Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
– Colin Powell
Military
Learning A New Trade
How the Military Recently Impacted my Life
Being in the military is no easy task. I recently joined the Navy again as a reservist after I completed my active duty contract. In my post Getting back that Seabag I talked about my story and why I decided to join again. Well, it’s almost my one year mark as a Navy Reservist and it has been a whirlwind. From learning new things and figuring out the learning curve on how reservists operate. I finally was getting the hang of things.Go in on my “Warrior Weekends,” get caught up on training, workout and hang out with all my new friends I made. I was placed in a new unit, they were called the HM (Hospital Corpsman) detachment. I was excited, it meant I would be able to get on the job training and actually see what my new job did! Then I realized, I needed to get my “A” school set up so I will have the proper certifications. Fast forward to January and here I am.
This past week has been crazy, stressful, chaotic and adventurous to say the least. From getting military orders reprocessed twice, my personnel profile not being set up correctly to the military travel site messing up on my airfare, its surprising that I actually made it here to Fort Sam Houston in Texas. None the less, here I am and it is completely what I expected…kinda. Since this is an “A” school, everyone is treated in a student status which means no freedom in a sense. Secured liberty by 2200 (10 pm), can’t leave base, can’t drive and I have to still be in my uniform. This is considered phase 1, it’s meant for the fresh out of bootcamp people. People that don’t know how to act in the fleet yet. Then there is a phase 2 which is a little more freedom, we can wear civilian clothes and travel off base. We just have to be back by 2200. Then finally there is phase 3. That means we can have all our freedom back and stay out overnight on the weekends. Going from reserves and a whole civilian life back into student status is almost like a complete shock to me. I haven’t been in an “A” school for almost 7 years! Thank goodness, I have about eight other “fleet returnees” in class with me, which makes this bearable.
So going from a DC, Damage Controlman to an HM, Hospital Corpsman will be interesting. There will be a lot of knowledge to take in these next 4 months. This school coincides with my civilian career which is a huge perk for me. Not only will I have civilian side knowledge, but, I will also have military combat medical knowledge to use to my advantage. I start my actual class Wednesday, after the long week of life skills that are taught to everyone to make sure were well rounded Sailors. I look forward to learning as much as I can, so that I can challenge myself and those around me. Here is to a new adventure, for the start of a new year! Time to push myself, learn something new and dedicate myself to Corpsman school and flourish in this new trade.
“You fight like you train.”
– George S. Patton Jr.
January 4th 2020
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure.”
– Colin Powell
January 3rd 2020
“Leave no stone unturned.”
– Euripides
December 22nd 2019
“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.”
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
December 7th 2019
78 years ago, December 7th 1941 the world would change. The surprise raid on the major U.S. Navy base near Honolulu killed more than 2,400 Americans and, in short, brought the United States into World War II.
According to the National Park Service, Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in August 1994. Remembrance events are held every year at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
If you click below you can immerse yourself in the history and events that occurred 78 years ago on the attack at Pearl Harbor.
“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941…a date that will live in infamy.”
Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt
November 11th 2019
“This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans. As a civilian, I owe an unpayable debt to all our military. Going forward let’s not send our servicemen and women off to war or conflict zones unless it is overwhelmingly justifiable and on moral high ground.“
– Thomas M. Smith
Military Appreciation
What It Means To Me
The military in all its pride and patriotism sometimes get overlooked or frowned upon. Shocker I know. Over the many years the military have come to be appreciated by Americans and the World. During Veteran’s Day we think about the Veteran’s who have served our country and those continuing to serve and Protect our Freedom. Veteran’s Day is celebrated with parades, discounts from various stores, and camaraderie between all branches. Veteran’s are among us every day in life. They could be your next door neighbor, the Police Officer patrolling the town. They could be the teacher for your child or they could be your classmate. Most people can’t tell a Veteran from a civilian. I mean look at me, unless I told you, you wouldn’t even know. Appreciate those around you, some of them may have fought for your freedom and the freedom of this Country. I volunteered my service and my life willingly for the people of this country. I will continue to do so until I no longer can. I have made friendships, I have lost friends and I have experienced not many people can say they have. Being a Veteran, a female Veteran at that, is an honor and a privilege.
November 10th 2019
America’s Veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.
-John Doolittle
October 21st 2019
We conducted training this past weekend. During this time we talked about the current events that are affecting this Nation as a whole. One of the points they really wanted to drive into us was about our safety and the safety of this Nation. One of the key quotes that stood out from them, and that we hear time and time again is,
“If you hear something. Say something.”
Something that simple seems like people could follow through and say something that throws their red flag up. In reality a lot of people keep things to themselves because they don’t know who to tell, they’re not really sure IF they should tell or they just aren’t too bothered by it. If you have a red flag going off, your gut feeling telling you, ” something is wrong here,” don’t keep it to yourself.
Katie Writes 