wife,

And of stepping off into dark waters to fight

On sinister islands.

He has hardly touched his coffee.

I must interrupt him and board my plane.

It climbs into the twilight.

I think of my own grandfather,

As a young man like me,

Alone and quiet in a dark jungle,

On an island near Iwo Jima.

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Okay, so I know my posts can be a bit too informative, and not so fun, but I hope I'm at least sharing good information. This is yet another, boring, informative one but guess what?!  It's awesome news!!

The Army is RETROACTIVELY paying Soldiers for their time on stop-loss. In case you haven't seen the movie, "stop-loss," in the United States military, is the involuntary extension of a service member's active duty service under the enlistment contract in order to retain them beyond their initial end of term of service (ETS) date. It also applies to the cessation of a permanent change of station (PCS) move for a member still in military service.

Anyhoo, the official-ese version of the announcement from Army G-1 (aka human resources command) explains where to go and what to do to receive the benefits (below). I know a couple of Soldiers I served with in Iraq that could definitely qualify. If you qualify, get your $$$$. Uncle Sam wants YOU to get paid. How often does that happen?

RETROACTIVE STOP LOSS SPECIAL PAY (RSLSP)

Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is dispensing special pay to Soldiers, veterans, and survivors of Soldiers whose service was involuntarily extended between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2008. 

• Service members are eligible to receive $500 for every month or partial month served under stop loss authority. 
• To receive this pay, those who served under stop loss must submit a claim before 21 Oct 10. 
• The Army has created an online claim process for all components to apply at https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil. 
• The Army estimates at least 120,000 Soldiers and veterans qualify for the special pay. Currently, less than 20,000 have applied.

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting the newest group of Judge Advocates and talking with them for about an hour about 'officership.'  The latest Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course started on Sunday and much of their first few weeks on active duty with the JAG Corps is spent learning about the Army and how to do many of the basic 'Soldier stuff' we do.  I was able to take a few hours away from class to talk to them a little bit about what is expected of them as officers and what (I think) they ought to expect of themselves.

Most of what we talked about was the 'school house' answer about what officership involves.  My goal was not to make great officers in an hour, but rather to give them some things to think about as they grow up in the JAG Corps.  Many of the things we talked about didn't really make it onto my radar until I'd been in the Army for a few years.  But I've thought about it a good bit the last 2-3 years, and I wish I'd started doing so sooner!

We talked about the four facets of officership:

- the officer as a warrior - not just a warfighter, but someone reasonable for the disciplined application of force; someone who fights according to the laws of war; someone fights (and lives) according to a warrior ethos

- the officer as servant of the nation - our oath of service is not to the President (who appoints us) but rather to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic."  This sets us apart from many other military forces; we're not fighting to support a person, political party, or particular policy; we serve to ensure the continued survival of this nation's bedrock document.  I think that's a pretty noble cause.

- the officer as a professional - members of the JAG Corps actually have a greater obligation than most other officers in the Army because we are members not only of the 'profession of arms,' but we are also members of our respective state bars.  We have obligations to both professional communities and are subject to the ethics and legal obligations each imposes.

- the officer as a leader of character - often it is not enough to just be an effective leader.  What I mean is, it's not always enough to just get the job done; how we do that, how we lead is just as important as the end product of our leadership.  A leader of character should set the example, make morally and ethically correct decisions, and should show compassion for those subordinate to them.

The hour we spent talking went very quickly and we touched not only on the four facets of officership above but also on some of the etiquette, customs and courtesies that are a fundamental part of the Army's history and how we operate on a daily basis.  We talked about some of the leadership challenges they will face when they get to their duty stations.  All in all, they were a very eager, thoughtful bunch.  I think the JAG Corps will be in good hands.

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There were two other big events in the last two weeks.  One didn't even involve me, at first.  Every year, the JAG Corps has a leadership conference for all of the Generals, Colonels, and many of the Lieutenant Colonels of the Corps.  It's a big deal for us, and being here during the run-up to the conference has given me a chance to see exactly how seriously they take it.  It's an opportunity for all of our leaders to get up-to-date info on the state of the Corps and to talk about where we've been and where we're going.  One of the scheduled briefings was an update on social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.) and was to be given by the Army's expert on the topic.  Unfortunately, she was called to brief the really big wigs in DC at short notice and had to cancel.  Too bad for the JAG Corps, but good for me.  I was asked to cover her time slot and to talk about social media and the JAG Corps (with about 14 hours notice!).  I was a bit nervous about it but really enjoyed the opportunity to talk about something I'm genuinely excited about, and I think I offered them some good thoughts on how social media is great tool for both the 'big' JAG Corps - for recruiting purposes - and from a local office perspective - for both office cohesion and mission accomplishment.  We'll see if anything comes of it ...

The other big news came last Friday when the Grad Course was given our list of possible assignments for next year.  The process for us is MUCH more personal than in other branches in the Army because we not only get to submit a list of preferred assignments, we each get a sit-down meeting with our assignments officer to talk about what we want.  There are 108 good jobs on the list and only about 90 of us in the class, so we should all do pretty well.  Options range from a year in Afghanistan to Korea, Alabama, Texas, and Hawaii (with plenty more in between).  I'm looking at a bunch of different jobs, talking to my wife about what will be best for the family, and getting excited about what's next.

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I grossly overestimated my ability to keep up with a blog while preparing my company for deployment.  It has been an extremely hectic three months.  As a commander, not only do you have to prepare yourself but you also have to track all the minutae that can possibly make a Soldier a non- or late-deployer.  It is an amazing and everchanging amount of detail.  I honestly do not understand how the Army ever deployed before PowerPoint an Excel were invented.  :-) 

It really hit me that we were truly deploying as I packed up my one trunk that is being shipped in our MILVAN.  It really puts your life in perspective when you have to condense your entire life into one trunk, one duffel and one ruck sack.  Although the mandatory packing requirements take up a good 80% of the room it's the other 20% that will give you fits.  What can you absolutely NOT live without for a year or what special item must you pack for those moments when you need a sanity break? 

I had a moment of panic as I had to choose between my book of DVDs (easily acquired down range but of enduring use) or my favorite bedtime tea (impossible to acquire but a fleeting pleasure).  It seems frivolous but as you stand in middle of your living room looking at all the creature comforts around you and compare it to the tiny amount of personal space in your trunk, it's actually a pretty darn hard decision.  Then you step back and realize it's not really about tea versus DVDs, it's just that ever present feeling that there is not quite enough time to do everything you want to do before you go off into the wild blue yonder (or the bleak, hot desert!) 

But now that we're in Kuwait and getting our final training I feel good.  I'm going up North with a great crew.  I'm worried (naturally) about the technical challenges that lie ahead of us but I have some pretty awesome non-commissioned officers.  It is a great relief to have a competent Sergeant First Class look you dead in the eye and say, "Don't worry ma'am.  We got it.  We're all over this one,"  and believe whole-heartedly that they will accomplish the mission in the compressed time line that came down. 

We're all looking forward to going up North.  My Soldiers are excited enough to keep me excited about it and just nervous enough to not be complacent.  A pretty good balance. 

I've always thought of Kuwait as the nexus of the Army.  Everytime you're here you run into some very random people from your past.  This time it was my cousin and it's been a realy treat to spend time with family prior to the final push North.  Now that all the hectic last minute drama is complete (at least most) I'm ready to go and start my third tour in the Middle East.  Will post next from Iraq.  As Always, Angela

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Hello, how is everyone? Well today I wanted to share with everyone my son playing tackle football for the first time and my daughter cheerleading for the first time. My son Dontae has been used to playing flag football so playing tackle has been a big adjustment. He started out a little timid and did not want to hit or be hit, but now that we are four games into the season he has made huge strides and I am so proud of him. He plays for Northeast Seminoles here in Columbia, SC and they are now 4-0 on the season, he plays safety and cornerback. My daughter Kadi is the captain of the NE Seminoles Cheerleading squad and she has done an outstanding job and I am so proud of her as well. It has been great to be able to see them play and cheer and hopefully the team can continue winning and end up in Florida playing in the Pop Warner championship. GO SEMINOLES!

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I'm back! It has been a while since my last posting. I was trying to get an active-duty tour. I almost got to go to Iraq, but he unit had all the officers it needed and left without me (sob, sob!) Yeah, it sounds crazy, but some of us actually like to go on missions, no matter where. do not take me wrong, I am no Rambo, but I truly like to serve my country as a soldier.

I was trying to get a mission in South America, but was offered a position in Fort Dix, which i accepted. So next year I will be the S-1 (Human Resources Officer) at the RTC mission in Fort Dix. Whoa! i am looking forward to get there. The good thing about this is that at least I will be in th U.S. and will get to see my family once in a while, as opposed to be overseas.

Next month (October) I will start my first class the Masters in Information Technology at Strayer University. I considered an MBA, and actually was registered with another university, but decided to go for computers as this always been my "first love". I was a Computer Science major back in 1984, worked as a computer operator for many years in both civilian and the military, and have this as one of my hobbies. It should take me about three years part-time to complete the program.

The picture on the left was taken before my unit left from Camp Eagle II in Saudi Arabia toward Kuwait back in 1991. the group was formed by all the "chairbornes" of the division: Personnel, JAG, IG, Finance, etc. The one on the right was taken also in 1991, right before the air campaign started. I actually got to take some R&R in the famous "Love Boat." It says "Cunard Princess" because it was acquired by this company, but used to be the "Pacific Princess."  Some of my buddies got mad becasue i was chosen to go, even when I did not drink alcohol (that is all that was on their minds!). Well, you don't have to drink to have fun! I enjoyed the trip and have good memories of it, contrary to those who jut got drunk their time there.

Well, time to go. Stay tuned for more, and God bless!

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Hello again to everyone, It has been a little while since my last post, so I will post one now. I have been in the First Sergeant Position for over two months now and I will tell you that is not easy starting a company from scratch. The company was activated in May and they have been through three different First Sergeants in that short amount of time. So, really there has been no time to really start programs such as NCODP, Warrior Skills Training, NCO/Soldier of the Month boards and so on. I have been working diligently the last two months to try and get these programs underway. It is even harder when you factor in that all of my personnel work in the Brigade HQs, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-6, and UMT. I only have 60 personnel, but I have only seven SPCs, and the rest are Officers, NCOs and Civilians. This makes it hard to conduct training, because we can never shut down the sections. I am blessed to have great personnel, up until now, we have not had anyone in trouble, so that shows that my NCOs are taking care of Soldiers and ensuring that they are doing the right things on and off duty. Being a First Sergeant is hard enough, but when you have to build the company, it makes it harder. Until next time, take care.

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