Briefing nightmares. Ever have a PVT Murphy moment?

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 10:56:25 -0500

Back story: Yesterday I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to brief the Fort Hood Commanding General and all the subordinate Generals - on a plan that I championed to help improve personnel readiness.

No matter how many times you rehearse or how well you know the subject, without fail, something always goes wrong. What was my PVT Murphy moment? My slides were not properly cued up and with a room full of general officers, outlying division commanders, and Fort Hood senior staff officers; I had to start briefing my plan.

Those of you senior NCOs/officers know how it is. You script your brief based on the visuals on the slide. There I was, already nervous and trying to find my command voice as it slightly crackles, having to “rewrite” my brief as I went along. It turned into a narrative and storytelling session rather than a brief.

Finally, ¾ of the way through, my slides appear and I finish it out strong.

So, I thought of the senior leaders on RP and I ask, "any briefing nightmares come to life?"

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 7:59 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:59:13 -0500

Sounds like you recovered well, MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member. I had a moment something like that when I gave my very first SAEDA briefing, about 35 years ago. I was soooo nervous. There was no doubt it showed, and my nervousness overshadowed the important topic of SAEDA, now TARP. I have overcome that nervousness by now, but I'm still not a comfortable public speaker.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 9:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:13:13 -0500

When I was instructing cadets as Warrior Forge, we were using printed posters for outlining the main points. We teach outdoors under little camo net shelters and the posters are basically weatherproof, but not windproof.

In the middle of a class, the wind picked up my cards (and other groups as well) and took off. Luckily it was CBRN lanes and I was able to wing it. The rest of the training cycle proceeded with no cards and we had to have our instruction memorized.

Response by Sgt Michael Selbach made Feb 19 at 2015 12:30 AM

Sgt Michael Selbach — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:30:56 -0500

Once I found myself in a room ..I was a SGT. but everyone else was a Capt. or above I was scared but I told them what I thought and they all agreed what I was thinking so I felt a little better but I barfted after I left the room...so I'm not as cool as I thought I was