What lesson or experience from deployment and or combat are you happy to have learned/been through?

2017-06-15T00:18:26-04:00

As we all know, you take the good with the bad. As much as many people can easily recall horrible occurences throughout many tours, it is far more important to hold onto the good things. What is an experience that you have been through or lesson that you learned through those hard times that you are actually happy to have had and why?

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 15 at 2017 1:03 AM

2017-06-15T01:03:27-04:00

Some of the experiences I had in Viet Nam that before I wondered if I could handle I did. I found in later years as a civilian Police Officer I was able to handle some pretty grisly scenes better than some other Police Officers who had no such prior exposure. I'm happy to learn that I was capable of carrying My own weight and not freaking out about it or groveling. Not unique, just adjustment to situations. Also the concept of teamwork and You and Your people all being part of a team and getting things done and helping each other along the way. Seems all of that helped Me though the rest of My life with confidence in Myself.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Jun 15 at 2017 4:53 AM

2017-06-15T04:53:12-04:00

Murphy's Law that said "Anything can get you killed, including nothing." I have had Brothers and Sisters get killed while in Chapel, waiting on a bus to go across post, and going to the Port-A-John. It taught me that you could go literally at anytime and that nothing is guaranteed. So instead of being scared to die, live like you were going to die tomorrow. Worrying about it doesn't do anything positive

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2017 9:30 AM

2017-06-15T09:30:58-04:00

In combat it was nice seeing everyone come together as one. In garrison not everyone likes everyone else. It's just human nature. I had guys in my platoon that butted heads constantly and at times wondered if one would murder the other. But when we walked out of the gate all that crap stopped. At that point we were professionals who had a job to do. I never once questioned whether any one soldier had the back of another. I don't know if you see that in any other place where you're not responsible for someone else's life.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jun 15 at 2017 9:44 AM

2017-06-15T09:44:10-04:00

• Hand selected by the 1st Army Commander as one of the five member team of a Combined Arms Assessment Team (CAAT) to collect secret and classified data in Iraq/Southwest Asia.
• A contributing author of the updated “Center for Army Lessons Learned Handbook
(No. 06-22 June 2006 for Security Force Operations); the most requested publications in the Army.
In all my life in the US ARMY I never thought that the ARMY would pick me to go in theater to do this mission and to ride with combat units and not fight but to collect information and learn the TTP we are fighting on the battle field as it changed daily and so did the enemy tactics. From fighting as an artilleryman to a dismount patrol in downtown Baghdad 2003-2004 was eye opener because this was the first time we were up close with the enemy we shoot at indirect for years. Then deploying again in 2006 to fall on units who were deep in the fight who were National Guard units that were activated and trained stateside by our TSBN FA unit. Was a sight to see because my lesion learn was we are one team , I used to look at National guard soldiers as weekend warriors but some of them have seen worse than us. I saw it for my own eyes and wearing the uniform everyone mixed in as one team. Working for the CALL, made me realize that this battle is never ending and why in the first place did we ever come to Iraq when the battle is at home. It really is not fighting boots on the ground anymore because with one TV or social media telecasted ISSI or your next door neighbor can recruited a hundred soldier or follower who hatred the government. My lesion learn was we are killing ourselves for nothing because the treat will always be there.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2017 10:04 AM

2017-06-15T10:04:41-04:00

I can't say I was happy to learn/go through, but I can say it was certainly interesting to learn how nasty Soldiers can be in a deployed environment in regards to sanitation.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jun 15 at 2017 10:59 AM

2017-06-15T10:59:33-04:00

Learned a lot of patience.
Also developed the mindset that "when it's your time, it's your time", there's nothing you can do about it. No sense in worrying about something you have no control over.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2017 2:37 PM

2017-06-15T14:37:36-04:00

I learned to hold myself accountable. I recieved an Article 15 while deployed. I hated it at the time, but the leadership in the unit took me aside and explained that it was my opportunity to change my perspective and establish a new reputation in the battalion. So I set to work, rebuilding my broken reputation. I owe my career to an NCO that I believed was trying to end it, while in reality he was trying to fix it.

Response by SSgt Jimmy Jackson made Jun 15 at 2017 3:28 PM

2017-06-15T15:28:36-04:00

What happens TDY, stays TDY...Please

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 15 at 2017 8:05 PM

2017-06-15T20:05:26-04:00

I learned the hard way that you can walk forever, or so it seemed,sometimes asleep on your feet,carry loads on your back that made it seem your shoulders would never stop hurting,be cut ,bitten,stung, along with bad water worse food and at the end of this journey I took so long ago the only thing that can stop you is yourself,and your Brothers are forever.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2017 1:05 AM

2017-06-16T01:05:25-04:00

I learned that I could endure misery, bad water, heavy loads, unrelenting heat, rain, bugs, snakes, and being dead on my feet along with everyone else. Shared misery was what pushed us forward when we wanted to drop. When I arrived in-country, a Gunnery Sergeant told the boots that we should not make close friendships. I lost two close friends in Vietnam, with one being killed on the day after I left country. The Gunny was wrong, in that your fellow brothers are what you are fighting for and the brotherhood is everything. For me, helping South Vietnam and the people was a just cause. Our government gave up on a winnable war. I was/am happy to be part of this brotherhood.

Response by Sgt Dan Catlin made Dec 9 at 2019 11:12 PM

2019-12-09T23:12:04-05:00

I guess the biggest lesson for me was post deployment. After we pulled out of Nam Phong, Thailand and went to Iwakuni, Japan, we were tight as a unit. We owned the base and the town (at least to the end of Bar St.). No one messed with us. That kind of unity is worth having, whoever and wherever you are.

Response by CPT Robert Holden made Dec 10 at 2019 10:55 PM

2019-12-10T22:55:06-05:00

The biggest and most common lesson is if it can go wrong it will go wrong . That’s why we train so hard and have back up for the back ups

Response by CPT Robert Holden made Dec 13 at 2019 3:05 PM

2019-12-13T15:05:54-05:00

If it can go wrong it will go wrong it will go wrong . That’s why you have back ups for your back ups

Response by SGT Albert Thompson made Dec 14 at 2019 1:52 AM

2019-12-14T01:52:18-05:00

The Rakkasans (187th INF REGT, 3rd BDE, 101st ABN) taught me a lesson that has shaped my life ever since. “It’s mind over matter. If you don’t mind, IT don’t matter.” Translation: if you set your mind to a task or goal, prepare for it, & work your ass off, you can literally accomplish anything you set your mind to. Because I embraced this mindset, I’ve furthered my education and have had & still have a successful career in government service. I had people & forces try hard to throw me off course, but I wasn’t having it. Keep your mind & eyes open, prepare, work, and make it do what it do!!

Response by CPT Robert Holden made Dec 14 at 2019 8:29 PM

2019-12-14T20:29:47-05:00

Most valuable lesson has been what can go wrong will go wrong. That lesson has served me well

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2019 9:39 AM

2019-12-15T09:39:19-05:00

Rule 1 - Never pass up the chance to eat, sleep or go to the bathroom (OK, I know bathrooms are few and far between in combat)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2020 2:41 PM

2020-12-13T14:41:25-05:00

I learned added patience and that just because somebody is an E6-E7 doesn't mean that they know a thing about the environment they're deployed in or the job at hand.

Response by SPC Roger Dunn made Dec 15 at 2021 1:40 PM

2021-12-15T13:40:07-05:00

Murphy 's Law that is incoming rounds have right away...too many of my friends forgot that

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2021 1:41 PM

2021-12-15T13:41:22-05:00

The friends I made while deployed, the times we shared under stress, under fire and under the threat of possible death or injury. We stood shoulder to shoulder and did not shy away from our duties and loyalty to each other. The bond made in times of war are ones only a few can relate to, the times shared together both good, bad and craziness in times of war. Nothing compares to those times in all the world. Those are times never to be forgotten or replaced by anything else. As those memories will never fade away nor will those that we served with be taken from our hearts and minds.