Platoon Sergeant

Rules of engagement for the Unites States in the Vietnam War were a framework put into place by military authorities to define the limitations and circumstances that combat will be initiated or continue with enemy forces. (Georgia Tech College , n.d.). The rules are put into place to be compliant with international law for conducting war, minimize friendly fire accidents, and protect civilians. All of these regulations also had political motivation and each level of rank within the army from…

Intelligence told us he typically traveled with a Personal Security Detail (PSD) of three to five men. The individual we watched that day and night had five to seven men traveling with him. Eventually, they stopped at a remote building. And that, the platoon and company leadership decided, would become the target…

Willink’s SEAL sniper elements were embroiled in a serious gunfight with what they thought was enemy muj. Willink had figured his element had abandoned their location since they were no where in the vicinity. Willink went up to the Marine Gunnery Sergeant in charge of the Marines and Iraqi soldiers who were trying to take down a building full of “insurgents”. He asked the Gunny the plans to take down this building, to which the Gunny replied with an airstrike. Willing has a bad feeling about…

Racism has been a significant issue over the years and continues to be somewhat of a buzzword in todays society. Reginald Walter Saunders is an excellent example of a man who overcame racism in one of the most difficult of circumstances. Saunders was an Indigenous Australian who fought in WWII both for his county and his rights as an Aborigine. He later became known as the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian army. Throughout his time of service, he made a significant impact…

illnesses” (Kimmel 614). Wes#2 risked going to jail because he wanted to be like his brother. Both Wes Moores had positive influences in their life. With these influences, the boys’ lives and their perspective of masculinity changed. For Wes#1, his platoon sergeant and comrades were his greatest influences. In military school, they showed him that he could be someone greater with ambition and discipline. “He loved his brother but had learned to ignore his occasional ‘do as I say, not as I do’…

Since ancient times Europe has been arguably both the most advanced and most dangerous continent on the planet Earth. The constant conflict, struggle for survival, and the race for a better livelihood has shaped its inhabitants for thousands of years. Fast forward to the 20th century and things are no different. The year is 1914 and Europe is engaged in a great continental war. Among many valorous men, a young German named Erwin Rommel fights in northern Italy and France, enduring the hardships…

levels of respect and tradition that I learned there with me for the rest of my life. Some of my leaders in those early years are still some of the most influential. The single best NCO that I have ever had the pleasure of working for was my platoon sergeant there: SFC Gary Hardy. He epitomized standards and his ability to take care of soldiers by whatever means necessary never ceased to amaze me. At this point in my life I was just trying to learn how to be a good soldier and infantryman,…

In the modern time of 2015, it is not uncommon to see people with neck, sleeve, or hand tattoos. It has become acceptable as “normal” in our society. However it is uncommon to see people in professional work places with these kinds of visible tattoos. You don’t normally see bankers/ accountant, doctors, or dentist with visible tattoos on their arms, neck, or hands. Why is it uncommon? It is because it is not normal. For a professional job, you should look professional. It is also banned/…

Being products of evolution, nearly all living things are, in essence, products of their environment. The environment influences which traits are successful and get passed on. Before long, those organisms are directly products of their environment. This phenomenon chiefly occurs when the environment holds all the power over the organism. When it comes to humans, however, we are social animals, we influence and are influenced by those around us. Because of this, humans are not solely products of…

currently serving and as you can imagine I have experienced many things through my journey. I have had some great leadership along the way and some that were quite the opposite. During this time one person has stuck out in my mind, I will refer to him as Sergeant First Class (SFC) Smith. Although SFC Smith was a leader many aspects of his approach in which he dealt with situations led to his demise. Upon arriving to my new unit in October of 2013, I met SFC Smith. Immediately SFC Smith let me…