Freedom Mortgage’s Post

As a three-time CoS (2 yrs 2nd Infantry Division - Korea, 2 yrs Eighth Army (Official) and as XO/assistant to US Army TRADOC CoS) this book struck me as an accurate assessment of the role. Though the scope of my experiences could not match the incredible magnitude of WH CoS, the processes, roles and functions were quite familiar. The CoS, in civilian or military context, helps frame decisions, preserves the leader’s time for things that matter, act as honest broker, integrate and lead a staff. The measure of a staff’s functionality, effectiveness and efficiency usually turns to how well the Chief is doing his or her job. My TOP quote: “The people who don’t succeed as White House Chief of Staff are people who like the ‘Chief’ part of the job and not the ‘staff’ part. You’ve got to remember you’re staff even though you’re powerful.” (Jim Baker, CoS to Ronald Reagan) U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) | The Army University | U.S. Army Combined Arms Center | Army University Press

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): If you still represent yourself as a military member after retirement, act like it! CCM(Ret): What does that mean? While I normally will post about leadership, agriculture, education, military/veterans and other items of professional interest, today I’m pointing out a problem I’ve noticed, and I hope that together as #Veterans we can address it politely and properly.  Those who have chosen to use their last held military rank with (Ret) after it and even continue to use their military photo as their profile – I have no issue here and respect your service, as I hope you respect mine (as a retired Command Chief Master Sergeant and former public-school educator). However, if you do choose to use your military photo and/or rank in your profile, use discretion: You’re still representing your branch of service to the public. This should come with a measured approach to all reposts and comments you personally contribute to our online community. Someone with their RANK(ret) in their profile referring to the current President as a nickname derived from a NASCAR chant (I just saw this over the weekend) is not only improper, but it also degrades the public's trust and is disrespecting the uniform you choose to continue to present yourself in. Regardless of the rank you earned; you, my former colleagues, should take care when posting about the current, or former Commander in Chief or even candidates for public office. If you still represent yourself as a part of the United States Military: Act like it or change your profile! Honor and Integrity don't evaporate when you retire. I continue to work each day to live up to my core values, even though I am now USAF, retired. Please join me in keeping the public trust. #retwithhonor United States Air Force US Army United States Marine Corps US Navy United States Space Force Air National Guard Army National Guard U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) American Legion

Pick up a paperback copy at Goodreads for $25 or, if you don't mind me shipping it a little slower, get it for $18 through my blog site EnlistedRecords.org. The ebook version is below for $2.50.

do this

When I think of David Goggins I think of myself at my very weakest. And a man I didn't know could even exist... appeared. And screamed at me with words on a page. To be better. Do better. Dream more. To drink his suffering and become a better person. The way he describes his upbringing made me tougher and more resilient. I am not a black American. But my God David Goggins screamed at me like I knew his pain. And the way he described his life? I was totally defenceless. Disarmed. How can anyone not be? Read Can't Hurt Me and try not to feel. It's not possible. That book breaks you down. Patience. Consistency. Discipline. When I think about what it takes to be great? At playing the violin, or studying until 5am at the library - or recording an album until everyone involved is falling asleep and one of us might crash the car on the way home. These are the three key ingredients. No mentor worth their salt is about breaking you down without building you right back up and turning you into an invincible war machine of a person. And that's what David Goggins does. I am glad to have met a few women who have learned David's message because I would like to think it's for everyone. The kind of patience David cultivates? Unbeatable. And, the very same patience all of my favourite artists have. From the Russian violinist David Oistrakh to Charlie Chaplin - to our era's reigning pop queen Taylor Alison Swift. Watch their patience. It is endless. Mine too. Consistency? Have you heard Larry David talk about his writing process for Seinfeld? He would literally RUN back to his office to make changes. Me too. After I heard that? Naturally. Why wouldn't I? He's my hero. Have you heard Jerry talk about how long it takes to craft his famously streamlined and perfectly conceived jokes? He is a social scientist; the most scientific comic of all time. His deconstructions of processes were the very basis for the inception of Seinfeld. At least, the very way he and Larry would deconstruct the ideas of items in a Korean supermarket in an amusing way. The nuts and bolts of things: amusing fact and theory and query by amusing fact and theory and query. How about Paul McCartney's recording process when he was in the Beatles? So gruelling it pissed off the other Beatles. Even John. No one in the Beatles cared as much as Paul about process. So? Incidentally, he was the first billionaire musician ever. Incidentally.... Discipline. Do you know who has energy for bullshit? Undisciplined people. Me when I'm undisciplined. You when you're undisciplined. Anyone. 'Idle hands' have the WORST reputation of any hands in all of human history. Why? Guess. Alcoholics need someone to scream and screech at. So do lazy people who expect wild and instant success. So do artists with no gumption. And accountants with no drive! But truly. You need discipline to practice, compose, record, release, tour, interview and repeat. Watch carefully. The most successful don't complain.

"Ranger smash!" I heard this often in the 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army, an elite #Infantry unit that values strength and aggression. After all, the main point of the organization is to break things and people. Sometimes that strength and aggression results in things being broken that shouldn't be. That was considered acceptable, and even laudable. "Ranger smash" alludes to the Incredible Hulk and refers to the tendency of Rangers to apply their strength and aggression enthusiastically, breaking things that may or may not need to be broken. Most civilian jobs don't value Rangers' destructive tendencies quite the same way, but sometimes breaking things can be good for your organization. Most companies have policies, procedures, and even strategies that could use an enthusiastic application of "Ranger smash." You might not be a #Ranger, but don't be afraid to follow Rangers' example in moving fast and breaking things. #hirearanger

THIS. Quality of life (especially after military service) is worth what's worth to the individual. To some, it's worth $100k+++, to others, not so much. Both answers are right. There is always ways to make $100K++ on the outside of a military career. The question is - "What am I willing to sacrifice to get X salary?" Sometimes it is very little - an overnight trip once and a while. Maybe longer hours. If someone wants to make $160+ as a management consultant in year one - it is possible. But you'll be working your ass off - 60, 70, 80 hours per week. You'll become a super platinum double diamond member of every travel perk and know the best restaurants. But.... How much is being home for birthdays, holidays and other life events worth? Only you know the answer.

A former Air Force staff sergeant was earning $325K a year & a former Army sergeant major was earning $65K a year, which one was better off? See below. Career Wellbeing & Financial Wellbeing are based on more than titles and amounts of money—this post offers an example of how your personal priorities/meaning/timing determines what success looks like. Thanks for sharing Matt Quick. #wellbeing #warriorwellbeing

I’m quite amused when people still in the US Army, retirees, or #Veterans; assume that just because I have a DD214, I have an obligation to carry water for the Army & automatically encourage people to join.   After nearly 20 years between the United States Army Reserve & Army National Guard, I obviously have my own subjective opinions. Those stem both from my extraordinarily boring & profoundly disappointing experience in institutions I have come to see as morally & intellectually bankrupt, and mostly led by technically & tactically incompetent bureaucrats in uniform. It is also profoundly influenced by my heavily Existentialist/Absurdist-based #Philosophy & belief we should perpetually strive for intellectual honesty & accept life for what it is.   As I’ve said many times, the United States Department of Defense is primarily a #Government #Jobs & benefits distribution program, which caters much more to the needs to an entrenched bureaucracy & military-industrial complex, than anything related to warfighting. A Potemkin Village of combat readiness is much more important to the organization than grappling with the profound difficulties of #Warfare.   This stems not from “bad” people willfully doing “bad” things, but rather because people in the military are rational actors. All the organizational incentives are for them to apply their intelligence & education towards advancing in the organization. Advancing in the organization means perpetually making your boss happy, telling them what they want to hear & at least pretending to drink the Kool-Aid.   Expecting people who have given their heart & soul, investing so much in an organization to admit it is a profoundly flawed institution, isn’t very realistic. Comforting delusions of a black & white world are much easier to live with; than the cruelly harsh, irrational & contradictory shades of gray the world is.   Yet that doesn’t mean the #Military isn’t worth joining. I would never have made it as an #Entrepreneur without the planning skills I learned at Armor OBC & the brutal truths about perseverance I learned at United States Army Ranger School. I’ve also made some of the best friends one could ever ask for in the #Army. I’ve never regretted joining. I regret sticking around.   My primary complaint with the US military isn’t that it’s flawed. It’s that it wishes to pretend it’s a Colossus of Rhodes towering above the petty squabbles of society & lives by values it clearly doesn’t give a damn about. It’s no different than any other human organization full of fundamentally flawed humans, perpetually making flawed decisions.   There’s plenty of great reasons to join, just as there’s plenty of reasons to join another service, or to not join the military at all. It’s a subjective decision for each person to arrive at on their own. But if someone does join, they should enter the organization fully aware they are much more likely to experience life imitating art of Catch-22, than Band-of-Brothers.

Imagine getting out of the #military in 2010 and being told by a male counterpart (shipmate) that you would be NOTHING without the military so just stay. I declined. You see, when I set my mind on something, nothing any physical person can say will deter my thoughts and actions. I have always believed I would be successful after leaving the uniform because the military provided me such a great platform and start to being organized, functional through chaotic times and assertive. Tell me that isn't a combination for success! This is what I want to instill in other #womenveterans. Creating successful lives through their careers even when no one else believes they are capable of doing so. Whether I complete this one-on-one or in a small or large group setting, my goal is to empower each woman veteran beyond the negative comments and phases of uncertainty. I am the example for all women who have transitioned from the military successfully! #leadership #employeerelations #adbrownconsults #alishadbrown #speaker