Alan, as an OC/T I see commanders face a lot of the same challenges I did when I commanded my troop in a DATE at the same CTC, so I’ll answer your questions:

1. My legal responsibility was to train my troop and  if we had to fight, I could not say that my Soldiers were fully ready to survive a complex ambush – after 22 months in command and r…[Read more]

Officer was creating an account and  she noticed, as a Guardsman, she didn’t have the option under Texas to pick “other.” Texas only had active duty bases available.

I would offer this – it takes time to develop, for some, years. for me as well. I was lucky to serve as company commander under a battalion commander for 22 months who truly epitomized emotional intelligence. this guy was truly amazing at it – he is now retired, his name was Alex Deraney though, and a great American in every way. I feel that I’ve…[Read more]

usually leaders who give very little to no guidance mention this book. now, initiative has been my strength since day 1 – and I always thought that if my boss asked me to do something, then I wasn’t already acting on his intent but reacting to it, but as a leader I often asked myself, if my subordinates understood my order before judging them on…[Read more]

as troop commander, a nice coin went far. taking breaks, bbqs, team-building events like paintball using mwr funds and using FRG for fund-raising to throw Halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas parties was always nice. look at it this way – you just trained hard and waiting for you is a bbq’d burger. that burger doesn’t cost much but it leaves a…[Read more]

as troop commander, a nice coin went far. taking breaks, bbqs, team-building events like paintball using mwr funds and using FRG for fund-raising to throw Halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas parties was always nice. look at it this way – you just trained hard and waiting for you is a bbq’d burger. that burger doesn’t cost much but it leaves a…[Read more]

I embrace storytelling.  The stories I tell are based on my personal experiences rather than trying to recruit or sell anything.  I try to shape the story to the crowd and intent of the meeting, though, so I make it informative or energizing or mentoring or instructing, as the case may be.

With folks who know the Army, I tell them more detail a…[Read more]