Iraq War Pre-Surge: Battle Rhythm

[May 3, 2025]  What we called our “Battle Rhythm” was the formalized daily cycle (or pace) at which the command staff, at all levels, worked. The idea was to synchronize future combat and support operations.  It worked, but the effort was grueling, complex, structured, and generated a massive set of taskers that had to be cross-referenced and tracked.… Read More »

Baseball Gone Bananas!

[May 2, 2025]  I love baseball, and I think that’s obvious from my past writings on the subject.  Maybe that’s why I also love the “Savannah Bananas.”  Baseball, in its purest form, is a superb form of entertainment and rightly symbolizes hometown America.  That is why it is loved worldwide and why so many know how to play… Read More »

Iraq War Pre-Surge: SWET Services

[May 1, 2025]  One of our major challenges as an occupying military force in Iraq was to keep major SWET (Sewer, Water, Electricity, Trash) services online.  Back in 2005, a mere two years earlier, the 1st Cavalry Division developed operational tasks for its BCTs as we transitioned from primary combat to what is called Stability Operations. A combat… Read More »

What is a Warrior?

By | April 30, 2025

[April 30, 2025]  Inevitably, the discussion turned to the question, “What is a warrior?”  A small group of us were discussing this topic over a few “near-beers” the night before our military unit was to fly into Baghdad, Iraq.  For most of us, it would be the first time we would see combat.  The “what is a warrior”… Read More »

Cheating in America’s Military Academies

By | April 29, 2025

[April 29, 2025]  A recent article by Lt. Col Ken Segelhorst, USA retired, tells the tale of our nation’s elite military academies and the surge in academic cheating.  He is alarmed by this growing pattern of cheating that, at one time, meant immediate expulsion from the academies.  No longer. “Once rare and met with mass expulsions, large-scale cheating… Read More »

The Best Leaders Admit Mistakes Quickly

By | April 26, 2025

[April 26, 2025] The general rule of leadership is to own up to any mistake you make and do so quickly. In particular, this is true for experienced leaders. Reasons for admitting your mistakes are many and will be listed here. Exemptions, however, for not admitting a mistake are exceedingly rare. One unfortunate exception to admitting one’s mistakes… Read More »