Franz Kafka is often credited—though perhaps apocryphally—with the observation that "I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party Continue Reading
Recent Articles
The Jobs We Know How to Do
Yesterday morning, we drove to a jobsite in Texas where our oldest son, Hans, was pumping concrete. He operates a huge pump truck. It has 18 wheels, Continue Reading
Why?
“Bomb kills Iraqi childrengathered around U.S. troops,”was the screaming headlinethat greeted me from bright-colorednewsprint.It seems the Marineswere Continue Reading
Adding Up The Losses
Every drop of hot water was soothing as they rained down upon my body. I lay on the shower floor, staring as drop after drop slid down the side Continue Reading
Afghanistan: The Price of War is a Piece of You
By Martin Jones In the graveyard of empires, experiences varied wildly: the year, the unit, the province, the problem, the strategy, and the Continue Reading
Lethal Calm
Introduction: Leadership in the Fire Leadership isn’t about rank, a title, or the weight of a badge.It’s about what you choose to carry when the Continue Reading
Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 2
By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta's blog, "Life After War" and is republished with the author's permission. If you Continue Reading
The Four Burner Theory and the Military Profession: When Duty Consumes All Else
The “Four Burner Theory” is a deceptively simple metaphor for modern life. Popularized by author David Sedaris and often repeated in leadership and Continue Reading
I am Who I am Because of Those Lost
I live because they cannot. I strive to achieve because I must. I speak because their lessons deserve to live forever. I share because Continue Reading
Things Combat Vets Wish They Could Tell You | Part 1
By Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta's blog, "Life After War" and is republished with the author's Continue Reading
The Pentagon Can Feed a War but Not the Family Fighting It
The United States military is obsessed with readiness. Aircraft readiness. Medical readiness. Cyber readiness. Dental readiness. Physical Continue Reading
He Was Still Wearing His Cap
Breakfast at the Best Western isn't bad, but it's nothing to brag about either. The scrambled eggs remind me of those served in any Army mess hall. Continue Reading