Visiting Soldiers of Alpha Battery

It's been a while since I've had the priviledge of having Soldiers under me that I am directly responsible for. So far this command has proven to show me why I continue to choose to serve...because of those Soldiers.

I have travelled around to seven various COPs/FOBs to visit with my Soldiers (who are spread out at 5 locations). At each location, the Soldiers have less than ideal living conditions in some way. My guys aren't the ones at the big FOBs where they have all the nice accoutrement. One of the FOBs was without functioning showers/laundry for weeks because their water delivery truck (and civilian) was attacked and destroyed by insurgents and prior to that the delivery guy got water that looked like chocolate milk with how much dirt was in it. Another of the COPs is aptly named, "Wilderness" due to it's terrain and location. My platoon there has done a superb job at defending the COP against rocket attacks by honing their skills on direct fire of the howitzers. At the COP I am now visiting, the Soldiers have to use burn barrels to go to the bathroom, and are crammed into a tent living in bunkbeds. Each of the locations has Soldiers who regardless of the conditions, work hard and keep a fairly high morale every day. The Soldiers are proud of what they do to provide artilery support to the guys outside the wire and it shows. They continue to improve on a daily basis by training and improving on their knowledge and skills. Instead of sitting back and waiting for the next fire mission, the young Soldiers are learning the skills and tasks required of the next higher positions on the guns, and in the fire direction center. When they're not improving the firing point, they are training for a few hours each day. The Soldiers don't ask for much, and they take pleasure in the little things. One of the section chiefs here made dinner last night that was amazing, using a rice cooker and griddle. He has a bachelor's degree in culinary arts and regularly makes meals for the guys using items that the cooks from the dining facility will give him to feed the platoon. You might ask, "Why he would cook for his guys when the DFAC already does?" He does it because the platoon is a family and he cares about their morale and well-being. Most of the food he makes, he doesn't eat because he is on a diet. This is just one example of what the Soldiers do to take care of each other and make the best of it.

These are the types of Soldiers that make being their commander worth while and will continue to motivate me to improve their quality of life out here.

Check out the article on my 1st Platoon that I took out for our BN's first ever Air Assault Artillery Raid. We were on top of a mountain at about 9,100 ft. above sea level for about 7 days. (I took the picture that PFC Holton is given credit for): http://www.army.mil/article/58506/Field_artillery_regiment_completes_first_air_assault_mission_in_battalion___s_history/

I am proud of what we've done over the past month and am looking forward to seeing what we accomplish over the next 6.

Beginning a new adventure

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.