Personal Narrative: My First Platoon Leadership

Growing up the daughter of an Army Basic Training failure was an embarrassment for quite some time. My father went to Army Basic Training straight out of high school, and came back shortly after leaving. He was discharged for injuries of his knees; he was weak. One would not assume a child of someone who failed Basic Training would be eager to go, however I knew it was my time as soon as I received a call from a recruiter asking me to come in. It was my chance to show my dad the person I am without him, as well as fight for my country. I conquered Basic Training the summer in between the summer of my junior and senior year at the age of seventeen. There are four easy steps to Basic Training: two flights, reception, training,

James R. McDonough sets a spectacular example of what it is to be a second lieutenant in the United States Army and what it is truly like to lead a group of enlisted soldiers for the first time. Lieutenant McDonough, a graduate of West Point, was deployed as a platoon leader in a small fort with the mission of holding a Vietnamese village out of the hands of the Viet Cong. When he arrived, Lieutenant McDonough discovered that the former Lieutenant and platoon leader of the 2d Platoon, Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry (Airborne) hardly ever left his

Four or Five years ago if you were to tell me that I would be confidently applying to the University of Miami I would have laughed. Through high school I did not give much effort and like most of my peers, thought that furthering my education was my only option. Nearing the end of my senior year I started realizing that no noteworthy university would even consider accepting someone like me. As the days ticked away, I applied to a nearby college with an incredibly high acceptance rate and found myself opening an acceptance letter a few weeks later.

It’s the day I have to move to the army's campsite. I grab my bag and swing them on my shoulder, it weighs a ton it feels like my shoulder’s gonna break. Sophie was peeking through my room door, as I was about to stand up she ran to the living room curled up into a ball making loud thud and sobbing noises. Outside of the house, I hug my mom as tight as I could, I don’t want to move any single inch of my bone. I want to stay like this forever. I felt a drop of water behind my shoulder and I know that it was her tears. I don’t want to leave them but I have to. It was time to let go but she didn’t want to, I grab her arm and slightly push them back.

It was on 10 January 2010 when I got to my 2nd duty station in Schofield Barracks

When I was grabbed up to provide support for my pin down battalion. When I was on the hill; my training I had received at the Infantry Mortar Leaders Course, and countless training at the Joint Multinational Training Center (JMTC) kicked into high gear.

On May 31, 2013, while our unit was recently deployed with the 1st Brigade, 10th

“Just another day at the office” my Sergeant said. It was June 3rd, 1944, we were preparing for one of the biggest missions of the century. We would be named the 101st Airborne Division and it would be one of the worst turning points in my life. We were training for over a year for this day. We had to act fast because it was right before D-Day.

In May of 2007 I was a recently promoted Specialist with 20 months in the Army and 11 months in Iraq. I was assigned to B Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment; a member of the 2nd Infantry Divisions 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. As part of President George W. Bush’s “Surge” our 12 month deployment was extended to 15 months. We had spent the previous months moving around Iraq to support multiple areas of operation (AO), but in March of 2007 had moved to the volatile city of Baqubah, where we had begun the long and arduous task of clearing the city of insurgent forces.

It’s June 5, 1944, the day before D-day. The 101st Airborne Division led by their vigorous lieutenant Alex Hodulik is deployed behind enemy lines and they are known as paratroopers. The soldiers mission was to anchor the corps southern flank and to destroy the 2nd defense of the German forces on the hazardous beach. The day before the mission was a go, I lieutenant Alex Hodulik, was informed by my commanding officer that we have a few replacements for those who have fallen in our division. Little did I know, my little brother had volunteered for the paratroopers. “The replacements just showed up,” yells sergeant Ryan, “there's my little brother.” I immediately ran to him and asked, “Why the hell did you join the paratroopers? You had

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, one of the proudest moments of my life was when I tried out for an officer position on my dance team and didn’t earn the title that will haunt me for the rest of my life: “Senior Lieutenant.” I fixed my world around that title, and it would determine the level of my leadership position on the team. The day after the results were announced should’ve been the most dreadful day of my life; having to get up and look in the mirror at the failure staring back at me, then having to drag myself to school and master the art of not being seen to avoid the shame. However, this day was something to the contrary. I knew I was internally devastated for letting the incredible opportunity slip through my fingers, but

I joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge. I wanted to open doors for a new career and longed to have a positive impact on the world around me. Looking back five years later, I realize I found all that I originally sought, but I’ve also found something profoundly satisfying and meaningful that I never knew I was missing.

It was in the middle of June in Fort Benning, Georgia. I had been training for two weeks in Airborne school, completing what soldiers would call “ground week” and “tower week.” It had been two very tough weeks of training, waking up every day long before the sun was up. Running to every training site, sleep deprived and starving, it was more mental toughness than physical.

If I was the mayor choosing my next chief I think that by my pervious answers that I would go with. In law enforcement the job itself attracts a certain type of person. To manage those types of individuals it takes a person that really understands them. Police officers do not like to be dictated to they have to understand why they have to do what is asked of them. They spend countless hours learning the law and how to apply it in a timely manner to make decisions. As the mayor I want a manager that understands these principles. Chief Davis seemed to me as the true leader. Not only did he get the desired results in getting his department to change over to a community based policing. He had the understanding of getting the community itself and

I have been a student leader for two years and a section leader ever since eighth grade. I have done a lot of instructing during the past two years of being a student leader/section leader that involves either marching technique or music ability during rehearsal or sectionals. I have gave my opinions on either what a underclassmen is doing well on or what they could improve on. I have helped get the instruments and/or the hat boxes on and off the trailers. I have also helped and stayed after for competitions for feed the band, football games, and rehearsal nights to clean up trash or misplaced items.