I believe most military personnel would agree when I say that competition is at the heart of the American military. We love it. Just look at the Army-Navy football game every year and you get a slight taste of it. Each arm of the services tries to outdo the other. Every branch of the Army competes vigorously for bragging rights. When I was in the Infantry, I was told that the pecking order went Special Forces, Rangers, Infantry, and then...read more

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When Tropical Storm Irene blew through New England, I was driving back to Maine from Canada. That should already show the faith I have that the weather forecasts will always be wrong. Aside from the gusts of wind that took a few power lines down in the road and the torrential downpour that we hit in northern Maine, the trip was fairly uneventful. By the time we reached Portland, the rain had stopped and the storm showed signs of leaving for good. I...read more

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As thousands of comic book and fantasy fans were flocking to the annual Comic-Con Convention in California this month, a much smaller, but perhaps more devoted, crowd headed to Arlington, Virginia for the annual Conference of Army Historians. Like their counterparts in California, attendees of the CAH talked shop, debated hot topics (Pontiac's War in 1763: rebellion or insurgency?), and drank large quantities of coffee. Many of the attendees were...read more

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When people ask me, "Why did you join the Army?" I find that the only response is, "Please pull up a chair, this is going to take a while." Because there is no short answer for joining the military. Every person has their own reasons. For many, including myself, 9/11 was a big factor. Others see it as a way to advance themselves, give themselves discipline, or gain financial stability. As for me, it was a combination of all...read more

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OK, so I lied. There is no petition. If there were, who would it go to? I doubt whether the naming of months falls under Congress's enumerated powers given by the Constitution. But now that I have your attention, I would like to persuade you of the validity of my argument. June is a month full of milestones for the Army. The month of July seems to always be lauded as that month where...read more

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As I write this, it is almost a week since Memorial Day. It has taken me this long to be able to put into words the way that Memorial Day now effects me. I am torn between wanting everyone to stop and remember those who were lost or to instead go about their holiday, enjoying their lives for those who cannot. For myself, I had to work this past Memorial Day and so could not really do either of those. I instead chose to spend the day remembering...read more

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"I, Jonathan David Bratten, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of second lieutenant do solemnly swear..." As much as one trains, prepares, and looks forward to one moment, it can always take you by surprise. I had expected to be nervous as I walked up to take the oath, but I did not expect how the oath itself would effect...read more

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For every generation, there are defining moments that unite us in time. My generation and its future has been defined by a September day of crystal blue skies, when we watched in horror as our peaceful world ended, being torn in two by the ideas of a fanatical ideologue. On that day, I remember leaving my house to escape the scenes on the television and laying in the grass, looking up at the sky empty of contrails. It was a new world. I...read more

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One of the things that our Professor of Military Science always tells cadets to encourage them to stay in the program is that at least when they graduate they will have jobs. With the economy looking like a racehorse reluctant to leave the stable, this is always a good recruiting and retention point. And then Sec. Gates gave his West Point speech back in February that made people who had decided to go Guard/Reserve happier with their career choice....read more

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Cadidiot. Dot. Almost-LT. I think every cadet, whether in the Guard/Reserve or not, has heard these phrases before. They are meant to be humorous, and come from enlisted and officers alike. It is part of the good-natured ribbing that is part of the Army experience. It even can come from ROTC cadre; if not the words themselves, then the implications that...read more

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