[May 23, 2022] Just as luck would have it, my wife treated me to a trip to Lancaster, PA, to see the Biblical play “David” at the Sight & Sound Theater. The play was the best I have ever experienced. In the past, I saw many plays on Broadway in Manhattan, NY – the most professional performances found… Read More »
[May 19, 2022] Surprise! My out-of-town family is visiting me unexpectedly. My birthday is coming up shortly and I am pleased by the surprise visit. We are getting a chance to see the area I live in, and pursue some of my hobbies. So, with that in mind, I’ll be off-line for a few days. I’ll return by… Read More »
[April 12, 2022] Be like the Boy Scouts and be prepared for those predictable, commonplace problems. Life occasionally, yet predictably, throws us a curveball and surprises us. My advice is to wear your helmet and clean your rifle. If you are ready, you will come out stronger than before. By the time I joined the U.S. Army as… Read More »
[April 6, 2022] Eight years ago, just before I retired, I wrote that “Russia will not intervene in Ukraine.” That was according to the U.S. State Department (as noted in Time Magazine) and President Obama. Today, we see the folly of that prediction/headline. I wrote about violence in the streets two days before this article and said that… Read More »
[April 2, 2022] “Don’t take yourself so seriously, Satterfield.” My Platoon Sergeant was conducting my first performance review as a new NCO and gave me some much-needed advice. I wanted to do a good job as his team leader; being new, maybe I was too intense. His guidance to me was to relax and use humor to make… Read More »
[March 31, 2022] The idea that our family can positively impact the military is a long-held view by senior military leaders. Why that is so is something I will explore. I’m often asked about my own views on the family and how family life affects the quality and success of military service members. “The true soldier fights not… Read More »
[March 30, 2022] John Wayne is an iconic idol of manhood. Tough, courageous, self-reliant, and independent; are the hallmarks of true manliness. In the 1975 American western movie “Rooster Cogburn,” John Wayne stars as an aging, one-eyed lawman doing his best to redeem his reputation and earn back his marshal’s badge. Critics do not consider the movie to… Read More »
[March 29, 2022] Some folks will tell you this rule of what-not-to-do in combat is plain old common sense. Let me be clear! It’s not. I have seen some of the dumbest behavior on the battlefield, and those people still amaze me. Rules of combat are there because some people are just plain stupid. Don’t get me wrong,… Read More »
[March 28, 2022] I’ve always believed that the redeeming value of movies is more than their immediate entertainment value. Movies can teach us worthy lessons. Once, I posed the question, “Can we learn leadership from a movie?”1 Modern movies, however, disappoint … and I’m sure most of us would agree. I am convinced that some of the best… Read More »
[March 26, 2022] Much of what we do as leaders involve the mundane, necessary affairs to accomplish important goals. Leadership means having an end-game, whether by policy, edict, or influence. That is why a leader’s vision is crucial. The very best leaders are clear about what they want to accomplish and layout the steps to get there, the… Read More »