Mentoring Stewardship "Mentorship as a facet of leadership is probably the most important aspect of the Stewardship of the Profession that doesn't get the attention that it should," said COL Bircher. As a mentor, he explained how sharing advice and knowledge is helpful for the mentee as well as the mentor.
Forty Five Days After drinking all day, SPC Woodie thought he was fine to go pick up a buddy and take him home. He was wrong. SPC Woodie was pulled over on post and was given a DUI. As a result, he received an Article 15, a drop in rank, and 45 days of extra duty.
Hard Choices While deployed to Iraq in 2003, SSG Holicky witnessed two Soldiers beating an Iraqi civilian. After halting the abuse, SSG Holicky reported the incident to his 1SG, but said he was ostracized by the action and endured hazing as a result.
Hard Right Easy Wrong While deployed in 2008, 1SG Craft walked right into a tough situation during a routine inspection when he discovered a married female Soldier with a male Soldier, who was not her husband, in her quarters at two in the morning. To compound the problem, alcohol and drugs were found. 1SG Craft said that he could have easily left it alone and walked away. But, he knew that was not the right choice.
Honor Introductory video on Honor. Live up to Army values. The Nation's highest military award is The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a matter of daily living - Soldiers who develop the habit of being honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do.
Honorable Retaliation Part 1: SSG Huntley describes losing his Platoon Leader to a sniper in Iraq. The Platoon later finds out where the sniper is living, and plans a deliberate raid to kill or capture him. SSG Huntley talks about his desire for vengeance and his doubt whether the Iraqi justice system would punish the sniper. He discusses the possibility of killing the sniper in his house?regardless of whether or not he tries to surrender. Part 2: SSG Huntley and his Platoon are able to capture the sniper. He describes the restraint they showed and how the sniper confessed to the killing, and was later sentenced by the Iraqi courts.
Identity Crisis It was February of 2005 just after the elections. It was a neighborhood near the Armor traffic circle, which was at the time the most dangerous traffic circle on the entire route Tampa through Iraq.
Inconvenient Discipline Part 1: SFC Schuler describes being off duty and seeing Soldiers "downtown." One night he and a fellow NCO observed a Soldier from their unit. The first time they saw him they said 'Hi' and moved on. They saw him at the end of the night and observed that he was extremely drunk and heading toward his car. Part 2: SFC Schuler decides to help the Soldier by taking his keys and driving him home. He discusses how important it is to act in a situation like this. He also talks about what might have happened if he'd done nothing, and the different ways to take action in a situation like this (calling a cab versus driving the Soldier home, etc.) He shares what motivates him as a Soldier and an NCO.
Inherent Callings Part 1: PV2 Cevidanes describes growing up in Brazil and struggling with her decision to join the Army. Her father was opposed to the decision and encouraged her to attend college first. The cultural norm for PV2 Cevidanes was for women NOT to serve in the Army. She balances the input of her father with advice from some respected mentors. Part 2: PV2 Cevidanes describes her conversation with a mentor and how she realized how important joining the Army would be. She summoned the Personal Courage to tell her father what she was going to do. Many of her friends and family at first struggled to understand her decision, but now they all, including her father, are proud of her.
"Black Hearts" Case Study: The Yusufiyah Crimes, Iraq, March 12, 2006 On March 12, 2006, five Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division abandoned their posts and headed to the village of Yusufiyah, located within their operational sector in Iraq. There the five Soldiers committed a brutal gang-rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi, and the simultaneous murder of her family. Fueled by alcohol confiscated from Iraqis, coupled with talk of revenge against the Iraqi people, the Soldiers directed their frustrations towards the family whom they rationalized were supporting their enemies, viewing them as scapegoats for the real and imagined suffering they were experiencing. View
"Hell No, I Won't Go" In May 2006, I proudly raised my right hand and joined the world's greatest fighting force, the United States Army. I finally achieved what I had worked so hard for through my four years of college, the rank of second lieutenant. View
"I Would Do It Exactly The Same Way" We saw a significant increase in enemy activity and attacks in the recent months along main supply route (MSR) TAMPA in Iraq. Tensions were high on the ground and in the air. Improvised explosive device (IED) attacks were all too common and we lost a few aircraft due to enemy activity. View