Personal Narrative: Working With The Military

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.

What did you like about your experiences? I love leading Soldiers and seeing them progress as leaders. These great Americans make me very proud every day. The Brotherhood, the military families, esprit de corps, and the pride to serve your country is an awesome feeling. Meeting different people from all

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

I went pre-med before getting deployed and as an intern I've seen a lot of horrible things. But when it's your friend... Someone you serve with... It stays with you forever.

If there was anything more terrifying to a shy, introverted, teenage girl than the idea of being a in crowded room full of strangers, it would to be actually in one. Yet, there I was, surrounded by a numerous amount of impatient, jet-black cars that illuminated the dark streets, rows of musicians rehearsing their piece by playing a dissonance of sounds, and the expectant, motley crowd of people lining up on the sidewalk for the veteran’s parade.

In support of my capstone project, I assessed and will submit a redesigned proposal with developmental recommendations for reformation of a solid POI for the SPCC that takes place at the Army Logistics University. In this, I have identified the foremost purpose for this redesign as the following: The investment in the education and training of rising leadership is vital to the long-term success of our sustainment support staff and the services provided. With this course providing training in modular force operations for newly selected command designees that enables them to function effectively throughout their command tour it is very important to make sure that the training is substantive. Therefore the main focus is to assure that training is current and emerging sustainment doctrine and leadership topics for commanders on the National Guard, Reservist and Active Duty levels is most essential.

I awoke the following morning to shouts of “LIGHTS, LIGHTS, LIGHTS!” which meant get the hell out of bed as fast as you can and stand on line. As we stood waiting for our instructions from our drill instructors, we could all sense each others fear. For the next 13 weeks we would be told what to do how to think and when to breath. Not only was it physical but also psychological, we would be torn down and built in to the perfect Marine. After we were yelled at to get dressed in our camies, we marched down to the chow hall. I had maybe 2 minutes to scarf down my

There were many valuable topics covered during my time at the Chief Petty Officer Academy (CPOA), however three of them have and will continue to help shape me as a leader and be useful to assist those I work with at my upcoming duty assignment. There were many take-backs from my five weeks at CPOA; however the three I found the most valuable are wellness/fitness, facilitating meetings, and team building. These three very simple techniques can be quiet challenging for some and do create greater challenges if not used at all.

The first person that I interviewed was 2nd Lieutenant John Zuzich, he is a scout platoon leader in 6-9 Cav, 3ABCT, 1CD. After exchanging formalities I jumped into the questions. The first question, based off of the assignment, was. What he wished he had known before becoming a platoon leader? Luckily for him his first job was a platoon leader so we were able to get right into the meat of things. He said that, as a West Pointer he had given to the illusion that all soldiers are America’s best and brightest and that they would be experts in their crafts. Which, in his specific situation, wasn’t the case. Initially he

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.

My experienced in the academy is a memorable one. It is a unique experienced that I will cherish for the rest of my military career. There are many valuable lessons that I learned in the course that I intend on using both professionally and personally. In particular, the Leadership Practice Inventory (LPI) survey, the Physical Fitness Training, and the camaraderie that

The instructor took the wheel first, ours was a retired Army master sergeant who I suspect had been special ops, but a very cool and competent guy. We sped around the racetrack, he threw the car in reverse, slammed on the brakes and put the car in reverse direction. We would learn or try that maneuver...all of us, even the person who had never driven before. We learned how to avoid a roadblock and how to use this maneuver to turn around quickly and head in the opposite direction. We learned to be on the lookout for vehicles on the side of the road and not to drive by those either. Now, about the drinking the night before, I really didn't overdue it, but I got real queasy in that back seat while the others were driving, although I could

On the second day, we learned more formation stances and positions including fall in, fall out, present arms, order arms, attention, at ease, left face, right face, and about face. I also was introduced on how to operate a military-style living space. In the morning when everyone got up at 6:30 am, we were required to make sure nothing personal was visible and fix our beds so they were uniform. To do this, we were required to fix each corner of the bed so it had a “hospital corner,” fold the top over, and have the blanket so tight that there are no wrinkles and one could bounce a ball on the bed.

So, once I decided to move up to the front-line, in the back of my mind I realised that as part of providing this care, I'd have to carry arms to defend myself, and to defend my patients, and those looking after my patients. The front-line was a terrible place. It was situated just over the border from Albania, within Kosovo. The days were quite warm - up to 35 degrees, and the nights cooled down to temperatures just above zero. I set up a surgical unit in a small cave that had been used by shepherds previously. This cave was only situated 300 or so metres from the forwardmost Serbian positions. The cave itself measured only seven or eight metres by four metres across, and I had to do all the operating at the mouth of the cave, to make the

Pursuit Training for Supervisors given by Lieutenant Wilkinson was very valuable. Once again this class is very relevant to what a new supervisor is going to be faced with day one on the street. Lt. Wilkinson did a great job explaining the material and kept the class motivated like he had throughout the whole school. The use of cruiser videos was great. I would suggest more cruiser videos.