Attention on Deck!

If you are not one of the millions that have watched this YouTube clip of some "troopers" in Afghanistan with too much time on their hands, have a laugh and check it out.

Great article in this month's Fast Company on Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen. I can certainly appreciate the pace of his day, his passion for open and transparent communication, and his thoughts on economic security and the relation to national security. While he does not actually command US Forces, his role as "Chief Strategy Officer" and the fact that he has the President's ear, makes his role vitally important. I like his thoughts on information management and situational awareness, leading during a time of change (what he calls "operating at the speed of war"), and the use of new media (he's on Facebook and Twitter) to get his message out.

Vanity Fair has a very interesting story on General David Petraeus. You can learn more about the man who crafted the surge plan in Iraq and is currently leading the efforts in Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East as the Commander of US Central Command.

Interesting story on MSNBC about Army Captain Casey Thoreen, the "King of Maiwand" District. Very difficult decisions that this 30-year old, West Point graduate has to make in order to empower the local leadership in his area of Afghanistan. The term we often use is "Strategic Corporal." People with relatively low ranks making decisions with enormous impact, in this case with strategic implications.

Great stuff. Also, you may want to check out Dan McCarthy's latest collection of leadership stories in the May Leadership Development Carnival.

Four more chapters to go on the book. Thanks to those of you for your help and encouragement. Pushing hard to get this project finished.

Looking forward to the chance to speak to the Orange County Leadership Academy this week. This great group of professionals always inspires me to be a better leader. Hooah!

Military Humor

Here's a few of my favorite leadership "pearls of wisdom" with a military twist. Enjoy!

"If the enemy is in range, so are you." > Infantry Journal

"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." > > U.S. Air Force Manual

"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." > > - General MacArthur

"You, you, and you ... Panic. > > The rest of you, come with me." > > - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.

"Tracers work both ways." > > - U.S. Army Ordnance

"Five second fuses only last three seconds." > > - Infantry Journal

"Any ship can be a minesweeper....Once."

"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do." > > - Unknown Marine Recruit

Clean it, if it's Dirty. > > Oil it, if it Squeaks. > > But: Don't Mess with it, if it Works! > > USAF Electronic Technician

"If you see a bomb technician running, > > keep up with him." > > USAF - Ammo Troop

Hooah! That's Leader Business!

One Marine

THE MARINE

A large group of Taliban soldiers are moving down a road when they hear a voice call from behind a sand-dune. "One Marine is better than ten Taliban." The Taliban commander quickly sends 10 of his best soldiers over the dune where upon a gun-battle breaks out and continues for a few minutes, then silence.

The voice then calls out "One Marine is better than a hundred Taliban soldiers." Furious, the Taliban commander sends his next best 100 troops over the dune and instantly a huge gun fight commences. After 10 minutes of battle, again silence. The Marine voice calls out, "One Marine is better than one thousand Taliban."

The enraged Taliban commander musters a thousand fighters and sends them over the dune. Cannon, rocket, and machine gun fire rings out as a huge battle is fought. Then silence.

Finally one wounded Taliban fighter crawls back over the dune and with his dying words tells his commander, "Don't send any more men, it's a trap. There's two of them."

Funny stuff. Thank God for those Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Navy warriors who keep us safe and put themselves on the line every day! Hooah! That's Leader Business.

Those Crazy Troopers

Friends

It has been my experience that regardless of the stress and strain of the mission, military troopers will always do something to remind me that it is okay to laugh. Even in battle, having fun is not off-limits. I found these pictures and thought some of them were worth sharing.

At my previous assignment at the Army's National Training Center, teammates were constantly taking pictures of each other that could be used at our monthly "Dogbone" ceremony. Regardless of rank (and as the senior trainer I was the top target), teammates would play back (with embellishment) some of the humorous situations encountered during the just-completed training mission. Good times!

Sometimes, the most stressful situations need a little humor to diffuse the tension, to let people know that they are going to be okay. If the troopers in the pictures above, who are facing life and death situations, can still have fun, what does that say to the rest of us, who are NOT in such perilous scenarios? What are you doing to ensure that people's personalities can come out, that fun and work can co-exist? Are you letting your "troopers" get crazy every once in a while? I hope so. That's Leader Business.

Military Humor

I got these from a friend. Pass them on. Enjoy!

"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least
expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your
unit."
- Army's magazine of preventive maintenance.
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"Aim towards the Enemy."
- Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher
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"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.
- U.S. Marine Corps
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"Cluster bombing from B-52s are very, very accurate. The bombs are
guaranteed to always hit the ground."
- USAF Ammo Troop
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"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
- Infantry Journal
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"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just
bombed."
- U.S. Air Force Manual
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"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never
encountered automatic weapons."
- General Macarthur
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"Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo."
- Infantry Journal
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"You, you, and you .. Panic. The rest of you, come with me."
- U.S. Marine Corp Gunnery Sgt.
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"Tracers work both ways."
- U.S. Army Ordnance
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"Five second fuses only last three seconds."
- Infantry Journal
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"Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer
to do anything."
- U.S. Navy Swabbie
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"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid."
-David Hackworth
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"If your attack is going too well, you’re walking into an ambush."
- Infantry Journal
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"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection."
- Joe Gay
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"Any ship can be a minesweeper once."
- Anonymous
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"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do."
- Unknown Marine Recruit
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"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you."
- Your Buddies
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"If you see a bomb technician running, follow him."
- USAF Ammo Troop
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"Of every one hundred men, Ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are nothing
but targets, Nine are real fighters...We are lucky to have them...They make
the battle.
Ah, but the One, One of them is a Warrior...and He will bring the others
back."
- Hericletus (circa 500 B.C.)