Corps of Engineers - Army Strong Stories

Army Lineage: Where the National Guard Always Wins

Jonathan Bratten — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:13:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

Task Force Maine: Mainers in the Green Mountains

Jonathan Bratten — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:54:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

My MTV Tr3s ShooT PART 1

Richard Gomez — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:29:00 GMT

By: Richard Gomez
Last week MTV Tre3s did a shoot for the campaign Agentes de Cambio or Agents of Change. What a great experience! I was very honored to be considered for this role but I didnt know really what I was being interviewed for. They told me CPT Gomez you are an agent of change you give young people opportunities they didnt have before. My jaw dropped, I was truly humbled. MTF....MORE TO FOLLOW...read more

Toxic Leaders and Changing Our Evaluation System

Frank Tedeschi — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:11:00 GMT

By: Frank Tedeschi
No system is perfect, but Army evaluations primarily reward short-term success. Instituting or continuing programs and practices that promote the long-term health of our Army just does not get rewarded, unless it fits neatly into a rating period. The exception to this rule is self-satisfaction and the gratitude of our Soldiers. It takes a lot of effort (usually unrecognized) to provide quality, rather than just amass a laundry list of “check the block” in the areas of...read more

The Army's Comic-Con: The Conference of Army Historians

Jonathan Bratten — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:48:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

Family Strong: An American Legacy

Jonathan Bratten — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:26:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

LULAC Conference 2011 Cincinnati, Ohio

Lee Ferguson — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:14:00 GMT

By: Lee Ferguson
Yesterday I was privileged to be a part of the 2011 LULAC Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. I had the opportunity to inform young adults and parents about what ROTC can provide to a college student while they are obtaining there degree, whether that be an undergraduate or graduate degree. I was able to meet various organizational leaders within the Latin American Community as well as the Commanding General from US Army Cadet Command, Major General Mark McDonald. I look forward to the next three...read more

What kind of leader are you?!

Alec MacDougall — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:50:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
Just a few days ago I received the following message that really made me feel proud. "Drill sergeant macdougall! I never got the chance to thank you after graduation for being such a great instructor and leader! I know I wasn't the best in basic but I am here at Fort Bragg now and just keepin after it and team leaders and such say that I'm one of the best in the platoon and they wish they could have at least one squad full of guys like me.....and I tell them its cuz of 2...read more

We Own this Month: Petition to Rename June "The Army's Month."

Jonathan Bratten — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:22:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

For Everything there is a Season: Memorial Day, 2011

Jonathan Bratten — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:45:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

Indianapolis 500

Alec MacDougall — Sun, 29 May 2011 20:50:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
Over the past three days Indianapolis has been a mad house with anticipation of the Indy 500. This is the largest race event in the United States drawing in about 400,000 spectators this year. CRAZINESS!! My hotel was about five miles from the track and it took over four hours to get there, and I took off at 4am. The following that this sport has just astounds me. I participate in NHRA Top Fuel events as well as NASCAR and they have nothing on this. I can honestly say that one...read more

Be a Symbol of Strength

Alec MacDougall — Sat, 21 May 2011 20:52:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
Over my last eight years in the Army I have learned an insurmountable number of things. From the skills I gained during BCT, AIT, specialized schools, college, or on the job training, I have found none that are more rewarding than training a young Soldier. I can remember looking at my Drill Sergeants many years ago and hoping that one day I would be able to emulate their professionalism and life knowledge. They were like a pot of gold that couldn't be tarnished. Their word was law...read more

"That I Take this Obligation Freely..."

Jonathan Bratten — Tue, 17 May 2011 05:05:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
"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

Solar power racing

Alec MacDougall — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:16:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
This past week I traveled to Orlando where I was at the national DECA convention. After that concluded I headed 80 miles down the road to Lakeside where I got to spend the day with three JROTC classes. Over the peroid of an hour we had the opportunity to talk about military customs, bearing, and all the advantages of joining the military. My battle buddy DS Raby even gave them a taste of how a DS is in their natural environment. I think some of the kids actually got scared for a moment....it...read more

Reenlist?

Alec MacDougall — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:54:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
So It has come to that time again....the decision to stay in or get out. When I began to think about my options for a mid-career enlistment I realized it wasn't much of a choice at all. I am currently 25 years old, deployed multiple times, been to countless military schools, attend college, own two vehicles, own a house, have full health coverage, free gym membership, don't have to pay state taxes, get a discount at Lowes (my favorite perk of all), have a steady income, get to travel...read more

A Night to Remember

Jonathan Bratten — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:50:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

Drill Sergeant at DECA in Orlando

Alec MacDougall — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:54:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
Hey readers! I am at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida for the National DECA convention. The Army has a booth set up to not only test the mental strength of the Students but also their physical capabilities. They are here to compete against students from all across the country. In the Army zone we are explaining the countless opportunities our military offers to civilians that want to be a part of an all volunteer Army. Its amazing how motivated some of these kids are to...read more

Drill Sergeant in Minnesota

Alec MacDougall — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:54:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
A Drill Sergeant in Minnesota?!?! You bet! As a member of the Drill Sergeant Exhibitor Program I spent last week in the frigid cold north conducting PT with a few high schools around the state. And let me begin by saying the Minnesota has the physical education program figured out. There were a few class I had that were equipped with heart monitors. Students could track their progress through out the school year and see how various exercises affected them. As a physically fit Soldier I...read more

The Bigger Picture

Jonathan Bratten — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:14:00 GMT

By: Jonathan Bratten
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

Drill Sergeant Exhibitor Program

Alec MacDougall — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:11:00 GMT

By: Alec MacDougall
In mid Feburary I was selected to be a member of the Drill Sergeant Exhibitor Program. If you ask most Drill sergeants about this program they probably wouldn't be able to describe what this job entails. I am one of seven Soldiers in the entire Army who is currently participating in this program. So what is this great job your probably asking. I basically travel around the country and tell high school students, adults, seniors, and anyone who is interested in listening, my...read more