Deepertruth: 31 Years Ago Today I Joined Active Duty Army

After returning back to the United States after being stationed in Germany for 3 years, I had learned a great deal in Germany. Within a year I was promoted to Specialist and received a lateral transfer to Corporal. By my third year I was promoted to Sergeant. This began my leadership in the Army. What a great opportunity this was for me. Responsibility is the best way to learn.  I loved the opportunity to lead troops, I would be given a task and it was my responsibility to exercise my leadership style. I was responsible for putting together a counseling packet for my troops. I ensured my Soldiers understood my expectations and received information from them to help know their situations. To know your personal is vital, to know their strengths and weaknesses to motivate them to improve.

In my early days serving the Army, my leadership loved me because I was a strong worker. You need that GP medium tent to be put up; I was called upon to set it up, a GP small, not a problem. You need to camouflage over vehicles, I always had a lot of fun with a good attitude in helping make us the best we could be. I was always competitive that way.

I was awarded the Impact Arcom by a 2 Star General (Major General Krawciw) for saving the life of a German national at Grafenwoehr April 1989. I was lifted up like a real hero. But all of this was made possible because of the supervisory planning I had enacted for this 30 day commitment. I had training taking place at each of the sites I was responsible. I was checking on my troops, I was at the right place at the right time. Sometimes it takes luck.