SF, terrorism, & politics

[Guy]

stuW:

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney
Do not try and equate the lessons taught in business schools on leadership and productivity to the military-they are for the most part totally unrelated.

It'll be 115+ degrees out here today...

Stay safe.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by stuW

implemented the Planning Programming Budget System (PPBS). (see McCaffery and Jones of the Naval Postgraduate school for more information)

First of all I do not need to "see" anything for more information and second, if you are going to quote information at least get it right.* It is PPBES- the E was for execution and was/is an integral part of the process.* Now, we can beat this philisophical discussion about encapsulating the similarities and differences between military and other organizations to death, but you have to realize that the application of leadership and management principles are not all inclusive and vary not only from echelon to echelon but, in the case of leadership, from person to person.* You can build and train a manager to always do things right, ie by the book.* You cannot build and train a leader if he does not have the requisite psychological and physiological attributes and is not able as an individual to always to the right thing, ie not necessarily by the book.* In your world the individual exists to enable the organization to succeed as it is the organization that is all important and exists to satisfy and the keep the stockholders happy.* In my world the leader(who also must manage) exists to enable the soldier to succeed because it is the soldier and not the organization that is most important. That is as simple as it gets-but, there are, of course variations and exceptions.

[Guy]

stuW:

I in-processed to come back over here with a guy who, just graduated with a degree (Masters) in Economics, he thought I was joking when I said...

"If you can't embrace the suck factor, you're going to have a hard time and your advance education won't mean shit!"

With in 48hrs he was complaining after landing.....

Stay safe.

[stuW]

Thank you for your responses, and answering my questions. I have learned some important lessons.

Cheers,

Stu

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by stuW

Thank you for fastidiously pointing out

You're welcome. Now go look up the definition of a smart ass, or better yet look at your own reflection in your computer screen.

[jatx]

Originally Posted by stuW

I can only translate your messages based on my experience (essentially none – I’m 23) and education. I am, however, trying my best to keep up with you and actually understand it, so I can recall and use it if I am fortunate enough to make it through OCS and become an MI officer in the army.

Stu

If you want to add any value at all in MI, you need to learn how to communicate effectively. You sound like a John Cleese parody of an Oxbridge professor after an all-night drinking binge.

Here's a lesson:

1) Learn to listen. This means more than simply waiting to talk.

2) Compose your message, then reduce the character count by 50% before hitting send.

3) Rinse and repeat.

[stuW]

To all members of this forum,

I attempted to engage in intellectual conversation and improve the qualities I myself would bring to the military. Unfortunately, it seems I became a bit excited by these posts and the outstanding, accomplished people who were posting back. I exemplified immaturity, ego, and disrespect - these qualities would be detrimental to the military, and in certain circumstances, could result in getting others hurt. Many people have weaknesses and faults, and today I grossly illustrated one of mine. I'll be spending my time reading on this site from now on, and sincerely apologize.

I truly feel the discussion improved my ability to think about the issues discussed better, but consensus indicates it didn't help others. That undermines part of the purpose of this website, and I am well aware my postings/rants brought about this result.

Apologies again, and I am hopeful that I can make contributions in this world as many patriots here have,

Stu

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

You're welcome. Now go look up the definition of a smart ass, or better yet look at your own reflection in your computer screen.

Take care and stay safe.

[Jarmak]

I normally avoid posting here seeing as I haven't even completed BCT yet and don't really feel like I have anything of value you to add. However since the motivation of 18x recruits has become a topic of conversation, being one I thought submitting my own story regarding becoming such might provide you guys with some fodder for discussion. Don't want to get too "lifetime special" on you guys but since the discussion is based on motivation I think a brief bit of history is necessary for context.

I basically have wanted to join the military since I was about 14-15 (I'm 22 now), for some reason in high school I was obessed with the Marines, can't tell you why now. Instead of joining I let myself be convinced into going to college, which didn't last because I was young and stupid and decided I'd me the girl of my dreams and wanted to go settle down and be married instead, again I didn't join because I didn't want to leave her. Fast forward three and a half years and I'm walking into a recruiter's office having broken up with said girl six months prior and having decided to go pursue what I've wanted to do my whole life.

I walked in not knowing anything about Special Forces ( I had heard the term "Green Beret" before and knew a little about them, though I didn't know that "Army Special Forces" was the same thing). I was pretty familiar with who the Rangers were and what they did, and had aspirations of being one someday But I felt it presumptuous to walk in asking for the rangers, so I elected to aim for 11b opt4 (Airborne), with the goal of working toward the rangers after getting some experience under my belt.

After my my ASVAB scores came back qualifying me for SF (my QT was 94, all line scores ranged from 130-136) my recruiter started pushing me to think about it because it would include the training I walked in looking for, but be a step above it. I was pretty skeptical at first (my first thought was he was just trying to dupe me into signing a 5 year contract), but being totally ignorant of the special forces I decided to research it before making a decision on it. I'm glad I did, because the more I read about what the SF is about (alot of which I gathered from this forum), the more I decided that it was everything I was looking to get out of the Army. Despite my initial apprehension about the IA program I decided that it was too great of an opportunity to pass up and made the commitment to myself that while I won't disrespect those who have already completed SFAS by saying I "know" I can do it, I will say that I know I won't quit.

I'd say my principle motivations for joining the 18x program are as follows, in order of highest to lowest priority:

-I want to be the best I can be, I feel that by I would not be living up to my potential in the infantry, speaking more in the mental sense then the physical sense. A position that requires me to be able to think and act independently, as well as exhibit a level of professionalism a cut above the rest, I feel would be much more personally fulfilling.

-Traveling and other cultures have always been a fascination of mine along with the military, the idea of being a soldier while at the same time learning another language and working directly with other cultures sounds like an amazing opportunity to me.

-I want to know that the guy next to me is the best, even if it means being in a more dangerous situation because of it.

-Lastly this is more speculation then anything since most of the information surrounding it is classified, but the ability to get some of the most advanced training in the world (such as HALO and various army specialty schools) and actually put it to use outside of exercises (whens the last time a regular airborne unit performed a combat drop for example?) is appealing, but I wouldn't list this motivation as anything near as important as the other three.