In 1970 I was an assistant instructor in the Management Committee, Leadership Department, US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. We taught basic principles of computer programming, operations research/systems analysis, and financial management to career officers in the Infantry Officers Advanced Course.
One day I received a call that my company First Sergeant wanted to see me. I hated getting those calls! It usually meant guard duty, KP, or something else that wasn’t good.
If there had been a “who would you most like to share a foxhole with?” contest, then my company First Sergeant would have won hands down. He was a BIG man, 230+ lbs., without an ounce of fat on him. He was INTIMIDATING, and ALL business.
“I want you to represent the company in the battalion soldier of the month competition.”
“First Sergeant, I’m really busy at the Infantry School right now…”
“Tell it to the chaplain. You had better WIN.”
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
Not long after the competition (I lost) I got another call that the company First Sergeant wanted to see me. Oh, boy. This is NOT going to be good!
“You didn’t win the competition.”
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
“But, I heard that you did pretty good. So, I want you to go again next month. And, this time you had better WIN!”
“But…”
(The LOOK.)
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
I went, and I won. The following month was the Battalion Soldier of the Quarter competition. I competed against other battalion soldiers of the month, including the soldier who had beat me. I won. Then there was Brigade Soldier of the Quarter, and finally, Infantry School Soldier of the Year.
When I went to receive the award, and had my picture taken for the base newspaper, my company First Sergeant, my company commander, officers and sergeants major from battalion and brigade, LTC Farris and other officers from the Management Committee, and COL Hoefling, and other officers from the Leadership Department went with me. As the Colonel presented the award, he said “who are all these people who you brought with you?” As you can see, we both had a good laugh.
One day I received a call that my company First Sergeant wanted to see me. I hated getting those calls! It usually meant guard duty, KP, or something else that wasn’t good.
If there had been a “who would you most like to share a foxhole with?” contest, then my company First Sergeant would have won hands down. He was a BIG man, 230+ lbs., without an ounce of fat on him. He was INTIMIDATING, and ALL business.
“I want you to represent the company in the battalion soldier of the month competition.”
“First Sergeant, I’m really busy at the Infantry School right now…”
“Tell it to the chaplain. You had better WIN.”
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
Not long after the competition (I lost) I got another call that the company First Sergeant wanted to see me. Oh, boy. This is NOT going to be good!
“You didn’t win the competition.”
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
“But, I heard that you did pretty good. So, I want you to go again next month. And, this time you had better WIN!”
“But…”
(The LOOK.)
“Yes, First Sergeant.”
I went, and I won. The following month was the Battalion Soldier of the Quarter competition. I competed against other battalion soldiers of the month, including the soldier who had beat me. I won. Then there was Brigade Soldier of the Quarter, and finally, Infantry School Soldier of the Year.
When I went to receive the award, and had my picture taken for the base newspaper, my company First Sergeant, my company commander, officers and sergeants major from battalion and brigade, LTC Farris and other officers from the Management Committee, and COL Hoefling, and other officers from the Leadership Department went with me. As the Colonel presented the award, he said “who are all these people who you brought with you?” As you can see, we both had a good laugh.
