[June 5, 2026] In the crucible of modern conflict, where narratives clash, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani’s tenure as IDF International Spokesman, five truths about human responsibility amid the chaos of war. I found his narrative of these lessons compelling and useful. Shoshani’s five lessons, created in the aftermath of October 7th, stand as a map for confronting the… Read More »
[June 4, 2026] My Soldiers remembered that day like it was Christmas morning at home when they were kids. I was traveling back from our Infantry company supply trains to the defensive front line when, there it was, about a dozen Soldiers milling around in an open field. It was August in Virginia; sunny, hot, humid. I would… Read More »
[May 31, 2026] Call me crazy, but I’d swim any day with snakes in a river, as opposed to swimming with alligators. City folks might not understand why, so I’ll explain what I mean. But first, remember this rule: to swim with snakes, not with alligators. Snakes are just trying to swim and won’t bother you because they’re… Read More »
[May 22, 2026] Death is what makes things matter to us. Death makes things real, gives us focus, and supplies motivation because we can see our end is soon to be. It fosters morality by forcing us to confront the human need for social cooperation, reciprocity, and group survival. Death gives life urgency and meaning. Death is a… Read More »
[May 19, 2026] As a General Officer in the U.S. Army, I witnessed many self-inflicted mistakes made by fellow generals. This article is about those mistakes. Six years ago, I wrote a similar piece on the mistakes junior officers commonly make. There are some clear similarities. First, I want everyone to understand that my comments here combine personal… Read More »
[May 18, 2026] There’s an old U.S. Army Engineer motto “Essayons” which means “Let us Try.” Put into different words it could have said that Engineers accept any challenge. The core idea is social, moral, and personal; grow and protect your family and community, and foster your own development. The idea is ancient. Roman stoic philosopher Seneca once… Read More »
[May 15, 2026] One of the greatest advantages of a military career is the opportunity to work alongside genuinely brilliant minds—people I came to think of as hyper-intellectuals. This essay is about what I learned from really smart people during my years as a General Officer, and how I learned to lead them effectively. Most military leaders avoid… Read More »
[May 14, 2026] You’ve got to be tough as nails to be a good person because you have to stand your ground when you need to stand your ground. And, you have to be able to say no when it’s time to say no, and you have to mean it. Grow a spine! Develop your internal, physical strength,… Read More »
[May 11, 2026] We are each morally and socially obligated to do remarkable things. This is because the world is a difficult place, and being part of it means we owe it to ourselves and to others to be fully engaged. Otherwise, we risk becoming embittered, depressed, and hateful. Yesterday, under Rule 63, I wrote that “life is… Read More »
[May 10, 2026] You have less time for the many things you want to do, much less time than you think. Be aware of that, and be grateful and awake. Maximize the time and minimize the wasteful, stupid, unnecessary behavior, because you do not know when your time is up or when those opportunities will vanish. Your time… Read More »