Is there someone in the military, past or present, who you could thank for shaping your military career?

MAJ David Vermillion — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 09:33:45 -0500

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 24 at 2016 9:37 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 09:37:02 -0500

and thanks for being your self... Happy Thanksgiving...

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Nov 24 at 2016 10:33 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 10:33:06 -0500

Hundreds of them, dare I say thousands..
I strived not to be like the bad ones, rise above the mediocre ones, and emulate the good ones.
Yes there were a few that stood out... Col John J. Ellis, Maj Richard Ince, Maj Brian Basset, CSM Franklin.. and a few who I would have happily punched in the throat that shall remain nameless.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2016 10:54 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 10:54:49 -0500

All of them. From the E-1 to the O-10, they all shaped my career.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 24 at 2016 2:21 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 14:21:16 -0500

Absolutely. My greatest mentor in the USAF - Lt Col Tom Freeman. He would always stop on a dime for any one of his troops seeking advice. The white board planning sessions we had after duty hours were awesome. I think he even had a roadmap to get me into the Shuttle's flight deck :) Can't thank him enough for his time and dedication to his LTS Rough Riders.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Nov 24 at 2016 5:22 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 17:22:23 -0500

Absolutely, sir!

There is my basic training instructor, TSgt Harriet McFadden who taught me I was capable of more than I thought. Then there was my first supervisor at my first duty station, SSgt John Griffin who taught me to reach beyond my limitations. And then there were all the troops under me who taught me what it meant to BE a leader.

Of course, there are also the individuals who taught me what NOT to be as a service member, NCO, and person. I won't call them out by name.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Nov 25 at 2016 12:08 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 12:08:32 -0500

I've had a couple of good drill sergeants, chain-of-command NCOs and an officer or two from my history I appreciate and respect, but there was one particular NCO I had that I hold in the highest regard--a platoon daddy--generally affable, but hard as stone when, not "if", you fucked up. And he could bring the pain when it was needed.

On the 1st day we were introduced to him as our new platoon sergeant, he smoked us for the entire work day. Outside in the motor pool. In the rare El Paso rain. All because he had been quietly observing us for the prior two weeks since he arrived at our company, but we were not made aware of who he was and the role he was to assume, and he believed our discipline was not where it should have been. From that point on we had clarity on two things: 1. He was in charge & 2. We needed to tighten up our discipline and bearing.

Despite what you saw on the surface from his old school infantry nature, you still knew with this guy it wasn't about some perverse enjoyment of what we were going through when we were being corrected. He was hard because he knew what right was, and he was going to make sure you knew it and that you would spread it.

I've known a few hard NCOs, some good and knowledgeable soldiers invested in their rolls as NCOs, but most of them frankly were just douche-bags with rank. Guys I'd enjoy meeting on the street now. But for the one who was hardest above all, I have nothing but respect and not only did I learn the most from him, but would thank him for being the boot in the ass when we needed it and the leader with purpose for us at all times. And though I don't feel right about publically naming him, I know he's still out there living life like the grunt he was born to be.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Nov 25 at 2016 12:15 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 12:15:29 -0500

Many, though due to C.R.A.F.T.(can't remember a freaking thing).
Names escape me.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Nov 26 at 2016 4:58 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 04:58:07 -0500

The one man that influenced Me the most was was a TSgt Samual Dickens, who was My supervisor at Hanscom AFB, MA in 1969-70 when I had returned from Viet Nam. The way He handled and respected His people, stood behind them and supported them, praise in public, if You messed up He never embarrassed You in front of Your peers. It would be taken care of and once corrected would never be mentioned again as long as it never happened again. He was very Military and squared away and as a result so were we. He formed a team and every man there could be counted upon to accomplish any of their tasks because they wanted to. I applied the way I operated Myself on the rise though the ranks in My own career based on what I learned from Him. as a final note TSgt Dickens retired from the USAF as a MSgt.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2016 12:03 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:03:30 -0500

MAJ David Vermillion My father served in WWII and Korea. He was killed in 1956 when his T-33 Shooting Star crashed on a training mission. I was seven at the time, but that started me on my eventual path. While I served, I observed the behavior of countless officers and enlisted men. I tried to emulate the best practices that I observed these men make. If you watch and listen to others, you can learn a lot.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 28 at 2016 9:10 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:10:49 -0500

First I would thank my younger brother for taking the leap and joining the military before me. I might have never considered it an option if it wasn't for him.
I'd thank my recruiter for taking a chance on an older recruit and setting me on the right path.
I'd thank my Drill Instructors for never giving up on me and molding me into the Marine I am today.
Then I would thank the NCOs and SNCOs and Officers who shaped me into the NCO I became.
Lastly I would thank every Junior Marine that was under my charge because you're not truly a leader until you've had someone to lead and while they may have done stupid stuff, they helped me develop as a leader.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 28 at 2016 12:40 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 12:40:44 -0500

LTC STEVEN HIEDECKER my old BN commander for letting control my own S2/INTEL shop and running with the ball getting the schools I needs to be successful in the ARMY and in the civilian sector as well. He truly knew the path for all us and knew that some of us had a world or life outside the ARMY and prep us for that, ensured we all had the right clearances and the right jobs when we were working for him. He took care of our families and ensure that our families were taken care of while we were deployed to Iraq. He works in the private sector now and has always said to us during his retirement speech, " a good 5 years it will take for you to settle down and find what your really looking for." and he was correct on that. He's the man who finished the mold and shaped me as senior leader, I never forget when I had to brief him on Power point presentation. I had every thing set up in the classroom and he walked in and said " brief me off your lap top with 5 minutes. I couldn't do it. He showed how to be prepared for the worst situation that you could encounter.

Smart Leader are Goble Leader I will never forget.