[December 23, 2024] An old-timer in the Army once said to me, “If you come back dry, they hate you.” I was a new Infantry Second Lieutenant and fresh out of the Officer Basic Course. The unit I was in had just returned from a three-week brigade-sized Field Exercise. My platoon was washing their Armored Personnel Carriers on the garrison’s wash racks, which required considerably hard work by already tired Soldiers.
It was the late summer of 1984 at Fort Pickett, Virginia, and it would turn out to be a tough few weeks. It was humid, hot, buggy, snake-infested, and poison ivy—all of which made the place one of the most miserable places on Earth—or so it seemed to us. As we dragged ourselves from those weeks of little sleep and the pressure of operating around armored vehicles, we were mentally and physically spent.
The wash racks are one of the last major events and are important to the Soldiers because when they are done, their remaining time is for rest and relaxation. Motor pool inspectors expected a high level of cleanliness. A squad of Infantrymen living with an APC for three weeks can get those vehicles filthy, and cleaning them up was a big task.
Another Second Lieutenant, a friend of mine, and I went to the wash racks just as our platoons were arriving. It was midday, and the blistering sun was blinding from the light on the whire-colored concrete and crushed granite in the drainage areas. We went to work. My driver and I cleaned my APC ourselves, which meant I was under the carrier’s belly plate scraping off thick mud, rocks, grass, and tree limbs. It was no fun.
I was also tired, but I insisted that my driver and I help others struggling to get their carriers cleaned and pass the inspection. I always found it satisfying to work on vehicles, whether it was getting an old Doodle Bug Model T running on Farmer Simon’s farm or rebuilding the engine in my 1965 Mustang with the help of my grandfather. We worked as a team. Besides, no one likes to be the last to finish while everyone else is back in the barracks smoking and joking.
As we finished the last APC, the carrier’s crew sprayed me down with the large water hoses being used to clean the carriers. Then, another crew joined in. I must say I was surprised, but it was refreshing. The same happened to my friend as we all threw in to insure everything was clean and all the equipment was accounted for. It was going to be a good day, and we were satisfied that we completed our duty to the fullest that day.
I walked into my commander’s office to personally inform him that my platoon had passed the final APC cleaning and equipment accountability. He peered up from his desk, squinted his eyes at a very wet Lieutenant and said, “You came back wet; I see they respect you.”
And, so it goes. I’d learned another odd but useful piece of leadership. If you come back dry, they indeed hate you.
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“ I walked into my commander’s office to personally inform him that my platoon had passed the final APC cleaning and equipment accountability. He peered up from his desk, squinted his eyes at a very wet Lieutenant and said, “You came back wet; I see they respect you.” And, so it goes. I’d learned another odd but useful piece of leadership. If you come back dry, they indeed hate you.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. This is the key last two paras where we find out that his commander acknowledges that the Plt Ldrs did their job and the troops respect them.
Another interesting and educational blog post, Gen. Satterfield, thanks! More good reading. 👍
Bless you, sir. At first, I had absolutely no clue what you were try to communicate to us. I re-read the article twice before it clicked. LOL. I’m just a dummy. But I figured it out. The men – the soldiers – who are the ones doing the work, want to see those leaders with them also willing to what they are ordered to do by their leaders. You told them to wash their vehicles and you were right there with them. The spraying with the hose was their way of giving approval of you as a leader – in this case you as a Platoon Leader.
Rev. Cain, great insight .
Yes, indeed, sir, you hit exactly on the concept of “respect” within the military and one of the ways of showing how the lower enlisted man tells his officer that yes, they are acceptable as their leader. But, remember that a leader must continue to serve properly throughout their service.
Looks like we nailed that message quickly.
INTERESING