Engineer Soldier's Story Via CNN

Check out CNN's excellent story about the transformation of a young man into a combat engineer while undergoing training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Nicely done.

What...no Burger King?

I read a news item yesterday that said the military is no longer supporting food (and other) vendors like Burger King, which have up until now sold their products to troops deployed in Afghanistan. The reason according to a senior NCO in the command? It's a war zone and no time for such things. The problem as I see it is the military has paid little attention to the proliferation of these sorts of morale support bennies over the past couple of decades. Now, troops have grown accustomed to having their Burger King or Pizza Hut available, even if it's sold out of a trailer in a war zone. Taking all that away will be a downer for sure.

Good to be back

When you travel away from home, no matter the time away, it's always good to get back. We took a week trip to Tampa/St Petersburg FL region last week and got home late last evening after a full days drive. Tired we were, but happy to be back with "the cats" again.

Impressions of that region of Florida are: incredibly over developed, with many relatively new strip malls having been closed; constant traffic like Northern Virginia /DC; a MUCH older population base than what we are used to, beautiful clear Gulf of Mexico water, with bright white sandy beaches (albeit with lots of people on weekends); and, interesting tourist attractions. Conclusion? We prefer North Carolina beach destinations, but would definitely return to Florida if the opportunity presents. Even with the crowds. (Check out my photo blog at the link to the right to see some photos from our trip.)

Buddies

Everyone in the Army has several buddies. I remember all of mine, from the first day I entered active service, until the day I retired almost thirty years later. Unfortunately, too many of my Army buddies I was so close to have become distant memories. Some of that is my fault for not keeping in touch better, but most is due to having lost contact all together. Lesson learned for younger folks now serving. Keep those special bonds of military service which you are now experiencing, alive for as long as you can. If you don't, you'll regret it later in life.

Iditarod Sled Dog Race and Golf

While golf freaks sit and drool over the announcement that Tiger Woods will come out of his self inflicted non–golf hole to play in the Masters, where he can continue to keep himself relatively safe from questions that might prove embarrassing, real sporting news happens in Alaska that hardly anyone "down here" notices. I'm referring to musher Lance Mackey winning his forth consecutive Iditarod Sled Dog Race—over 1000 miles of pure hell on earth, with an arrival time in Nome from Anchorage (Willow) in just under nine days.

Thirty below zero temps, whiteout conditions at times, dangerous trails, little sleep, constant demands to take care of the real heroes (the dogs) and personal displays of fortitude seen in few places in the sporting world, are just a few of the characteristics that make the race so special. What Mackey accomplished four years in a row is incredible—a first for the race. And, few in the media take note other than in Alaska and the more northern media hubs in the US.

If you conclude by my snide comments above pertaining to Woods, that I am no fan of both him and the game he plays, then you are correct. I was once an avid golfer, but the way the sports media has grown so enamored with what Tiger Woods is doing week in and week out, overlooking most others playing the game, has soured my enthusiasm. To compare him with legends like Nicklaus and Palmer is ludicrous, no matter his skill.

Woods may be able to play golf better than most today, but he has zero character. Unlike Lance Mackey and his wonderful dog team.

Army Fitness

The Army is changing the way it develops physical fitness in new Soldiers during basic and advanced individual training. In sum, combat veterans with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan were asked what they would do in basic, to better prepare new Soldiers for the sort of physical challenges they might face in combat. What resulted is the first major change to physical training in decades.

For example, it was recommended that less emphasis be placed on distance running and road marches, in favor of quick burst exercises such as zig-zag sprints and other exercises that develop the body’s core muscles. Consider Soldiers in Afghanistan having to dodge across open areas in urban settings, with full body armor and other heavy gear typically carried. Or, having to rapidly pull a buddy out of a burning vehicle that was struck by an IED.

This new training is being implemented now at all of the Army’s basic training centers, such as Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Drill Sergeants assigned there will be given some latitude on how best to adapt new exercises to those undergoing training, and many will apply lessons they themselves learned during their multiple combat rotations.

A major hurdle for the Army in all of this is the fact that those entering the military today are perhaps less fit than at any other time in recent history. The sedentary lifestyle many young people have adapted to these days makes most overweight and weak in core muscle strength. Statistics reflect that an increasing percentage of new recruits are arriving at basic training largely incapable of performing even simple tasks such as running, and as a result stress fractures are more common than before, meaning “recycles” and declines in graduation rates.

It will be interesting to see how this all works out over the next year or so. Some may wonder if the Army is simply “lowering physical standards” to adapt to the level of fitness seen in the new recruit base. Personally, I don’t think that’s the case, given the apparent role combat veterans have played in helping the Army change the way it develops its Soldiers physically. However, many older veterans will lament, “It was good enough for us, why not for them.”

Engineering at its best

If you enjoy watching "things just work", then check out this 3 minute video. When things go right, they really go right!

In the War Zone

I read a statement from Virginia Senator Jim Webb today, indicating he favors allowing the consumption of alcohol in war zones where our Soldiers are deployed. I have always listened to what he has to say, going back to when he was Secretary of the Navy, coupled with the fact he’s a veteran himself. His point is that the stress placed on those deployed today is such that having a way to unwind from time to time, with a beer for example, is better than overuse of prescription drugs and self medication, which according to a Military Times survey is growing in severity.

Having said this, there needs to be some level of control placed on the use of alcohol in war zones—remembering my Vietnam war zone experience where hardly anything was controlled. In sum, it’s a policy the DoD needs to take a look at. If a decision to continue the present ban is based solely on host nation sensitivities, then I say that’s not a good enough criteria alone to not allow some consumption of alcohol—like a beer or two.

Transformation

While having my teeth cleaned today, my dental hygienist asked me if I’d recommend to a recent high graduate that they join the military. Where we live in SW Virginia, far more graduates enter the military than go on to college. My answer to her was “definitely yes.” She asked me to sum up in a few sentences why I felt that way (after she removed all the junk in my mouth so I could talk).

In short, I told her there is no place like the military to build character, confidence, and a positive outlook toward the future. I explained my experience training initial entry Soldiers, and how time after time parents would come up to me at graduation, telling me how much improved their child had become, and how much they appreciated what we (the Army) had done. I told her that in a way the Army is in the “transformation” business.

It was a nice exchange—much more enjoyable (for me at least) than the “picking and grinding” that had just gone on in my mouth.

Finally Warm

I sure hope this is not a false spring we’re experiencing in SW Virginia. I washed the crud from the past two months off our vehicles (and noticed my state inspection sticker said my Toyota was expired as of the end of January–whoops–off to Jiffy Lube ASAP), hosed all the accumulated dirt, sand and mud off the driveway, picked up hundreds of broken small limbs and stuff that had fallen due to all the snow and ice we had this winter, and cleared some brush before the ticks start their all out attack on us humans. In all, it was a busy day but I’m damn happy I was able to get outside in the sun, to do some chores that I’ll hate when the weather gets really hot. But today, it was fun.

March–April AE Magazine

I just completed the layout for the March–April 2010 issue of Army Engineer magazine. I expect it to be ready to mail to subscribers around the end of March, or very early in April. There are two primary features in this issue. The largest is a series of articles written by Soldiers in the 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) and JTF Eagle now serving in Iraq. Nicely written account by several junior leaders, and the battalion commander, about what’s going on. There is also a very interesting article written by representatives from industry, concerning the application of tomorrow’s technology today, related to engineer construction equipment. Much more as well. 82 pages of stuff, all in glorious engineer “red”...so to speak.

This is the annual ENFORCE issue, designed to present the sorts of information to be discussed by attendees at the 2010 gathering of Engineer regimental leaders at Fort Leonard Wood, April 19-23. If you are not attending, this issue of AE Magazine will be the next best substitute.

You ask, “how do I get a copy?”. I answer, “subscribe at armyengineer.com.”

Undercover Boss

Have you watched the new Sunday night TV show on CBS titled 'Undercover Boss"? It's about a CEO of a selected company, going undercover for a week, to get down into the "weeds" with his company, to learn what's going well, and what's not. The CEO is usually disguised as a new employee, undergoing training, with a TV camera person tagging along documenting how an out–of–work person adjusts to a new entry level job. So far, CEOs from Waste Industries, Hooters, 7–Eleven and White Castle have been featured. It's an interesting show, and the theme is probably a familiar one to those who have served for any length of time in the military.

I remember being told by an Army Chief of Staff while I was attending a pre–command course, that "leaders should always lead though the chain of command, but GOOD leaders should communicate throughout that chain anyway they want, all the time". What he was saying is that it's OK to talk frequently with those much more junior, to see what's going on, even if that meant you are bypassing the normal chain of command.

When faced with a tough situation, for example, a leader at the top can often find solutions by talking to those closest to the problem. That might be you as the Battalion Commander, talking with a Squad Leader on a job site. While the Squad Leader certainly knows who the boss is (you) and you are certainly not undercover like the CEOs mentioned above were, there are similar benefits to be gained by finding out what's really going on in your organization.