Personal Narrative: Working With The Military

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’m a military child. Change was instilled in me since my birth in Spain. My childhood was spent briefly in Europe, the east coast of the U.S, and eventually the Midwest. This change of scenery, schools, friends, and just about everything else in my life led me to be the person I am today. Travelling was amusing and I enjoyed change of pace every couple of years, but it wasn’t easy. I learned early on that getting attached to people wasn’t a good idea and should be avoided in preparation for the next move. This led me to being an incredibly shy child who couldn’t open up to people. The world I come from is an adventurous but problematic one. When I concluded making friends would assist with each transition I found myself too terrified to attempt

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.

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.

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.

Being a military kid always made me different to the other kids in my school. Even I were to talk to another military child, our experiences would be different. Different states, different time periods without our parents, all of us have a different story to tell. I always felt like I couldn’t talk about my life because no one would understand. And most didn’t. It was hard to move across country. It was hard to move to different schools, sometimes in between the year. It was also hard on my family, with my dad being gone for long periods of time.

They learned that the seatbelts are a five-point harness, that the windows are able to withstand a .50 cal [round], how to get in and out of the hatches, the driver's control, how to turn the vehicle on and off, releasing and applying the brakes, and making sure things are locked up when they are done (DVIDS,

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

The leadership class given by Commander Meader was another game changer class. The story about the officer being tortured to death in Memphis still haunts me and probably always will. This class is an absolute necessity. I did not need the lesson not to let one of your officers get tortured to death and the vast majority of supervisors do not need that lesson. Unfortunately there are those who need to hear this lesson. The lesson was that no matter what is going on, our culture cannot sink to that level, where we would make the decision to let one of our own, or anybody for that matter, get tortured to death while we stood by and did nothing. Once again an incredible story, of what not to become, as an organization and as a