Have you ever wondered who you'd be without the war? Seriously? I have thought about it quite a bit and, if I was given the choice, I'd do it all Continue Reading
Military
The Switch
72 hrs, give or take, is the breaking point where the lack of sleep catches me—embracing me like a lost lover whose touch can ease the pain. The line Continue Reading
They Do Not Want to Understand the Wars We Fight in Their Name
The questions are almost always delivered by the young without guilt. They ask them in classrooms, living rooms, car rides, anywhere and everywhere it Continue Reading
War and Unity: A Vietnam War Marine Looks Back
By Jerry Lynch I have this idea that all wars are similar in more ways than one could imagine. Beyond the basics of kill or be killed or Geneva Continue Reading
Leadership: My Warrior Path
I loved being a soldier, more than most! It was what I was meant to do, the warrior spirit of my Iroquois ancestors courses through me. But I wasn't Continue Reading
Operation Unified Response: My Ghost
By Ryan Reyes A red Toyota cargo van backs up to the EMEDS tent, brake lights flowing through the bitter dust that had been stirred up as the Continue Reading
Where Duty Turns to Doubt
Dearest Mom, The hardest thing about writing these letters is the fact that I can’t really talk about anything I do. It makes for rather dry Continue Reading
Battling PTS: Choose Not to be a Statistic
A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with PTSD, I knew something in my head wasn't right, but I refused to do anything about it. Big tough Army guy, Continue Reading
Smoke Over MSR One
On May 31, 2008, my squad was assigned as the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for eastern Afghanistan in Nangarhar Province. While turning in documents at Continue Reading
Leading in Every Direction
By Samuel Yudin When one studies leadership theory, a few things become immediately apparent. There is almost a built-in contradiction. Leadership Continue Reading
Living with Survivor’s Guilt
It was a pleasant September day in 2005. The Praetorians were getting ready for their patrol. This time, we had another squad with us. Out of respect Continue Reading
Taking the Initiative in U.S. Army Training
I attended many schools in my time in the Army, just to sport a shiny new badge or record it on my annual eval for my enthusiastic participation. I Continue Reading