They say everything you need to know in terms of principles; you learned in Kindergarten. This may be true but the application of that knowledge typically happens at different times in your life and with the help of another person (a guide). For me, this happened when I was 22, as a communications Platoon Leader in Germany under the direction of my Platoon Sergeant, JB. So as the story progresses, you will understand that everything I needed to know about being an Officer in principle I learned from Jimmy B.

JB was my guide for 2 years before we departed and on an in frequent basis we talk as I tracked him down a few years ago. Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) are the heart and soul of our Army and like Sergeant First Class Jimmy B, have had a profound impact on my life as an Officer and individual. In fact so much that I have been promoted by an NCO in all of my promotions. You can say that I am more a product of the NCO Corps than the Officer Corps from my birth in ROTC to now. Jimmy B and I were as different as could be. Small town vs. City; age, demographics, etc. yet, we had one big thing in common: Mission first, People always. I grew up fast because he threw things at me fast. He told me once, that I cannot train you to be a Platoon Leader or Lieutenant, you are already that, but I can train you to be a Commander and prepare you for what you will be 4 years from now. And so the journey began......

We at times argued about path forward in private but were seen inseparable once the details were discussed. He made things look easy and with over 20-years experience, I would expect nothing else. Some key things he told me that still stick in my head: 1) have vision, look out beyond what you can see, 2) allow people to grow and the flexibility to fail and succeed, 3) learning is by doing and presenting opportunities (everyone came into the Army to succeed), 4) build momentum and leverage people and past experiences to get things done, and 5) do what is right even if not popular or someone looking. One day, I realized that Jimmy B was no longer taking formations and he was in back of the platoon with me and I asked why are you not taking formations any more. He said "how is the Staff Sergeant going to learn and will he be ready when promoted?" He made a great point and by doing this, the Staff Sergeant had to turn over his duties to the next rank and so on. Funny thing, when you get promoted, no one wants to hear that you are not ready for that rank. So Jimmy B, created an alternate universe in which, everyone worked one and two level up all of the time. The result was a platoon, that was flexible and able to absorb shock if something happened and not that I believe in crystal ball forecasting, but Jimmy B must of saw something coming because one day we were tested in which Jimmy B had to leave us to attend a family situation back in the states (never to return). At the time we were out in the field and when I called the Staff Sergeant to tell him: you are in charge; the platoon didn't skip a beat. We absorbed the shock and moved on.

The connections and relationships I had after Jimmy B were enhanced by that first experience with him. I can still hear his voice as he often said, "let me holler at you." The Army is a large organization which can be overwhelming to a certain degree but the real jewel happens at the individual level: where team work is a core motto, where handshakes and salutes generate a feeling of tradition and camaraderie, where motivation, spirit and honor are developed, and life-time relationships are formed based on not just principles and necessity but because the Army is about PEOPLE and the MISSIONS we accomplish.