German General Staff

Soldiers to deploy when the nation calls. One part of our preparation relates to ensuring Soldiers are qualified on their assigned weapons. During one planning event I was in a meeting with my supervisor, or First Sergeant, and my peers, or fellow Staff Sergeants, were planning our annual weapons…

Each restaurant that you have ever been to has its own personality and aspects to its personality that make it unique. The small, homey café down the street is obviously not going to have the same feel as the chain restaurant where the waiters purposefully insult you for fun. Despite their differences, successful restaurants continuously draw people in because of their good food, pleasant atmosphere, and surrounding area. Although the food is the main attraction at a restaurant, those other…

waited but walked around the mall. If we went anywhere else it would 've been the same. After a wait, we were seated and the manager said "enjoy your meal." I replied..."we better, it was a long wait!" (Insert chuckle). As crowded as they were, the staff was friendly, the food came out promo and nothing was wrong. Everyone was happy and it was good! The wait was worth it!! The were on the ball on a crowded pre-love celebration night. Kudos!” (Massachusetts…

All humans have feelings of despair and worthlessness. As we mature, we have more substantial periods of worthlessness. In Ernest Hemingway’s “ A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”, we get an inside look at the relation between old age and feeling worthless. Old age promotes feelings of worthlessness. The old waiter is not rushed in his actions at the café, as he knows the struggles of the old man, and this causes him to drink alone at a bar. Old age supports the delay in critical actions. The old…

Primarily, in the short story A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, the main idea is the meaning of “nada” which also means nothing; this ties in with meaningless of life which was a major theme in this narrative. The author wanted readers to understand the concept of how some humans may take some situations for granted, and others will appreciate the smaller aspects in life. This anecdote had three major characters; one character was an old, wise, and broken waiter while the other character was young,…

The impact of toxic leadership on an organization is greater than anyone can possibly quantify with numbers. Over the past 26 years of military service, I have witnessed and seen more than my fair share of toxic leadership that have forced soldiers with potential out. There were times when I was able to impact this style of lazy leadership as I call it. However, most times due to rank being involved there was only minimal I could do. The worst case of toxic leadership I was aware of from afar…

It’s five o’clock sharp when I walk into the restaurant, embracing the warmth of the heaters and the mix of chatter overpowering the sounds of the grill and coffee machine. The warm lighting from the light fixtures hanging above every table sets the tone for large gatherings and romantic date nights in contrast to the mix of Spanish and indie pop music that plays together in harmony. Customers gather around the counters, trying to put in the last orders to the cashiers, as the workers starts to…

During the middle of my second year in JROTC, I earned a promotion to the rank of platoon leader. Although excited to begin, I had to face the hard challenge of speaking in front of people, establishing my own authority, and battling my own indecisiveness. During my installation as a platoon leader, I made a collection of minor mistakes, particularly in where I stood, how to march in, and what to do with my platoon. When giving commands, I had a severe stutter. I failed to voice my authority…

In 1888 Van Gogh created The Night Café using oil paints on a canvas. It's title alone depicts it almost to a tee, however, what one might envision without seeing it would be completely subjective. The same concept can be applied to what one feels when looking at this work. The painting depicts a very eerie room with colors that clash and are almost painful to look at. However, you’re drawn in by a man standing off in the corner of the room who appears to be staring at you. He almost looks as…

Leading leaders towards success Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory. (General George S. Patton) When Junior Soldiers think about command, typically the thought process is to assume sergeant fist classes, higher enlisted and officers. However, the command team can involve members of any rank depending on mission needs. Every mission, should have a good command team with excellent…