Sit down with any General you want...

2013-11-26T17:41:56-05:00

I had the awesome opportunity to be in a group that the MCoE General spoke too. We were able to ask him anything we wanted and we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge. I can say I am a better leader and officer for it.

If you had a chance to sit down with any General or Admiral you could who would it be and why?

I would really like to speak to Gen. Franks and Gen. McCrystal. They both dealt with a very adverse situation and both had difficulties that they didn't seem to plan for.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 26 at 2013 7:48 PM

2013-11-26T19:48:41-05:00

General George Washington just so I could get his coin and slam it on the table at my next dining in. BAM...mind blown.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 4 at 2014 6:39 PM

2014-09-04T18:39:10-04:00

Gen Norman Schwartzkopf

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 4 at 2014 7:03 PM

2014-09-04T19:03:40-04:00

BG Chuck Yeager - I want to know about his need for speed

BG Paul Tibbets - What was it like knowing what you did and the mission.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 4 at 2014 7:05 PM

2014-09-04T19:05:35-04:00

General Interest - I want to know what makes the guy such a hot topic of conversation

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 10:04 PM

2014-09-04T22:04:29-04:00

Though he retired last year, I would have loved to talk more to LG Thurman. He visited our college GOLD program a few years ago and had us captivated by his experiences.
There are a few Generals here in Oklahoma, the TAG, MJ Myles Deering, and our own BG Robbie Asher, Director, Joint Staff of Joint Force Headquarters.

Man, these leaders would have some awesome stories to tell and invaluable advice!

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Sep 4 at 2014 10:07 PM

2014-09-04T22:07:24-04:00

I was going for General Omar Bradley, but I'm guessing you're looking for living generals.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 10 at 2014 1:13 AM

2014-09-10T01:13:26-04:00

I actually had the opportunity, with several others, to have an odd breakfast with Gen. Westmoreland. He was called home to Washington while I was processing through El Toro from RVN. He said something to the effect that a lot would be said about what we did over there but "We would always know the true story". It was quite a surprise for a mere Marine E-4.

Out of history: Ike, Bradley, Patton. MacArthur and Rommel......and of course Chesty Puller! That would be quite an interesting round table.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 9:25 AM

2014-09-10T09:25:58-04:00

A currently serving General Officer I would love to speak to would be General Odierno. I would love to ask him about his thoughts of the current situation of Iraq. Especially if he could be frank about it.

Historically, I would love to sit with John J. Pershing to discuss the wide range of his experiences.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 10 at 2014 1:16 PM

2014-09-10T13:16:48-04:00

Reminds me of a story I once heard and I believe it to be true...

GEN Bernard Rogers, at that time the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, was the guest speaker at one of the Army's officer professional development schools (Command and General Staff College, as I recall), when a Major stood up to ask a question. Although the exact question escapes me now, it was apparently a question that GEN Rogers decided not to directly answer,

When he was finished with his "answer", the Major stood back up and commented that he did not think the question was adequately addressed, reminded the General that they were in a non-attribution atmosphere (i.e., no press), and that, as students in a professional development course, they should be entitled to a more complete answer than the General had provided.

The General took another stab at answering the question, which, again, did not meet the expectation of the (idiot) Major, who again stood up and, once again, challenged the General to answer the question, ending his request with "I know you did not get promoted to four-star general by avoiding tough issues and questions", to which the General replied, "No Major, but that's how I made Lieutenant Colonel".

With that, the Major sat down and asked no more questions.... :-)

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 2:01 PM

2014-09-10T14:01:17-04:00

Adm Gregory ... She is the head of all the seabees we have left.. She just came and talked to us recently but to sit down and talk with her would be a good conversation.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 5:00 PM

2014-09-10T17:00:22-04:00

General McAuliffe, to hear how he handled Bastogne.
General Eisenhower, just to try and learn from such a great leader.

I have had the pleasure of speaking with 3 current generals, they are full of knowledge.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 6:51 PM

2015-08-07T18:51:09-04:00

Looking at it now I would like to sit down with Gen. Mark Milley. He seems like a great leader.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 8 at 2015 5:46 PM

2015-08-08T17:46:44-04:00

Eisenhower for his planning in the European theater, and Ridgeway for stopping the infighting of the generals in Korea. He also took a few days to assess Korea and shored up divisions to defend against N Korea.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 12:49 PM

2018-02-27T12:49:44-05:00

Alive today: I’ve had the privilege of speaking with ADM Vern Clark, CNO, RADM Drennan (from my hometown), MG Cecil Richardson Chief of Air Force Chaplains, and with RDML Lee, navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve Matters.
I’ve spoken with and served as the chaplain for RDML Schommer and RDML Mueller, both great men.
I’d love to get the chance to talk with GEN Charles Krulak, CMC, MG Charles Bolden of NASA and USMC, ADM Thad Allen, Coast Guard Commandant, GEN Peter Pace, GEN Powell, VADM Truly.

Past Flag Officers: ADM Crowe, CJCS. FADM Nimitz, Adm of the Navy Dewey, GEN Robert Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Zachery Tyler, VADM Charles Lockwood of Submarines Pacific in WWII, RADM Galley who commanded the task force that last boarded an enemy combatant vessel, GEN Schwartzakopf, ADM Spruance, Gen of the Army Eisenhower, Commodores Jones, the Perry Brothers, and Preble.

There are more, but that’s probably good for now.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 1:05 PM

2018-02-27T13:05:55-05:00

I've thought about this a lot, actually, thanks for posting the question!

There are three that immediately come to mind, CPT Private RallyPoint Member. Like you, I'd give damn near anything to sit down and have a one on one with Gen. Stanley McChyrystal. That guy was in a class all of his own - his concepts on leadership and shared purpose really resonated with me. To me, he is the quintessential leader.

Next, I'd want to talk to Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman from the Civil War. His story is unique and he is often remembered for inadvertantly developing the concept of "total war," with his significant burnings and sackings of Georgia and South Carolina during the war. Tough, competent, and resiliant, he strikes me as someone worth getting to know. And he was characterisically humble. Nearly all of his achivements he contributed to Gen. Grant.

The last one, I'd like to talk to Gen. Michael Flynn, former director of the DIA, before the whole Russia scandal. As an intel officer, I feel he'd provide a lot of wisdom on both correct and incorrect leadership and intelligence disciplines.

Response by SPC David Willis made Feb 27 at 2018 2:43 PM

2018-02-27T14:43:10-05:00

General Washington to see what advice he had for us today. I also think sitting down with Erwin Rommel would be incredibly interesting as well as Zhukov on the Russian side.