• The U.S. Army: Opportunity for a Dynamic Life

  October 31, 2011

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  Tags:  

  Education   life   army-rotc   adventure   training   diversity     

       Of all occupations available to the American public, the U.S. Army provides one of the most dynamic opportunities to live, learn, and lead. I am currently a U.S. Army Major serving as a student in the Army's Command & General Staff College at the Ft. Belvoir, VA campus. After almost 20 years of service as both an enlisted Combat Engineer and now as an officer, the Army has transformed me from a shy teenager to a confident, well-educated, and experienced leader of people and organizations. 
       Behind this personal transformation is the depth of Army experiences that provide unique perspectives from traveling, living, and fighting our nation's wars abroad. This experience gained over time develops people skills, organizational management abilities, cultural awareness, a keen idea of how great our nation is and as a result, how top-notch the U.S. Army is in comparison with others around the world. With duty all over the U.S. to include Alaska and Hawaii, a tour overseas in Germany and three combat deployments to Desert Shield/Storm, OEF, and OIF, my life has been an adventure, courtesy of the U.S. Army.
       Learning is another key benefit and advantage of service in the U.S. Army. From professional development to higher learning in civilian academia, the Army offers educational opportunities unrivaled in most professions. I trace my professional development back to the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) in 1993, Airborne School, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC) in 1996, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) between 1997 to 2000, Officer Basic Course, Captains Career Course in 2005, Air Assault School, and finally to the present in the Command & General Staff College. This wealth of training, education, and development at the professional level is unprecedented in other organizations and has provided me the confidence and skills I've needed to face the multitude of challenges over a long and successful career. Additionally, the Army has afforded me the opportunity to earn a Bachelors and a Masters degree, which has enhanced my career in the Army and will continue to serve me well beyond my uniformed service. Other educational benefits such as the GI Bill and Tuition Assistance have further aided in higher education goals for my family and I.
       Finally, few organizations or professions develop the art of leadership like the Army. My leadership skills, whether they be learned, experiential, or inherent have been honed through a long Army career of practice and learning. Jobs that I’ve held in the past such as squad leader, primary staff officer, and commander offer unique opportunities to lead people and manage resources under challenging environments to “be all that I could be.” In fact, since the Army is truly a microcosm of America with all its diversity, the resultant leadership produced is often well-balanced with resiliency, understanding, trust, fairness, and a blend of applied leadership techniques that adapt to meet changing environments and requirements.
       Life in the Army is not for those who fear challenges or moving beyond their comfort zones. It is for those who seek an exciting adventure of travel, learning, and leading unmatched by other organizations. I am truly honored to serve this nation in the U.S. Army.

   

  MAJ Stephen Skells
  Student, Command & General Staff College
  Ft. Belvoir Campus, Virginia

  The views expressed here are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
  

  submitted by Major Stephen Skells on Oct 31 2011

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