Being away for holidays sucks, but at the same time it helps you appreciate them. I got to talk to Dad today for a short bit, it was good to catch up with him.
My dad taught me through personal example. He was fairly short on words growing up, but he made up for it by showing my brother and me the right way to treat people, the right way to do things, and what's really important.
Dad showed us hard work is what is needed to be successful. No one is ever going to give you anything, and if you want something you have to apply yourself to get it. What you lack in talent you make up for in hustle and drive.
He showed us the right way to treat people is to talk to them and find a solution. There is a gray area in everything, and you find it by talking it out. Violence seldom solves much, but I am pretty sure in his youth it was an acceptable way to solve a problem if needed as a last resort.
He also told us to be wary in business dealings-- everyone has a motive, and not everyone should be trusted.
He showed us how to fix stuff, mostly by being patient, and working through the problem.
He taught us you can never have enough tools.
He taught us that service is important, that sometimes you need to drop everything to help a friend, and that family is everything.
He never drug us to church, or forced religion on us-- he gave us the opportunities and let us figure it out for ourselves, but showed us the right way through personal example.
Dad continues to live as an example to my brother and I every day. I don't talk to him much, but I often think of how he would handle certain situations.
Thanks for everything, Dad-- hope you have a good day.
Ron
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The GREYWOLF Sunday
Sundays are a chance to catch your breath. Our kinder, gentler Army calls it "resiliency."
To give you an idea of the pace, a Brigade staff (minus the guys who work on the floor of the TOC or the 24 hour section coverage-- they are on shifts) runs for between 15 and 18 hours a day. Most days start at 8 as we churn through a 'battle rhhythm' of scheduled meetings and presentations. We produce a lot of products, but I'm not sure a Battalion has time to read or consume all of it. We also generate a slew of email, all which must be discussed, socialized, and followed up on. It's not enough to call a guy and talk about an issue-- you have to email a bunch of people, then call all of them to discuss your topic and sway decision. Somehow that makes us more efficient.
At night we get together and synch calendars. After that, then you can start to get your work done. Many of the primary staff checks out between 2300 and 0100, depending on the day. Then I go do PT, and crash. Lather, rinse, repeat.
It can be a grind, but if you are busy the time passes quickly. I have no idea where the time went, and I can't believe it's halfway through June already.
But Sundays you get a rest, we usually come in around 12. Some go to church, some sleep, and some just want to be left alone. I've been all three, sometimes all at once. They serve brunch in the chow hall from 8-ish until 1300 (war is hell) and there aren't any big meetings scheduled for Sunday. Sunday is when you clean your room and run an errand or two. For a couple of hours you get to relax a bit.
We usually gather every Sunday afternoon for a game of Staff Ultimate Football, temperature be damned. We used to play Field Grades (Majors and Lieutenant Colonels = old people) vs. Captains and Lieutenants, but we mix teams now because the old people kept skunking the younger generation (series was 3-0, so we switched for morale reasons). There's some concerns about the future generation... Last week's temp at kickoff was 117. But it was a dry heat... And a good chance to blow off steam.
Hope you enjoy your Sunday, and take care.
Ron
My past few posts have been negative, but for the most part we had a good week.
To give you an idea of the pace, a Brigade staff (minus the guys who work on the floor of the TOC or the 24 hour section coverage-- they are on shifts) runs for between 15 and 18 hours a day. Most days start at 8 as we churn through a 'battle rhhythm' of scheduled meetings and presentations. We produce a lot of products, but I'm not sure a Battalion has time to read or consume all of it. We also generate a slew of email, all which must be discussed, socialized, and followed up on. It's not enough to call a guy and talk about an issue-- you have to email a bunch of people, then call all of them to discuss your topic and sway decision. Somehow that makes us more efficient.
At night we get together and synch calendars. After that, then you can start to get your work done. Many of the primary staff checks out between 2300 and 0100, depending on the day. Then I go do PT, and crash. Lather, rinse, repeat.
It can be a grind, but if you are busy the time passes quickly. I have no idea where the time went, and I can't believe it's halfway through June already.
But Sundays you get a rest, we usually come in around 12. Some go to church, some sleep, and some just want to be left alone. I've been all three, sometimes all at once. They serve brunch in the chow hall from 8-ish until 1300 (war is hell) and there aren't any big meetings scheduled for Sunday. Sunday is when you clean your room and run an errand or two. For a couple of hours you get to relax a bit.
We usually gather every Sunday afternoon for a game of Staff Ultimate Football, temperature be damned. We used to play Field Grades (Majors and Lieutenant Colonels = old people) vs. Captains and Lieutenants, but we mix teams now because the old people kept skunking the younger generation (series was 3-0, so we switched for morale reasons). There's some concerns about the future generation... Last week's temp at kickoff was 117. But it was a dry heat... And a good chance to blow off steam.
Hope you enjoy your Sunday, and take care.
Ron
My past few posts have been negative, but for the most part we had a good week.
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