Well,
I've inventoried the first platoon of four. Right now, on Easter Sunday, I'm away from everyone I know, travelling, and stuck at a random FOB waiting on the next flight out because the pilots are taking a half day to celebrate the holiday. But, I'm still probably the happiest I've been in a while, knowing that I'm at the beginning of what looks to be a great adventure. I take command of Alpha Battery, 1-6 Field Artillery on 15 May. I'll have 4 platoons at four different FOBs supporting three different BNs. My headquarters element will be at another location and I'll be working every day to make sure my gun platoons have what they need to provide timely and accurate artillery fires in support of the ground maneuver Soldiers.
So far, the Soldiers of my future 4th platoon have impressed me. Their continuing position improvement and dedication to supporting the manuever element is outstanding. The Soldiers seemed receptive to my coming to take command and were very helpful, going out of their way to make sure I was comfortable with all of the property inventories.
Hopefully next time I visit, I'll be able to see them conduct a fire mission. The Soldiers seemed in relatively high spirits and it gave me motivation to do the best possible job I can as their commander. I'm starting to learn some of the challenges I'll face, resourcing and managing the dispersed battery, and I hope that I'll be able to break down some of the barriers with a new vigor coming into command.
My only concern is the lack of time I'll have getting to know the Soldiers. That is something I will endeavor to fix. I plan to do a fairly hefty circulation plan in the first month to simply get to know my men. As a leader, in my mind, that is the most important thing you can do to effectively lead your organization: Know your people.
I think one of the Army's weaknesses comes from leaders and personnel managers who make decisions about Soldiers and their careers based off a numbers game, without regard for the many aspects of that Soldier's life, family, and strengths/weaknesses. I hope that I will be able to make as many informed decisions as possible, and not fall into that trap.
I am thankful that I have Robyn at home, to help as a great asset in being able to link into the other side of the Soldiers...their families. I believe that is one thing I have to strengthen my command that my predecessor lacked since he was single. I just hope that it doesn't over-stress Robyn! She has so many things on her plate that she is working to accomplish daily. I am so proud of her. With her job working as the Survivor Outreach Services Financial Counselor, she gets to help those families most in need. Lately, we have had those families newly mourning, within our Brigade...and they need someone like her.
Soon, I'll be off to the next FOB, looking at the next platoon's equipment and meeting the rest of my future Soldiers. Hopefully along the way, I'll be able to have a positive impact on them and the organization as a whole.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Memorial Ceremony - inspiration
We just had a memorial ceremony yesterday for one of our Soldiers who was killed in a recent firefight. I have saluted the Soldier's cross (boots with an upside down rifle and helmet with dog tags) at least a dozen times now. Each time, whether I've personally known the Soldier or not, it has brought about a certain kind of pain. A pain that knows it won't be the last time I render such a solemn salute. A pain that prays to God that others won't have to render such a salute to me because I never want Robyn and Porter to have to suffer through what that means.
But this was different than the other times. This was the first time since my first deployment that I have attended a ceremony while down range. The first deployment, I was still a new LT, and it just seemed surreal. I followed the person in front of me, did not know the Soldier, and rendered a salute as was the custom. The pain and heartache of those around me was not my own, because I had not experienced the loss of someone I knew, and I was still somewhat neive to what it meant to lose a Soldier to one of these bastards.
This time was different because I am acutely aware of the fragility of this life, and have been the one comforting the family through the painful notification; through the funeral and the aftermath that goes with the loss of their Soldier. When I see the memorial for this Soldier whom I've joked with at least once or twice and seen around the FOB, and I'm sure for all future memorial services, it brings to mind all those I've known who have gone before. It brings to mind the families of those who've gone before and the strength and pain that I have witnessed in them.
Watching the Soldiers in the company and platoon who really knew this Soldier, crying, and hugging each other as they mourn together on this day, I feel for them. I am proud of them. Their strength and courage to continue on a daily basis when millions of Americans back home know nothing of their sacrifice, brings me strength. After the ceremony, they'll have time to share stories and remember their brother in arms. But, after that day, they'll be back out, conducting patrols, making damn sure that the sacrifice of their brother was for a reason. Many of them will use his memory to serve as the fervor to spurn them further on the several mile dismounted movement, carrying nearly one hundred pounds of gear, halfway around the globe away from their loved ones.
Perhaps what is more admirable is the restraint and courage that the platoon and company have shown in the wake of this loss. They rose above and refused to take it out on the local population of the villages in the area that they took fire from...although it can be most certainly said that the people in the area probably knew who conducted the attack, and where they went with their injured/killed insurgents. Instead, they realized that these people are in a difficult place...help the Americans today, face the insurgents tomorrow who come and beat or kill them when the Americans are at another village or back at their FOB.
The Soldiers will not let this stop them, and will be back out there after the insurgents who hide like cowards in plain sight, intimidating the locals into submission. I am proud to be a part of this. I am proud of our batallion and look forward to seeing their progress throughout the rest of the deployment.
But this was different than the other times. This was the first time since my first deployment that I have attended a ceremony while down range. The first deployment, I was still a new LT, and it just seemed surreal. I followed the person in front of me, did not know the Soldier, and rendered a salute as was the custom. The pain and heartache of those around me was not my own, because I had not experienced the loss of someone I knew, and I was still somewhat neive to what it meant to lose a Soldier to one of these bastards.
This time was different because I am acutely aware of the fragility of this life, and have been the one comforting the family through the painful notification; through the funeral and the aftermath that goes with the loss of their Soldier. When I see the memorial for this Soldier whom I've joked with at least once or twice and seen around the FOB, and I'm sure for all future memorial services, it brings to mind all those I've known who have gone before. It brings to mind the families of those who've gone before and the strength and pain that I have witnessed in them.
Watching the Soldiers in the company and platoon who really knew this Soldier, crying, and hugging each other as they mourn together on this day, I feel for them. I am proud of them. Their strength and courage to continue on a daily basis when millions of Americans back home know nothing of their sacrifice, brings me strength. After the ceremony, they'll have time to share stories and remember their brother in arms. But, after that day, they'll be back out, conducting patrols, making damn sure that the sacrifice of their brother was for a reason. Many of them will use his memory to serve as the fervor to spurn them further on the several mile dismounted movement, carrying nearly one hundred pounds of gear, halfway around the globe away from their loved ones.
Perhaps what is more admirable is the restraint and courage that the platoon and company have shown in the wake of this loss. They rose above and refused to take it out on the local population of the villages in the area that they took fire from...although it can be most certainly said that the people in the area probably knew who conducted the attack, and where they went with their injured/killed insurgents. Instead, they realized that these people are in a difficult place...help the Americans today, face the insurgents tomorrow who come and beat or kill them when the Americans are at another village or back at their FOB.
The Soldiers will not let this stop them, and will be back out there after the insurgents who hide like cowards in plain sight, intimidating the locals into submission. I am proud to be a part of this. I am proud of our batallion and look forward to seeing their progress throughout the rest of the deployment.
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