Blogs for your consideration...
Over 20 years' worth of observations, recommendations, and considerations on life, family, and the military lie within these narratives. Cheers!
From the way we march to the names of military installations, the military is deeply rooted in tradition. Since our nation’s founding, these time-tested practices have been used to build teamwork, reinforce purpose, and create a strong sense of belonging.
I still remember singing the Dog-Faced Sold...
One of my professional mottos that I say often (and genuinely try to live by) is, “I hate everyone equally.”
Yeah, I know. It sounds negative and a little off-putting. But for me, it’s actually more realistic than saying, “I like everyone equally.” That would be a stretch.
What I really mean is th...
At every major point in your military career, you need to pause and reassess. Does serving still make sense for you right now? What skills are you actually gaining along the way? How will your next move impact your family? Promotions, new duty stations, and exciting opportunities can look great on p...
Within my first 24 months of transferring to my new branch, I was charged with overseeing a command-directed investigation. Allegations were made against a very senior NCO and some of those allegations were substantiated. Following the CDI, the NCO had to be on “good behavior” for fear of negative f...
“It’s lonely at the top” is a common sentiment across many facets of leadership. Humans aren’t meant to be alone—we thrive in community. It’s one of the traits that allows us to make progress. When we are lonely, we feel disconnected, sad, or insecure. As leaders—more specifically officers—progress ...
If you’re lucky, you have parents, teachers, and guidance counselors guiding you through high school and helping you prepare for a relatively smooth transition into adulthood. Adulthood itself comes in many forms—entering the civilian workforce, attending college, or raising your right hand and join...
In the early stages of a military career, promotions tend to feel straightforward. Whether enlisted or officer, the first few advancements often follow a fairly predictable path. As long as a service member stays out of serious trouble—avoiding the obvious career killers like lying, cheating, or ste...
I was recently asked to take on yet another project. As I mentally reviewed the growing list of additional duties, taskers, meetings, and “quick favors” already filling my calendar, I kept my inner monologue to myself. Surely there were others with more capacity—fewer collateral duties, lighter work...
The military is full of change. Rarely are two days ever the same. There are three states in which the military often finds itself: gearing up for major change, recovering from a major change, or managing the current state of ongoing thrash. There are high-highs and low-lows. And although military s...
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 ...
