What Was Your Best Experience With a Superior While Serving? Share and Be Entered to Win!

When my EO called the cutter while I was on duty and had me relieved from duty at midnight to join everyone in downtown Ketchikan, AK for my 21st birthday knowing we were going to be at sea for a while. She was the best Officer I ever worked with.

In Okinawa, 1974, a SSGT, me, and several L/CLP's worked together to turn around our Platoon. We became the #1 platoon in the company. As a result the entire company caught the "Gung-Ho!" we started and the "Esprit De Corps" grew exponentially. The company followed our platoon's example. Many of us got meritorious promotions.
We were the First platoon to March In Formation for the 3-5 miles to our work building 'Across the Highway' from the base. Yes, we even stopped traffic for the platoon to march across the highway.

Having my COL tell to shut up and sit down in a staff briefing- that it was His turn to be an Asshole!

Checked into a new unit and I was trying to fix the mess the previous person in my spot left. It was the middle of the second week and the CWO I worked for said "MSgt, I'm bored...". I couldn't believe it. I definitely wasn't bored. I was trying to fix everything. I said "OK, Sir. I'll play your game, why are you bored?". He answered "because you're doing all the work I was doing". I sat there dumbfounded because he had so much of his own work that he should have been doing but was doing the MSgt's work because it wasn't being done and things were far from where they were supposed to be. It was great because we got to set boundaries and lanes of effort and I got to mentor an amazing Officer and we (and the unit), were all better for it and we made great advances at that unit. We are still great friends to this day and there were many more great adventures that were had.

Although he was not much higher in rank than myself, he was nonetheless, my superior in 1963-1965. He was the squad leader of the weapons squad of which I was a member. Cpl Gartman was unique in the sense that he was one of the newest members of the company and one of the oldest. Cpl Gartman had served 16 years in the Marine Corps, had a break in service and came back to finish his 20+ in the Army. Cpl Gartman was a member of the 1st Marine Division and participated in and was wounded in the battle of Iwo Jima. He was one of the most decorated members of 1/51st Infantry, 4th Armored Div. He was always on the reviewing stand during parades, the Battalion Commander, the XO, the Battalion CSM & Cpl Gartman. Anyway that's the back story. As far as experiences, there are way to many to cover here but suffice it to say he was an experience just knowing him. Later, as my time in the Army moved forward , the one person who was always right there guiding my actions, especially in Vietnam, was Cpl Beazel Gartman. I learned more about the military & life in general from him than anyone else during my 9 years of service.

I was stationed in Alaska as a young TSgt/E-6 (pinned it on a few months after arriving). A few months after returning from a very long deployment, I was selected to go to a conference at Hickham AFB, Hawaii with one of our squadron SNCO's (MSgt Ski. At least that is what everyone called him because nobody could pronounce his name). It was great TDY. I learned a lot from the conference, but in reality, I learned more from MSgt Ski. Every night after the conference, we grabbed dinner and had a few drinks on the beach. We would sit back and talk about various things. He gave me a lot of great advice. After we got back, I would swing by his office for some mentoring from time to time. And he would come out and see me. I learned a lot from him.

My Capt. Richard Gregg & I became good friends-about as close as two army guys can be without Fraternization. But he showed me how to be confident in myself and to stand up for what's right. I was reassigned to another base and we lost contact; but I'll always be grateful for the trust he always showed to me, both personally and professionaly.

Sitting on top of a bunker, smoking a cigar with my Master Gunnery Sergeant, watching a poorly executed rocket attack on our position, talking about his time in Vietnam.

Finding out that most them were "regular" people and didn't think they were better

Hunter Army Airfield, more than a couple years ago, I had a younger Captain that had recently fathered a child. Being the Supply Sergeant I was working late trying to get things in order for our upcoming deployment. The orderly room lights were on and upon investigating I found the Captain still working. I looked at him and him and said 'kid, go home and spend time with your new baby before we deploy.' The Captain looked at me and said 'old man, I don't take work home.' We had a good laugh about it and went home to our respective wives. I kept his books straight and we got along pretty damned well.

My senior officers were all replaced during eating time. The new CO (O-6), told me to write my own evaluation with substantiating remarks. Gave myself top 1/5% in all categories. When he read it his comment was, you think you are really good. He smiled and said he agreed. Promoted next cycle.

I was a SP4 in the 313th CEWI (Combat Electronics Warfare and Intelligence) Battalion attached to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, but I worked in the comm center of the 18th Corps Special Security Office. My boss was Major Mullins who started out as a PVT in the Korean War and was nearing retirement in 1978. He was great.

I was short, about to ETS, and pretty fed up with the military. Although I did my very best at my mission, I wasn't putting much effort into being a strac troop appearance wise.

One morning, I was walking to company area from the motor pool where I had been fixing some crypto gear and the HQ company XO, a 1st LT just transferred from an infantry unit, decided to hassle me about my haircut. Let's just say the length was pushing the regulations. He chewed me out, and ordered me to have it cut during lunch. But our duty section had a bunch of fire extinguishers that were late for their annual inspection and we were about to have an IG inspection. The boss needed this done, so I volunteered to take them to the fire station during my lunch time in my POV. I thought it wouldn't take long and there'd still be time for a quick Army haircut.

It took forever, I didn't have time for the haircut, and after lunch, who should I meet but the XO! He was really mad when he saw my uncut hair and dragged me into the company office. When we got there, he told the 1st Sergeant to write me up for an Article 15 for disobeying a lawful order. I had never been in trouble before, and this was a shock for me.

As the 1st Sergeant started typing away on the appropriate form, I tried to explain about the extinguishers, but he thought I was just BSing him. So I asked him if he would at least call Major Mullins to verify it. He did, and when Major Mullins got on the line, he chewed out that LT so strongly that I could hear him from five feet away. The LT went from smirking to frowning to apologizing as the major told him I was one of his most reliable soldiers and that he had personally sent me out to get those extinguishers checked. He told him that if he ever has a problem with one of his troops, he can bring it to him, but never, never, never, mess with them when they are doing their mission.

The LT put down the phone and the first thing he said was "Top, tear up that Article 15 on Roberts." The next thing he said, was "Roberts, you can go." I didn't see him much after that. I think he was avoiding me.

This was just one example of the many times Major Mullins helped me out. Despite my flaws, he always treated me like a human being and a valuable member of his team and not like some random troop he had to put up with. I'll never forget him. I hope he reads this because I never had a chance to thank him.

Sitting in the waiting area of Kuwait International Airport with my commanding officer and the rest of my unit awaiting our return to the US after 365 bog.

LTC Meany took me on a tour of Camp Rilea in Oregon one time, and treated me like a general. He always called me SGT Major at work, even though I was a SP/4. I always saluted him when I saw him, even in civilian cloths. I really miss my brothers and sisters in the military.

When I was a PFC, I went to the Soldier of the Year Board and placed 2nd. The CSM observed my disappointment and took me to the side and I'll never forget "her" talk. She said, "PFC Miles, do not allow this 2nd place finish to stop you from reaching the top. I can see how disappointed you are to place 2nd in the battalion but use this as motivation to study harder to win next year. I believe in you! Just this brief contact with a superior motivated me to not only win Soldier of the year the following year as an E-4, but I went on to win NCO of the year as an E-5 and again as an E-6. I will always remember this and I paid it forward as well while sitting on boards when I noticed the heartbreak and disappointment on Soldiers and NCOs who really wanted to win.

Way back in 1996 while at 41rst Ordinance Company, we stayed on Rheine Ordinance Barracks (ROB) just out side of Vogelweh, next the old Opel car manufacturer. At the motor pool we had just finally defeated a college graduated butter-bar with no field experience. He really belonged to headquarters and not the motor-pool, we caught him in the office playing "Doom" or "Duke Nukem" the original around that time, too many times to count, he would then turn and act like a 20 year veteran drill sergeant standing all of 5 foot 4 inches maybe 6 inches in his boots and 2 years older than myself at the time. He absolutely ruined the motor pools motivation and comradery. There were no secrets in that motor pool, we short joked him to death loud enough that it was never behind his back and muttered, until he got his ticket to head quarters, as he walked to HQ the angels were bellowing out "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH"
Our new Lieutenant Osbourne walks in. She is rather good looking, but stern and had a husband that could have been Hulks little brother. Something was different about this Lieutenant, she commanded respect while giving respect, something our motor pool had been missing for sometime. Within her first week, I watched as she left her office, this was the only time that door was being closed and locked, she walks right up to the motor Sargent and bluntly asked is there anything you need help with, same to the transportation Sargent.
After putting in her first parts orders for us, she came out to the motor pool, get this, in coveralls, and proceeded to climb under the old Oshkosh PLS with me and asked me "What are you doing, and How may I help?" If the woman wasn't married I would have asked in that moment. She said give me the grease gun and proceeded to help me grease 110 grease zerks on that vehicle. While under the vehicle she explained to me how she just graduated from the Green to Gold, and came out to Germany with her husband. Our motor pool had been United from a former Specialist to a Bad-Ass 2nd Lieutenant.
For the cherry on top we also received a CW4 Nuendorf (forgive any misspelling) working on his CW5, his office consisted of two chairs, one in next to motor pool sergeants desk, and the other was next to the CO's desk. That year in 1997 we received the USERAR Service, Maintenance, and Safety Award for having the most outstanding and hard working motor pool in Europe (again forgive spelling or right terminology). In my entire career, there were only three other officers that came close to the respect given to and from this lady and gentleman. Thanks you two from the bottom to the top of my heart, for the best experience with the Chain of Command I ever had.

My former Commanding General always took the time to keep track of what ever I have been doing in life like when I graduated from the law enforcement academy to took the time to show up, other times he give me call for whatever the occasion was, he was a great mentor and a great guy.

I was captains driver on USS Saint Paul CA 73. He held 2 navy crosses from WWII. He taught me a lot and was a very fine gentleman. W W McCrory was his name and he finished up a Rear Admiral.

It wasn't a single encounter, it was the entire time we were together, but it can be summed up by a single encounter.

I was an infantry Squad Leader, and our Platoon Leader had PCSed the week prior. We knew there was a new PL inbound, so we were a little worried about what we would get - LTs are a mixed bag. The PSG had the SLs in the CP, going over some random thing or other when in walks the wettest-behind-the-ears fresh-off-the-boat kid you can imagine, looking like a high schooler wearing his daddy's BDUs, with a butter bar right there on his collar. Great... one of THOSE.

This was his introductory speech (paraphrased). I'm your new Platoon Leader, and I don't know jack shit. I expect you to teach me. When we are planning things, I not only *want* you to tell me when I am fucking up, I *expect* you to tell me when I am fucking up. When we are figuring out how to get things done, I want and need your input. You have been doing it longer than me, you know the equipment better than me, and you know your men better than me. Tell me what I need to know. If you don't agree with things when we are in this office, let me know. But... Once we leave this office, there better be absolutely no one who questions who is in charge of this platoon. It is *my* platoon. Don't even think of countering me in front of the troops. Even if you disagree, once we leave this office, it is final. Yes, sir, no sir, and move the fuck out. I promise to listen to what you have to say, and to take it into serious consideration; in turn I expect you to execute, and execute violently when it is time to go to work. Does anyone have any questions? No? Great. PSG, what is the order of the day....

And that is exactly how he ran things. Best PL i have ever served with. Ever. Super humble dude, way smarter than he looked, and a serious desire to get things done, and done right. And he had the utmost respect and confidence in his NCOs - he made us better just because we refused to tarnish the image he had of the entire NCO Corps.

When I was ETSing my Captain came up to me handed me his personal information and told me when I was through with college he'd help me to become an officer! He was never one for compliments but I knew from that point on there was nothing I couldn't do in life! I graduated third in my class from college!