For years in both the military and police work I worked with folks who I’ll call “shooters.” These were the ones who when things got rough, they could go to guns, hands, or whatever, and get the job done.
Now days in both police work and the Army, it’s the computer geeks we need.
For my last “AT” with the Army National Guard, I was assigned a team of soldiers. I was given 7 young soldiers and a fairly new 2nd LT. The LT was good, but another team was short of folks so he wasn’t with us long. That was too bad, he was a good LT.
I had 7 young GOOD oldiers. The way they set up the teams, was the entire battalion plus our visitors from a few other states who came to play in this exercise, were in a giant room. They called out the team leaders--- having us stand up…then assigned our teams. We had absolutely no input or suggestions in this process, but I was very happy with my team. I only knew one of the soldiers on my team. That was not a problem, for in Iraq, I had a mix of Regular Army, Reserves and National Guard on my team...and worked with Marines and Navy folks a few times. One goal- get it done.
The first thing I did after brief introductions was not to ask who could shoot and stuff like that, but I asked: “who’s the computer geeks?”
My last team...one had KP this day.
Two hands slowly went up. Then I explained what we’d need to do to network out teams’ computers with each other, then with a bigger internal network.
This was something I had been trained to do back in 2003, but I would have had to take out a manual and scratch my head a lot to actually do it. Whereas a true computer geek can do shit like this in a few minutes. (One of my sons would have been handy to have).
After we had the computer geeks established, then I asked about experience at doing the stuff we were going to go through an exercise on. I had one soldier who’d actually really done this stuff, so I got to help train the rest and teach the experienced guy a few tricks.
It was good. I know I can retire knowing that there will be good soldiers to carry on our job- Mess Kit Repair.
We have the same sort of problems in police work…they put computers in the patrol cars, we write all our reports on computers…so it’s not the cops who can shoot and stuff that we need around, but the computer geeks who know how to re-boot that computer in the trunk of the car on graveyard.
What’s the world coming to?
8 comments:
I wonder the same sometimes, but I do have faith in our young men, and as long as we properly give them the leadership guidance you provide, it will only get better.Peace.
Out with the old and in with the new...as it has been since time immortal. But the new this time had a good man to transition them. Good job, Dude.
Technology is fun. Cool toys are definitely a perk of the job.
I'm with Coffeypot. Good job! Not a fan of all the gunk in our cars, either. I'd like to go back to radio only and paper. Well, maybe the computers are nice for writing reports...
King, yep! In all my years of Army service, I never minded being in shit, but I did mind bad leaders.
CP, yep,
Sak, free weapons and ammo were the best perks.
MF, I got spoiled having the computer in the patrol car...when it worked, I didn't have to try to drive and write shit down...we can also get pictures of suspects, missing kids etc right to the car in minutes.
They don't let me use weapons much, though. I have an office job, with lots of high-tech gadgets to play with and break.
Saker, sometimes some soldiers may forget...but all soldiers are "Riflemen". The Marines instill this concept into all Marines, but the Army seems to have forgotten.
To become better and get to play with weapons more often, "volunteer" to help run the ranges for your unit. This is the best way to get more hands on shooting and learn to shoot better.
Hah, I do. I'm the "ammo SPC". Going to help with a .249 range on Monday. They just won't let me shoot. If it were an M16 range, I'd just bring mine along and shoot for practice when it's slow. That's what I did last time.
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