Showing Preferential Treatment

By | October 6, 2019

[October 6, 2019]  The U.S. military employs many civilians who act as institutional knowledge and possess a host of crucial skills our warriors need.  Sometimes, however, like in any large organization, there are some folks in the military business that do not to adapt to our core values.  One of my commanders told me about a senior civilian… Read More »

Everyone Needs a Chance to Belong

By | October 4, 2019

[October 4, 2019]  Over the past few months, I’ve been speaking with veterans, college students, and community leaders about their thoughts on the value of higher education.  What I found out had little to do with education but on something deeper.  What I discovered was, more than anything else, that there is an overwhelming need for them to… Read More »

Destroying Trust

By | October 2, 2019

[October 2, 2019]  I’m a baseball fan.  Like many who watch ball games, either casually or not, you have likely heard of the Black Sox Scandal.  Today is the 100th anniversary of the start of the 1919 World Series where eight (or was it seven) threw the Series so crooked gamblers could cash in on an upset win.… Read More »

Start by Rebuilding Trust

By | October 1, 2019

[October 1, 2019]  Years ago, as a Captain, I was asked to take command of an Army unit that had suffered many problems.  I would never turn down such an opportunity to help, so I agreed to command a Combat Heavy Engineer company.  By all measures, the unit was broken.  The mission was simple; “fix it.”  So I… Read More »

The Berlin Airlift: a Case for Foreign Aid

By | September 30, 2019

[September 30, 2019]  Not well known is that the foreign aid provided by the United States covers a vast network around the world.  But that foreign aid from the U.S. continues to be under great scrutiny and controversy by its own citizens.  Juxtapose that with the Berlin Airlift.  Today is the anniversary of the ending of the Berlin… Read More »

Leader Don’ts #5: Ignore their Health

By | September 28, 2019

[September 28, 2019]  He was a good friend for several decades.  John “JC” Ayers obituary said that he passed away due to poor health.  He successfully owned and ran a large restaurant east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania well before I met him.  JC was a wonderful family man and community leader.  But he did not watch his diet, nor… Read More »

History Has a Way of Repeating Itself

By | September 27, 2019

[September 27, 2019]  Someone once said of humankind that there are very few things that are new and original.  Fortunately, humans have not changed that much in the past several thousand years; having the same desires and needs.  But we also keep repeating our mistakes.  History does have a way of repeating itself in our behavior and in… Read More »