U.S. European Command’s Post

Maj Gen Roberson visited 7th Special Forces Group September 2022. During a town hall meeting, I pointed out the CDC recently stated there is no distinction between how vaxxed & unvaxxed individuals should be treated & that my religious exemption had been pending for a year. I then asked if there is any talk of removing the mandate. He responded, “have you heard of Novavax?,” to which I said, “yes sir, it uses aborted fetal cells too.” He seemed flustered at my retort. This led to a long answer on how if the US Army asks you to do something you should do it. That he doesn’t want to kick anyone out but will. That the Army is trying to find a middle ground with Novavax so the unvaxxed should take it. After that conversation I decided to leave the Army rather than wait for my exemption to get denied & risk receiving a less than honorable discharge. Even though MG Roberson probably had an amazing career for which I’m grateful, his response is indicative of careerism & moral weakness at the flag officer level. Generals facilitated in discharging & forcing out tens of thousands of service members & pushed an experimental drug after it had been shown to cause negative side effects. (See Karolina Stancik & Drew Outstanding) I ask that House Armer Services Committee Republicans hold a series of hearings to point out & fix problems from the VAX mandate & ensure it never happens again. DoD leaders should also take a hard look in the mirror to assess their part in this debacle that continues to weaken the force. Finally, please sign the DMA petition if you believe these leaders must be held accountable. Militaryaccountability.com

Happy Birthday Aaron, George, and Ronald! February 6th is the birthday of three well-known figures in American history: - Aaron Burr (1756) - George “Babe” Ruth (1895) - Ronald Reagan (1911) One item most don’t realize they have in common is military service. Burr – thanks to the Broadway hit, we remember he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Often forgotten is his service in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. If today’s rules were in effect then, he would qualify as a #Veteran. Ruth – best remembered for his home runs as a member of the Evil Empire (I mean New York Yankees), he also was a member of the NY National Guard. Ruth enlisted in the 104th Field Artillery Regiment in May 1924. Other than ceremonial appearances, it’s not clear he did enough to technically qualify as a #Veteran. Reagan – actor and two-term President, Reagan served in the Army during WWII, earning #Veteran status. Primarily serving in public affairs, he completed his service as a Captain. As Commander-in-Chief, Reagan signed the law elevating the Veterans Administration to a Cabinet-level department in the federal government on October 25, 1988. Implementation was delayed until March 1989, so the next President – Navy Veteran George H.W. Bush – could nominate the first Secretary. Best wishes to all the Veterans who celebrated their birthday yesterday. You’re in good company. #VHV | Veterans Helping Veterans #Happiness #Future

I highly recommend accessing these and seeing what our competitive writters are writting about, how they are writting, and consider what your topic would be for next year. Just doing the first two will make you better in your profession. What topics are we missing?

As far as commander auto-biographies go, this one is top notch. As an author, #Ridgway skillfully conveys his perspective as commander of the 8th Army, U.S. Army, and later as commander of United Nations Command. Perhaps the most value is found in the final two chapters, which detail his reflections on the war, civ-mil relations, and the search for peace. #KoreanWar #history #PME #ReadFightWin

LTG Jensen, director of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) #amsp alum, shares his thoughts on command and the role of the National Guard in today's Army. Kudos to a couple of our resident National Guardsmen Jesse Valles and Russ McKelvey for hosting a great #oparch show! A few thoughts that stuck with me: (1) Solve problems at your echelon. This means enabling the headquarters below you and understanding the mission of your higher headquarters to be at the right place, time and with the right capability to help them win. (2) Every component has a role (Active, Guard, Reserve). Be clear on expectations and invest the resources to ensure you get the right capabilities in the time you need them. (3) Mobilization - it's hard on paper, harder to imagine what it will be like in "real life". We won't know unless we rehearse. The Army University | U.S. Army Combined Arms Center | US Army TRADOC | Marshall Scholars at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies | Harding Project https://lnkd.in/gk58Hwau

As we commemorate Women's History Month, it is fitting to spotlight remarkable women who defied societal norms of their time and shattered barriers in pursuing military ambitions. There is the story of the US Army soldier, Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier. Then there is U.S. Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the first female four-star general. And there is Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne Bass, the first female Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force. Through their extraordinary stories, we glimpse not only the struggles faced by women in traditionally male-dominated fields but also the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. But once we commemorate “the firsts,” where do we go from here? How do I, a senior leader build and continue the work for the future? We continue the work of forging resilience, leading with purpose, and trailblazing for the next generation. We also tell stories of our own journey. For the full story: https://bit.ly/3VM22Yh. #Military #Army #ArmyReserve

We need change

🇺🇸 From the battlefield to the boardroom, these distinguished individuals are pursuing a new mission. Yesterday, I had the honor of discussing the U.S. military veteran’s journey from the military sector to the civilian sector with Joshua Galle, SHRM-SCP and Bill Reed, two veterans who've navigated these waters. Joshua is a former combat Marine and Bill a former Navy diver. I have provided a link to the discussion in the comment section. The occasional stigma surrounding veterans in the civilian workforce is unfortunate; and  unwarranted. 🌟 Veterans bring unparalleled qualities to the table – resilience, leadership, and a mission-focused mindset. Yet, misconceptions linger. The belief that veterans are too rigid or face potential challenges like PTSD overshadows their vast potential. This isn't just a loss for veterans; it's a missed opportunity for businesses. It's time we shift our perceptions and fully integrate these exceptional individuals into our corporate landscapes. After all, if they can lead missions in uncertain terrains, imagine what they can achieve in our organizations. #MilitaryVeterans #MilitaryTransition #MilitaryToCivilian #MilitaryFamilies Steve Doolittle Bradley Blakeman Gavin Naples aryeh katz Roger Brown Jim Whaley David Carnahan MD MSCE Doug "Odie" Slocum Omar Fuentes, CSPO®, CSM® John Stapleton, MBA, CMPE Michelle Mullany Eric Gardner Sonya Ziegler Meline

"Resilient" is probably the most accurate word to describe this bunch of teens. Military kids don't choose their lifestyle, but they can make the active choice to get involved with their communities and make a difference. They're team captains, volunteers, club founders, and world travelers. Meet the winners in the link below and learn more about our Military Child of the Year Awards!