While Serving, What’s a Time You Remember Someone Who Went Above and Beyond to Help You Out? Login & Share to Win!

I have 3 examples: 1) SPC S. D. (who requested I not put her full name out there or name location/situation for various reasons). When our overturned vehicle was on the verge of getting blown up, she mustered super-human strength to pull my 6', 200 Lb. unconscious frame out with just seconds to spare when it actually was hit by a huge explosion that would have cost me my life. I am forever in her debt. 2) SSG Robert Shipman - SSG Shipman actually impacted my military development more negatively than positively initially, & inspite of me having caught a full pneumonia in both lungs, he insisted I was faking it, and came to sick call/the hospital every day to cuss out the MD's who were treating me and had diagnosed the pneumonia. He promised me every day that if it was the last thing he ever did, he would keep "slackers like me" out of "his Army". Inspite of his attempts to intimidate me into doing the "duffle bag drag" and giving up, I went back into training after recovery, and if anything positive came out of my interaction with him, it's that I was all that more determined to not let him discourage me, so that actually turned out positive for my sense of determination. 3) Vietnam veteran SFC Percy Yates, Both he and SSG Shipman were my DI's in BT 1980 Ft. Knox, KY, C Co., 1st BAT, 3rd Platoon. SFC Yates kind of balanced it all with his fatherly, actions-speak-louder-than-words, matter-of-fact way, and his example of extreme professionalism, endurance and general toughness were really exceptional, to say the least. His lessons (one of my favorites being the famed "6 P's"), stayed with me my entire career, and yet he let his humanity show through now & again. Didn't yell half as much as SSG Shipman - the time to fear him was when he was silent...

Back when I was attached to a PRECOM, a multitude of things happened. The two most prominent struggles I faced, my DIVO was the one who supported me and did everything she could to help me. My mother was in emergency care in Ohio while I was living in Mississippi and I got a call from family saying that she was dying. It was such short notice that I couldn't get a red cross message so DIVO got me to NMCRS to get a loan for the flight and out me on leave. The reason I am no longer in the Navy is because I was medically retired due to a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. I was 26 at the time of diagnosis so it was a turbulent time for me. Through all the health issues and mental break downs, I was always able to count on my DIVO. Some of the best leadership I have ever had to this day.

Back when I was attached to a PRECOM, a multitude of things happened. The two most prominent struggles I faced, my DIVO was the one who supported me and did everything she could to help me. My mother was in emergency care in Ohio while I was living in Mississippi and I got a call from family saying that she was dying. It was such short notice that I couldn't get a red cross message so DIVO got me to NMCRS to get a loan for the flight and out me on leave. The reason I am no longer in the Navy is because I was medically retired due to a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. I was 26 at the time of diagnosis so it was a turbulent time for me. Through all the health issues and mental break downs, I was always able to count on my DIVO. Some of the best leadership I have ever had to this day.

My friend that taught me how to drive.

I remember vividly the first time I, personally, was sniped at. No more to say.

There were so many during my time in, it's just the way we all were. We all did the same for each other.

It was an ear nose and throat Dr in boot camp. My mom was an RN and they thought I had cancer in my eardrum. They told me they had to do surgery. I was only 17 and my parents had to sign for me to enlist. The Dr had my parents come to see me for surgery. He told me I anyone no matter how much I trusted them because visits from family were prohibited during boot camp. The Dr allowed my mom to scrub so she was there when they put me under and when I woke up. I'm sure it made her feel better about my decision to join the Navy, than it did for me. I have a unique last name and although she never said, she must have worked for him before for him to give her that kind of access. She was the head nurse of the surgery center in the Orlando hospital and this was when during the time of the Orlando Naval training center was still in operation. And now with the VA, I found that my Cardiologist also works at the local hospitals in Dallas. This was certainly above and beyond what anyone could expect. Just getting on the base would have been difficult without his involvement.

Captain Jussep help me and my friend from an a bogus article 15 while at FT. Lewis.

On many occasions I've been presented opportunities by my senior NCOs, with giving me guidance in my career, that I considered above and beyond. My drill sergeant in basic training made me a squad leader and then a platoon guide. The was a beginning to my leadership directions. Another time, a post CSM called me to his office and talked to me about being a good leader and acting 1SG, while our 1SG was in school. Talk about a good feeling, my chest must have been sticking out 5 feet! And he was a Calvary CSM too! Both of these super soldiers could have just let me live and learn from my own mistakes, but apparently they saw something in me, that they felt would be an improvement on my career.

During my time in the service, I had a Master Sergeant who took me under his wing and took the time to groom me for the Non-Commissioned Officer positions.. He also explained to me the types of leadership styles to use in order to motivate your soldiers. Being an Authoritarian type leader like (Sergeant Carter in Gomer Pyle) is not as effective today as it was back then, in order to motivate soldiers.
Not one style is used for all. But the most important thing is to find out what motivates your soldiers, and then use the correct type of leadership style. For example; you might want to be a Participative type leader that has hands-on type approach of leadership style with your soldiers like setting up a Satellite System. Or a (DTOC) Division Tactical Operation Center.