[December 31, 2019] I got a call from a senior officer in the U.S. Army Recruiting Command last week. He wanted to talk about problems with in-coming recruits and, perhaps, I could give him some ideas. The issues he was starting to see in the Army were difficulties getting new Soldiers to adapt to military life, working long… Read More »
[December 29, 2019] Ending the year on a “more likable” article is not what I had in mind this morning when I sat down at my computer. Last night, I was watching an old episode of Seinfeld, the one about the character George Costanza faked being disabled to get a job.1 For fans of Seinfeld, George is not… Read More »
[December 17, 2019] Recent evidence from the War in Afghanistan points to a deliberate, concerted effort by senior leaders in the U.S. Government to lie about the war’s progress. In a recent new article titled “At War with the Truth” by Craig Whitlock,1 a Washington Post reporter, wrote that “U.S. officials constantly said they were making progress. They… Read More »
[December 11, 2019] Yesterday I published an article answering the question, Why do soldiers fight? See it at this link (here). It’s an old question but one that helps us peer into the motivations of the men who see combat up-close and personal. Today, I’ll be providing some interesting and perhaps surprising information on other motivations. “I hold… Read More »
[December 10, 2019] Why do soldiers fight? This age-old question is as valid yesterday as it is today. When I was young, I had the honor of being around recently-returning Korean War veterans. I would listen a great deal and hear them tell the tales of why they fought. This subject is in two parts. The first, today,… Read More »
[November 25, 2019] “No guts, no glory!” The Army Drill Sergeant was yelling at us that we were a bunch of no-good maggots, which were also some stinking wimpy momma-boys. Finishing an obstacle course after a strenuous 10-mile forced march was not easy, but we did it anyway thanks to Drill Sergeant Bryant. To be a real man… Read More »
[November 22, 2019] There is an ancient question that continues to haunt humans. That question is, “What should we aim at in life?”1 Many philosophers have dedicated their lives to answering the question, and a mountain of sage advice has been forthcoming. I guess that we will continue exploring answers. But here is one thing I do know,… Read More »
[November 14, 2019] Since the beginning of human existence, people have been trying to figure out what makes us mentally tough and prepared to meet the toughest challenges. The world sends us the unexpected and she will test our good judgment, wisdom and readiness. A warrior mindset is essential to maximize performance and ensure victory, especially when the… Read More »
[November 13, 2019] We all know a good idea when we hear it, but stupid ideas seem to linger much longer than they should. Stupid ideas are those that are silly or illogical or unworkable. Stupid ideas can get you killed. For those who study the history of World War II, one of Hitler’s ideas to attack the… Read More »
[November 12, 2019] Lost but overlooking the inner German border wall, my platoon of Military Policemen was trying to reconnoiter a new laager site. Our mission had been to find an alternate location to put troops in case of a Soviet invasion from East Germany. Our Platoon Leader had good common sense, but in this case, he had… Read More »