Blogs for your consideration...
Over 20 years' worth of observations, recommendations, and considerations on life, family, and the military lie within these narratives. Cheers!
I regularly sit down with service members from every status and background, and I often find myself giving voice to the words they’ve been quietly avoiding: “Take the leap. Go for it.” But before I send anyone charging toward a new path, I hit pause—and start asking the uncomfortable questions that ...
People want to know what’s going on. Unfortunately, in the military, knowing the “why” is not always possible. Whether due to urgency, national security, or lack of perspective, military members at varying levels will not know everything. A young private probably won’t know why they need to conduct ...
I know no one joins the military because of the paid time off to have children—but it’s an incredible benefit, and one that’s still surprisingly rare in the civilian world. Over the past two decades, I’ve personally watched (and benefited from) how military parental leave policies have evolved. Even...
One of the luxuries of moving every two to four years on active duty is that you get a new boss regularly. Either you move or they move. If you loved your past boss, you have a mentor for life. If you don’t love them, it’s only a matter of time before a new one gets cycled through and you can move o...
I often find myself torn between amusement and disappointment when a “leader” appears just in time for the spotlight.
A high-ranking officer materializes during a major inspection. A camera is poised to capture a soldier in action. A microphone is conveniently available. And suddenly, someone who w...
I’m not much of a video gamer under any circumstance. But after watching my family enjoy themselves across a variety of dynamic and first-person shooter games, I have concluded that the military is pretty much a live-action version of those games. The military requires its members to continually lev...
Time and again, grumbles can be heard and felt whenever required group development is scheduled that is outside of normal operations. Whether the requirement is meant to build unit cohesion, improve physical fitness, or just inspire a competitive spirit, the initial reaction of most military members...
The military is a high-paced, ever-changing entity that values precision and agility. When mistakes do occur, corrective action needs to take place, and improvements made. At basic training, I recall drill sergeants scolding soldiers for not properly shining their boots to a lustrous black and for n...
