What this means to me reading up on this is that i need to stop worrying so much about performing physically and expecting it to carry me through my military career and start becoming proficient in all areas and applying myself in areas that might not mean so much to me, or that i don't understand. Also i think i've learned that i need to stop relying on my own knowledge and start becoming a sponge to those who have been in longer than i, and when i am told to do something take it or not to do something to take it to heart and not do it again because it not only comes with punishment but also loss of credibility of those who are in charge of me. Credibility and trust are essential when working with a team of men like we do everyday, so i am going to try my best to be the best and most professional soldier i can be even when no one is looking.
Of course, military training also reminded soldiers that they were fighting against the enemy. Soldiers were sometimes shown propaganda about their rival to teach them good from bad. The conditions of the boot camps were uncomfortable for trainees, especially since they had never experienced anything like it. Soon-to-be G.I.s had their personal belonging taken, their heads were shaven, and they went by numbers instead of names. Sergeants were demanding, most were cruel, and training was generally exhausting. Trainees started their morning off with a 10 or 20 mile hike, then went to a skill area, like garrison or rifle range, or were sent into the wilderness to learn outdoor survival skills such as cooking, hunting, and close-combat fighting. Along with this, soldiers also did manual labor such as working in a warehouse to strengthen their body. Marine corps. training was a little more rigorous than other types of training. The marines were America’s most supported armed force, and a hardworking and patriotic spirit was emphasized in marine training. Marine trainees spent 7 weeks in boot camp, although the demand for more marines because of Japanese attacks shortened this time to 4-5 weeks. This demand also caused qualifications for a trained marine to drop. In training, drill instructors trained platoons, which are groups of soldiers who will fight together. Marines-to-be were often inspected and
I feel that marines of all ranks should read this book. Near the end of boot camp, I remember my Drill Instructors telling my platoon about how terrible marines sometimes acted when they were clearly taught otherwise in boot camp. I remember them telling me that they wanted to be a Drill Instructor because they wanted to make a positive and long lasting impact on people. They also told us that no matter how hard they’ve trained and honed us in the way they wanted us to be, as soon as we leave, we would still be whoever we wanted to be, it would be our choice whether or not to keep those teachings with us. And they were right, I’ve met a lot of marines that have abandoned them. This book emphasizes on the importance of keeping our transformation, not only for our Marine Corps career but also for the good of our
My role as a military officer will be to provide education, mentorship and ensure the well-being of my subordinates. There are expectations of each Soldier and in everything a Soldier does, especially those with leadership based grades and positions, like that of an Armed Forces officer. Soldiers are, and have potential to be, leaders at every level. Some Soldiers have more experience than others but, either way, can demonstrate that potential at any time in any environment. There is a certain perspective that comes with the roles of different levels of leadership and with the various ranks and organizational structure we utilize in the military, more specifically, the Army. The Army has a very centralized way of disseminating orders and
Anyone that serves in the military can agree that at some point in your career you will serve in a leadership position and be expected to uphold the basics of guiding and inspiring others. As a Soldier I consistently seek the next position of responsibility and leadership. I seek these positions not for my own personal gain but to share my experience and knowledge and to further develop myself, others and our Armed Forces. Becoming an Army Officer is not just an increase in pay or rank, it is taking the next step to be in a position that I can maximize my potential to develop myself and others. Society expects our military officers to be professional leaders that can make decisions in stressful situations, adapt and overcome any obstacle, and
It includes movements, commands, Methods of Instruction, Stages which supports training and testing in the areas of, drill and ceremonies. Drill sergeant school candidates can use this Handout to assist training of these specific areas while attending the drill sergeant school course (DSSC).
Leadership is a personal skill that has to be developed and improved upon daily, just like an athlete works on his craft. We all come from different walks of life and that is often a factor in the way our leadership styles are shaped. Our differences of race, gender, religion, home environment, and lifestyle all have an effect on the way we are led growing up. It is a skill that is mastered over time, while never being perfected. Like anything else in life, leadership skills are often developed from who we are, where we come from and the people in our life who have taught us their knowledge.
Thank you again for participating in Officer Training Month. We hope this programming will jumpstart your success in your new officer role. We’re always trying to make the best content for our members, and your valuable input will help us reach this goal.
For as long as I can remember, I feel as though I have been raised in a military environment. At a very young age my parents taught me to value discipline, manners, and to show and treat people with respect. In addition to these ‘staples’ of my upbringing, excelling in academics and on the athletic fields was where I further grew as a leader and learned to work with others to further distinguish myself from my peers. I knew based on my priorities and values that I was different from others by not only the way I carried myself but how I spoke to my peers and elders and the respect that I commanded. Perhaps those values were aided by both my grandfather’s serving in the military and my uncle attending West Point, a graduate of the class of
Physical Fitness in the Army is important to unit readiness, as well as combat readiness. Leadership plays a vital role in how successful a unit’s Physical Fitness Program is maintained and managed. Physical Fitness Programs throughout the Army have become personalized to the wants of the leadership and have forgotten about the needs of the organization. Understanding the importance that physical fitness has on military readiness is critical. Understanding the history of physical fitness in the Army is equally important to building physically fit Soldiers and help improve readiness throughout the Army. This paper will discuss the history of physical readiness training in the Army and argue the need for leader involvement in unit physical fitness programs. It will explain the value of having Master Fitness Trainers in every company; it will discuss the impact on combat readiness; the need for Master Fitness Trainers to manage physical fitness program and why understanding the Performance Triad can benefit Soldiers.
In America, we enjoy many freedoms: liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness; these freedoms are often taken for granted by Americans. Many do not realize that these freedoms did not come with ease, nor do they remain without someone to protect them. America is truly the best nation because of the freedoms it grants to every citizen; without these fundamental ideas, America would not be what it is today. The branches of military have and continue to protect these freedoms. Military officers are the glue that holds each branch of military together, without them, the services would be in disarray. However, an officer must possess certain qualities that allow them to be a successful leader.
The position of president is the highest office in the nation. Many people believe in order to be president the person filling the office should have military experience. Since the 1992 the candidate that has won has had no military experience but prior to this year the majority of presidents had military experience. The public does not require their presidential candidates to have military experience and in the last few decades have elected presidents with no military experience despite the fact the country has been embroiled in the War on Terror. Presidents should be required to serve time in the military before running for this office.
Throughout my military career, it became apparent that the staff officers within my command had attained a great sense of professionalism, leadership abilities and technical skills. My military duty positions in my career, such as being the Battalion S3 driver, TOC radiotelephone operator, and Brigade S6 NCOIC, allowed me to directly converse with many officers. I was able to monitor firsthand the daily task and responsibilities of some staff officers. After years of maintaining a high level of performance at work, I felt that taking a more challenging role within the Army would be beneficial to my career. I began to believe that I could provide the Army with another military officer of the same caliber of those in my previous commands. My aspiration to become an Army Officer fostered greatly through conversations with my former Brigade S6 OIC, MAJ Joe Gardner. He was previously a senior NCO and made the transition to an officer. He understood
For employees of the U.S Military including the air force, army, navy, marine and coastal guards, one can get tax advice and help from the free tax services provided by the Armed Forces Tax Council. These services are provided at different levels. If you are in the military or you are a veteran, you can find out more about these free services by enquiring from your local administrative office. Below is the structure of this free military tax service: