Came back from a COIN T3 (Counterinsurgency Train the Trainer) Conference out in Hohenfels, Germany. The conference went through the weekend, which sucks, but it was definitely worthwhile. The audience was mainly Majors-Colonels from respective allied armies (very few Americans there).
Couple of qucik points about the conference:
-If you put a bunch of high ranking officers in a room together, especially from different countries, it can easily become a cluster-fuck of non-intelligible sharp shooting of the briefer, or a series of individuals standing on their soap box to make a mediocre point... luckily, it did not go in this direction- the briefer was shit hot and put out any potential fires.
-Despite the amount of time we have been in Afghanistan, we have yet to standardize the application of COIN (Counter-insurgency) as well as standardizing a teaching program- the course I took is a draft to the Basic COIN class that should be coming out soon.
-The army has been teaching too much theory and not enough application- seems like we are finally headed in the right direction as far as applying theory.
-The environment shapes your operations, not the other way around. Simple, yet as an organization, we still stick to the conventional mentality of Operations shaping the environment.
Whoops, lunch time is over... OUT!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Life is about Choices
Life is about choices, and it is nice to know that even though I am in the Army, I can still make some of my own decisions and soak up as much life as I can (To the left is Saint Michaels Cathedral in Hamburg, Germany). Some things, of course, are completely out of my control and some of the decisions are made for me. But those times I do have control, I realize how great a feeling it is.
(A Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark at sundown at the bottom)
Nothing in particular spurred this realization, but everytime I get into a long training event (the last 2 months) or even a long prison sentence (West Point), the feeling you get when your cut loose is always a nice one and you begin to revel in all of the simple things- Good Food, Traveling, and making some of your own decisions in your free time. Life is good.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The top of the 9th
Not really a baseball guy, but this title still seemed appropriate. Starting to close things out here in Hohenfels but still plenty of game to play. What have I been doing for the last month? Imagine a deployment to Afghanistan, stuff it into one month in the area the size of a medium sized national park, and its in the middle of Bavaria... make sense? Basically, just a mock excercise in preparation for Afghanistan... and a very well thought out excercise. It is well scripted and thought out, still some little things here and there you catch, but overall, an awesome tool to build our processes, SOPs, etc.
I don't think I have ever learned and absorbed so much knowledge in my life... true statement. I think I may have learned more in these 2 months in the field than I have in any of my MS (military science) classes at West point, more than possibly even all my history classes combined (I wasn't much of a student at times). The way I look at the world has possibly changed, and I am interested to see how much I have changed my perceptons once I go back home in the winter time.
So, what exactly am I talking about? Maybe it isn't quite raw knowledge, but mainly the way I frame problems, the way I attack problems, and the way to properly digest a problem. If I thought the way I do now, I think school would have been so much easier.... pretty sad when I think about it. Not only easier, but alot more interesting. The relevancy of what I am learning right now is there- I am going to Afghanistan, so I must do all I can to prepare the best I can so the plans we make as a staff is the best plan possible in order to ensure that soldiers come back home alive.
Yea, thats all I got right now. Payce
I don't think I have ever learned and absorbed so much knowledge in my life... true statement. I think I may have learned more in these 2 months in the field than I have in any of my MS (military science) classes at West point, more than possibly even all my history classes combined (I wasn't much of a student at times). The way I look at the world has possibly changed, and I am interested to see how much I have changed my perceptons once I go back home in the winter time.
So, what exactly am I talking about? Maybe it isn't quite raw knowledge, but mainly the way I frame problems, the way I attack problems, and the way to properly digest a problem. If I thought the way I do now, I think school would have been so much easier.... pretty sad when I think about it. Not only easier, but alot more interesting. The relevancy of what I am learning right now is there- I am going to Afghanistan, so I must do all I can to prepare the best I can so the plans we make as a staff is the best plan possible in order to ensure that soldiers come back home alive.
Yea, thats all I got right now. Payce
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Still alot to learn
You think you know everything... but then you always get checked. I am almost in awe with the amount of things I do not yet know... for once in my life, I think I am excited about learning something new. Well, maybe "learning something new" is not the way to put it, but more like I have found different ways to think- which makes the world a whole lot more interesting. More on that later (as long as I don't fall asleep).
So, I am no longer an XO. Was switched out a couple of weeks ago. I am now the Battalion S9 aka Civil Military Operations Officer. I pretty much deal with money and relationships- between us and NGOs, PRTs (Provincial Recontruction Teams), Local government, etc. "Synchronizing our lines of effort" is pretty much the mission statement. So far, it holds promise to be an interesting job.
Had some symptons of withdrawl when leaving A Co- been with them for the last year- but it was definitely a worthwhile year. The next year and a half are looking interesting... Leave for another month of training in a few days.... seems like I am never home.... and then shortly after that, I will be home for the holidays... and shortly after that, Afghanistan. Its about time, been waiting around way to long just to go.
In unrelated news, in the few days I had off in between coming back from Graf and leaving to Hohenfels, went to Munich for my 3rd Oktoberfest- happy 2yr anniversary in Germany!
Payce
Saturday, August 7, 2010
My disapearing year
It's August, I am a year older, and the next couple of months are pretty much set. In a couple of weeks we begin our almost 2 1/2 month training rotation... and before we know it, we'll be in Afghanistan.
Good news? I am still an XO- and despite the amount of times I want to go ballistic on the company, I have come to enjoy the job and get much satisfaction from what I am accomplishing-I have this job on lock. My time is winding down, though... I may be switched out as soon as next month.
A quick recap since may: Pinned Captain in early June, went on leave shortly after that- good times with the family, also conquered Vegas on the Poker table, went right into platoon STX for about 2 1/2 weeks, and now we are getting ready for Graf. Oh, and my sister is engaged!, thus shifting the balance toward engaged syblings in the family, haha.
Despite everything that is set, there is one thing that isn't set... what am I going to do tonight? I will be contemplating this for the next hour...
Good news? I am still an XO- and despite the amount of times I want to go ballistic on the company, I have come to enjoy the job and get much satisfaction from what I am accomplishing-I have this job on lock. My time is winding down, though... I may be switched out as soon as next month.
A quick recap since may: Pinned Captain in early June, went on leave shortly after that- good times with the family, also conquered Vegas on the Poker table, went right into platoon STX for about 2 1/2 weeks, and now we are getting ready for Graf. Oh, and my sister is engaged!, thus shifting the balance toward engaged syblings in the family, haha.
Despite everything that is set, there is one thing that isn't set... what am I going to do tonight? I will be contemplating this for the next hour...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The rest of the year left...
The year is going by quick... too quick. Seems like Ranger school sped up my year, and now all of a sudden it is almost halfway done... well, maybe not just ranger school- I could group the year thus far into 4 phases thus far- EIB in JAN-FEB, Change of Command immediately after EIB, Ranger School immediately after Change of Command, and Grafenwoehr immediately after Ranger school... and now I am where I am right now.
I need a break... which is coming soon, sort of, in mid June to July with Summer Leave coming up. Think the mental, physical, and emotional stress I've dealt with this year thus far is begining to take its toll on me- not really to a breaking point, but enough for me to take notice.
However, the solution isn't exactly a break as I think about it some more, more the need to put some balance back in my life. I think I have literally had no time at all this year to really put some time aside for myself... but I am just so tired sometimes...
Spent the last two weeks in Grafenwoehr- The primary training area for Army units in Europe. Basically less than a week from being droped from ranger school, I was running the logistics for my entire deployed company mid way through the rotation... so after 40 straight days of ranger school and experienceing a significant emotional event (being droped), I go right back into the stress box. Guess that is what being an Infantry Officer is all about- always a new task/ challenge, no breaks, no transitions, jump right in and get your shit muddy.
I like it... in a way. I wouldn't have been so bad if I actually got a tab I guess, then I would be writing about how awsome I am in this blog rather than about valuable self-reflection...hah
I need a break... which is coming soon, sort of, in mid June to July with Summer Leave coming up. Think the mental, physical, and emotional stress I've dealt with this year thus far is begining to take its toll on me- not really to a breaking point, but enough for me to take notice.
However, the solution isn't exactly a break as I think about it some more, more the need to put some balance back in my life. I think I have literally had no time at all this year to really put some time aside for myself... but I am just so tired sometimes...
Spent the last two weeks in Grafenwoehr- The primary training area for Army units in Europe. Basically less than a week from being droped from ranger school, I was running the logistics for my entire deployed company mid way through the rotation... so after 40 straight days of ranger school and experienceing a significant emotional event (being droped), I go right back into the stress box. Guess that is what being an Infantry Officer is all about- always a new task/ challenge, no breaks, no transitions, jump right in and get your shit muddy.
I like it... in a way. I wouldn't have been so bad if I actually got a tab I guess, then I would be writing about how awsome I am in this blog rather than about valuable self-reflection...hah
Friday, April 16, 2010
Learning the hard way (The only way)
Back in Germany, 15 days before Ranger Graduation- I'm not there...
Strange how this school still continues to haunt me, my first attempt being in May 08. Thought I had it figured out, but I didn't. Went striaght through RAP Week and Darby, and completed Mountains with a "Go" on patrols... Only thing (a big thing) that held be back was my peer rating both times through Darby and Mountains...
At the end of each phase, the members of your squad are given multiple sheets of paper, each representing a individual in your squad. With that paper, you rate them from lowest to highest and provide comments on their initiaitve, tactical ability, teamwork, physical ability, etc. Being human beings, their a multiple factors which can possibly factor into an individuals decision to rate them lower or higher- many of them are probably legitimate- was this person an asset to the team? Other reasons can begin to stray from the true purpose of the ratings- reasons like "Was this person sociable? Was he part of my corps group of friends?"
The first time I was told I failed peers, it caught me completely by surprise. I felt as though I got along with my squad, but half of them did not get along with me apparentely. Not showing initiative was a recurring theme in my reports. After reflecting on my peers the first time around, I realized that as a follower on a few missions, I singled myself out as someone who did not want to quickly obey orders as quickly as the leader wanted me too. I also realized that I did not mold with the Corps group of people in the squad that sort of controlled the tempo of the squad. I talked about this with the other members in the squad and they concluded that our squad was "cliquey", and I happened to draw the short straw that time. There was also one guy in the squad that no one liked at all- but he was already kicked out- leaving the spot open for the next guy to be peered. In summary, I could have been more involved with the squad as a whole rather than the few people I prefered to be around and as a follower, I could have shown more initiative doing my tasks. Lesson learned?
In Mountains, I was switched to another squad- this is standard for someone who gets peered the first time around-they are allowed to move on but are given a second chance with another group of people. I did not not change my entire personality, but I volunteered more than I did before and continued to help out everyone in the squad and carried my share of the load, sometimes more. I had peers in the back of my mind toward the end of mountains, but it did not guide any of my actions, but once again, I failed peers again. This time, the comments were not specific and did not follow the ratings that I was given. One of the trends I later realized was that the officers in my squad tended to rank me lower than their enlisted counterparts- there were more officers than enlisted in my squad. I actuallly consented to have my squad come before me and explain their comments to me and the company commander... although difficult to listen too, no one offered no specific good reasons why I was ranked the lowest- they were either too scared to confront me or I just simply drew the short straw when it came to rating people who they liked more.
I could go on with this sad story, but bottom line, things I need to do next time in order to avoid this mess: 1) be more involved with the planning process- surprisingly, as a officer in my position, I did not help out much with the OPORD process- by the time we got to mountains, there was already a set group of people who worked on the OPORD in the platoon- being new to the platoon, I never put myself in that position to help out, mainly they already had it down...- I think my officer counterparts expected me to help out more in this capacity, but I did not deliver for them. Not that I was doing nothing during this time- I did details, and other grunt work- which my enlisted counterparts enjoyed- but I guess I just needed a better balance. 2) Be more talkative with everyone- I do tend to be more quiet than others would prefer, but did not realize how big of an issue this oculd be in Ranger School. 3) Do not display any weakness- a given right? physical or mental
I am still trying to sort alot of this out in my head, haven't answered all the questions yet. Sadly- I will be going back again sometime- on my own will.... I so want to end this long saga....
Strange how this school still continues to haunt me, my first attempt being in May 08. Thought I had it figured out, but I didn't. Went striaght through RAP Week and Darby, and completed Mountains with a "Go" on patrols... Only thing (a big thing) that held be back was my peer rating both times through Darby and Mountains...
At the end of each phase, the members of your squad are given multiple sheets of paper, each representing a individual in your squad. With that paper, you rate them from lowest to highest and provide comments on their initiaitve, tactical ability, teamwork, physical ability, etc. Being human beings, their a multiple factors which can possibly factor into an individuals decision to rate them lower or higher- many of them are probably legitimate- was this person an asset to the team? Other reasons can begin to stray from the true purpose of the ratings- reasons like "Was this person sociable? Was he part of my corps group of friends?"
The first time I was told I failed peers, it caught me completely by surprise. I felt as though I got along with my squad, but half of them did not get along with me apparentely. Not showing initiative was a recurring theme in my reports. After reflecting on my peers the first time around, I realized that as a follower on a few missions, I singled myself out as someone who did not want to quickly obey orders as quickly as the leader wanted me too. I also realized that I did not mold with the Corps group of people in the squad that sort of controlled the tempo of the squad. I talked about this with the other members in the squad and they concluded that our squad was "cliquey", and I happened to draw the short straw that time. There was also one guy in the squad that no one liked at all- but he was already kicked out- leaving the spot open for the next guy to be peered. In summary, I could have been more involved with the squad as a whole rather than the few people I prefered to be around and as a follower, I could have shown more initiative doing my tasks. Lesson learned?
In Mountains, I was switched to another squad- this is standard for someone who gets peered the first time around-they are allowed to move on but are given a second chance with another group of people. I did not not change my entire personality, but I volunteered more than I did before and continued to help out everyone in the squad and carried my share of the load, sometimes more. I had peers in the back of my mind toward the end of mountains, but it did not guide any of my actions, but once again, I failed peers again. This time, the comments were not specific and did not follow the ratings that I was given. One of the trends I later realized was that the officers in my squad tended to rank me lower than their enlisted counterparts- there were more officers than enlisted in my squad. I actuallly consented to have my squad come before me and explain their comments to me and the company commander... although difficult to listen too, no one offered no specific good reasons why I was ranked the lowest- they were either too scared to confront me or I just simply drew the short straw when it came to rating people who they liked more.
I could go on with this sad story, but bottom line, things I need to do next time in order to avoid this mess: 1) be more involved with the planning process- surprisingly, as a officer in my position, I did not help out much with the OPORD process- by the time we got to mountains, there was already a set group of people who worked on the OPORD in the platoon- being new to the platoon, I never put myself in that position to help out, mainly they already had it down...- I think my officer counterparts expected me to help out more in this capacity, but I did not deliver for them. Not that I was doing nothing during this time- I did details, and other grunt work- which my enlisted counterparts enjoyed- but I guess I just needed a better balance. 2) Be more talkative with everyone- I do tend to be more quiet than others would prefer, but did not realize how big of an issue this oculd be in Ranger School. 3) Do not display any weakness- a given right? physical or mental
I am still trying to sort alot of this out in my head, haven't answered all the questions yet. Sadly- I will be going back again sometime- on my own will.... I so want to end this long saga....
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Run Down
Pictured to the left: Prague January 1st
Seems like 2010 will be an eventful year. Work (so far) is not too bad, but we have only been back for a week now, but the focus has finally switched to Training- its "GO" time baby. First thing on the Menu: EIB (Expert Infantryman Badge). EIB training and testing will pretty much be our focus for the entire month and into Feb. Alpha Company also has a new CO (Company Commander) taking over next month, so I will be busy with Change of Command inventories...
And right when Change of Command Inventories are over, back to Fort Benning, GA for Ranger School... which may occupy 2-6 months of this new year...
Shortly during or after Ranger School, I'll become a Captain, and then we'll see what happend from there.
So that is the next couple of months for me. Looking back, went back home to Los Angeles for a week and a half and was able to spend some time with family- next time, I will probably stay the whole leave period, it was a little too short this time around. I cut in short in Los Angeles mainly to spend New Years over in Europe: Prague. Probably the best New Years thus far, and probably going to get better after this. Never really celebrated New Years till now.
Thats all for now, OUT
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