Can you name that teacher/leader/mentor that taught you confidence?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:45:39 -0400

Think back, there is usually at least one person that taught you to be confidence. That one person that made you believe that you could be more than what you think you are.

That person that inspires your self confidence is a name that you likely will carry with you for your entire life.

Moving to now, don't YOU want to be that person that someone remembers 10,20, 50 years from now as the person that inspired them to be more than what they where?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 25 at 2015 12:47 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:47:32 -0400

There's a lot of them. One of the early good ones was (then) Captain James Koehler. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 12:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:54:38 -0400

I have a few:

MAJ (RET) James Thompson...Vietnam Vet Cobra Pilot....RIP SIR

SFC (RET) Cliff Totten....Vietnam Vet...Infantry and MP....Bronze Star

CSM Terrance Murphy....CSM of the Engineer School at FLW

These three inspired me the most

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Mar 25 at 2015 12:54 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:54:53 -0400

For me, in high school it was MAJ Jan Mueller, USA (Ret). In the AF, it was then MSgt Scott Hunter (now SMSgt, Ret). I was an A1C. They both inspired me to be in different ways both personally and professional.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 12:56 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:56:23 -0400

Admiral Mike Boorda

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 12:59 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:59:51 -0400

Col (R) Helen Davis, USAF.

She was PARAMOUNT to my success. She is pulling her Service Dress out of mothballs and coming down to pin on my Chief in June. I can think of no one else that could honor me on that day. :)

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 1:16 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:16:18 -0400

TSgt Joshua Copeland Mine was a Flight Chief who always challenged me but the confidence building was to write in a SSgt EPR that I would be a CMSgt one day. I still look at that EPR for the confidence someone had in me. A second was a CMSgt that gave me a SMSgt coin as a MSgt because she thought I was filling the role already and would be promoted.

I have tried to pay it forward. For instance when I put in SMSgt I cut the MSgt stripes off 2 uniforms and gave a pair each to 2 TSgt that I thought would be great SNCOs. I also took the SMSgt coin that was given to me and passed it along to another MSgt I believed would be a great SMSgt.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 25 at 2015 1:28 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:28:11 -0400

Glen Amsberry
1980-1984
High school auto shop teacher
He taught us to be humble and confident
Always try and never quit

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 25 at 2015 1:30 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:30:07 -0400

Both the above gentlemen have had a lasting effect on my military career over the last few years. I have learned much from them both about being an upstanding officer and to think before I act, to take care of my soldiers and count on my NCOs to support and assist me, to support my chain of command in all that they require of me or need.

I also had a mentor civilian side who was a college professor of mine. I still keep in contact with him and he taught me to challenge the status quo on thought, even if it could be seen as unpopular. His name is Dr. Steven Lichtman and is an associate Professor of Political Science at Shippensburg University.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 3:01 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:01:03 -0400

Army side: Drill Sgt James Barkley Ft McClellan, 1986. He taught me that when I put my mind to it I can do anything. He taught me that strength of the mind can be far stronger that strength of the body. He instilled in me a sense of pride and discipline that I draw upon to this very day.

Civilian side: Chuck Siebrasse. He was like a second father to me. He was a Vietnam veteran, businessman, and community leader. When I had my business and was on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, he was the Executive Director of the Chamber, recommended me for the board and mentored me. He taught me the spirit of community, giving, and selflessness. He passed away two weeks after my father did in 2009 and I mourn them both equally.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2015 5:00 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:00:35 -0400

I have to give this one to my JROTC junior instructor, Sergeant Major Word. He inspired me to follow through on my dream of being a Marine and I'll never forget that.

Response by MSG Brian Breaker made Mar 27 at 2015 8:53 AM

MSG Brian Breaker — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 08:53:48 -0400

The one that sticks out in my mind is then SGT Carl Fagan. He was my squad leader when prior to my first deployment. He pushed me to become a leader without the stripes. To this day I remember the conversation when he asked was I afraid of leaderhip. I told him HELL NO! His response was show me.