Who had the greatest impact on you during the course of your military service?

2017-05-25T10:47:16-04:00

This could be anyone; past or present, living or dead. Who had the greatest impact on you that molded you into the kind of Soldier, Airman, Marine, Seaman, or Guardsman that you would become?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 10:49 AM

2017-05-25T10:49:16-04:00

General Pulastra. He gave a speech in AIT that motivated me for the rest of my time in service.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 25 at 2017 10:49 AM

2017-05-25T10:49:36-04:00

For me, I believe it would have been one of my 1SGs when I was assigned to HHT 1/3 ACR. He taught me that as long as you did the right thing that someone will have your back, never be afraid to stand up for what is right even if it's against a superior, and have fun with the job even when it really does suck.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made May 25 at 2017 11:16 AM

2017-05-25T11:16:26-04:00

My father, he explained why the Navy was better than the other branches of the military. No not in that way, but living conditions and what all you see while traveling.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 25 at 2017 11:19 AM

2017-05-25T11:19:56-04:00

Who had the greatest impact on you during the course of your military service?

Officer
LT Col John J. Ellis, 9th regimental commander
tied with
Col. Tim Karcher, 2-5, 1CD commander
Equally great officers and both brought much to the table.
NCO
CSM Franklin 2-5 BN CSM

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made May 25 at 2017 11:19 AM

2017-05-25T11:19:59-04:00

CMsgt. James Mosely who recently passed away. My first shop chief in the USAF. A lot of his mentoring skills I still use today. He was the epitome of do the job right the first time and teach others how to do the same. RIP Chief

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 11:24 AM

2017-05-25T11:24:12-04:00

CSM (RET) Terrence Murphy: Drill Sergeant from Basic Training that wouldn't let me quit.
SGT Mark Casini: My Team Leader from 2nd Squad, 2nd PLT, 58th CEC. He stood up to our Commander (at the time) and defended us about a Circle X issue on our M113 against the Commander and took a hit by getting an Article 15.
SFC (RET) Joseph Mack: He was a SSG back when he was my Squad Leader in 2nd PLT in the 58th CEC, who once said "Livingston, you would be a great Soldier if you weren't consistently inconsistent."
MAJ Virginia Vardon-Smith: One of the nurses I worked with on 14 C/D at LRMC who actually and truly appreciated the hard work I did so that the nurses would have more time to complete their tasks.
1SG (RET) Russ Bowker: For stressing to me (and damn near Gibbs slapping me) to be that NCO that takes care of the troops and to never let them down.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made May 25 at 2017 11:29 AM

2017-05-25T11:29:53-04:00

SMAJ Klosinsky, he was our Bn Sergeant Major in Korea, a Normandy veteran of the 101st and a Korea veteran with the 187th, a star on his CIB and two stars on his Master wings. He talked a skinny kid into volunteering for SF and that changed everything.

Response by SFC Dave Beran made May 25 at 2017 11:55 AM

2017-05-25T11:55:52-04:00

Two generals. LG Hank Emerson and Gen Tommy Frank's

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made May 25 at 2017 12:10 PM

2017-05-25T12:10:21-04:00

I think during our careers we have many mentors who have molded us and created what we are today, but one sticks in my mind daily. I have say this guy is cream of the crop he's no general and no saint either. We have had our good and bad times while I served under him. I even though he assigned me to a position that was going to affect my military career, well it did, don't ever let them addition duties scare you or the schools harms your career in anyway because I'm hear to tell you, When you're a Filed Artillery guy and you don't got to many skills left on the table you want to word your resume the best you can by using all the training you got while you were served. This was the guy who knew the deal, he knew the schools that we needed for our future and he set a lot of senior NCOs up for success. He just wasn't the kind of guy who sat in his office and did paperwork, he found your goals and dreams and if you wanted to go to school and if you were in that job, you went to school, When he retied he said to us all "Your not going to get that dream job once you get out, it's going time 3 to 5 years, to find that job where you fit and want to be."

I Don't know to this day where a lot of my counterparts are but I do know they successful because of him. He himself landed a pretty successful job with DOD and doing quite well for himself and his family. We don't stay in touch but I know where he is. I really don't know if I should say his name because I know one of you folks know him because he went pretty far in the ARMY. (RET) LTC STEVEN HIEDECKER if your out your one hell of mentor and you set me up for successful career, I never thought I could use the skills I did in my last job in ARMY as OC/T in TSBN and land this job. THANK YOU!

Response by LCpl Shane Couch made May 25 at 2017 12:18 PM

2017-05-25T12:18:09-04:00

CPT Curtis Loberger, proved to me that there were officers that truly cared about the lower enlisted. Great officer that decided to leave the military because he did not want to play in politics, he just wanted to lead Marines. Also have a second, SSGT Gene Ramirez, RIP 11/10/2004 Iraq. Very inspirational man who gave his life so that another Marine could be saved. His name is the first that I think of every single day. The sacrifices he made in life have changed how I currently view life.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 25 at 2017 12:40 PM

2017-05-25T12:40:58-04:00

A CWO3 in Bn. supply. He had a way of chewing you out, without chewing you out, and you actually were the better for it.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made May 25 at 2017 12:58 PM

2017-05-25T12:58:42-04:00

Not to be negative regarding this question but probably the ones who had the biggest impact on me were the Officers and NCOs I served with over the years who seemed to be of the philosophy of "do as I say and not as I do"! I will readily admit I was probably not the perfect NCO at all time and in all circumstances, I did however vow to never be one of those leaders and believe I never ordered a soldier to perform a task I had probably performed at some time during my career!!

Response by LTC John Mohor made May 25 at 2017 1:10 PM

2017-05-25T13:10:19-04:00

Great question SGT Joseph Gunderson! I appreciate your post taking me down memory lane. I had a few really good mentors. Then CPT Jeff Groff came to mind from my Artillery Days in Germany: Along with SSG Fitzgerald and SGT Jon Thompson. In the reserves numerous officers that gave me opportunities. Toward the later part of my career MG Pete Bosse, LTC Martin Nees, COL Larry Cruz, LTC Glenn Baker and finally MAJ Anthony Moye(may he Rest In Peace). The two most important were my Senior Army Instructor LTC Joseph L Byrd and my father.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made May 25 at 2017 2:28 PM

2017-05-25T14:28:38-04:00

1SG Raymond Roush, B-3-1 at Ft. Jackson. He was the kind of leader that made me want to be the best because I didn't want to disappoint him. He could be a hard ass if he had to be but if a person was doing their best he was behind you all of the way. Instead of chewing you out he could make you see how things should be, how to make it that way and then helping you to do it. He was definitely a lead by example type person and made me want to be as good as he was.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 25 at 2017 4:49 PM

2017-05-25T16:49:03-04:00

SFC Aubrey Smith met us getting off the bus Ft.Lewis Nov.1965 was my platoon Sergeant through training and Vietnam, he taught us everything from close order drill to running just about any Iinfantry mission we were assigned ,in my case took a skinny no confidence street corner punk to someone who eventually became an NCO and am proud to say as he was a "Sergeant of Infantry"

Response by Maj John Bell made May 25 at 2017 6:58 PM

2017-05-25T18:58:24-04:00

SgtMaj Kaczjewski, he could give 10,000 words worth of wisdom with a six or seven word question. He tolerated no nonsense, but he never made any Marine, officer or enlisted, feel stupid. And I swear he could be in three or four places at one time, but barely be noticed at any of them, until just the right moment.

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made May 25 at 2017 9:14 PM

2017-05-25T21:14:20-04:00

They worked with me and taught a then 37 year old a lot more then procedure; they taught me about life and how to be better than the day before. DS's Bannis (AIT Fort Bliss),DS Riley and DS Smith at Fort Jackson, DS Culpepper, SSG's Perrine,Ghee,Leis,Gregory,Cacho,Lt's Falcone and 'Ski", 1st SGT George and CSM Pritchard and Capt. Lewellyn and Capt Logan at Fort Bliss. There are too many to name, but they stood beside me as I grew and coped with a lot of crap (injuries,age jokes,family isssues) and to this day-all of the men and women I served with are family in my heart, and I find myself thinking about them more lately. Just feels like the good we did helping others in our units made us the best people and though I didn't deploy, and have gotten old-you ask me to do it again: I WILL!

Response by SGT Gary DeFelippo made May 26 at 2017 1:24 PM

2017-05-26T13:24:42-04:00

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made May 27 at 2017 3:52 PM

2017-05-27T15:52:05-04:00

I give this credit to my Platoon Sergeant, Jaime L Rodriguez. We had some good times with our tank platoon, had an amazing relationship, and he helped me be successful.

Response by SFC Bret Sample made May 27 at 2017 7:44 PM

2017-05-27T19:44:59-04:00

Sgt David Brittingham

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Aug 30 at 2017 11:51 AM

2017-08-30T11:51:21-04:00

My dad did. He let me go when he wanted me to work with him in his business. I got a chance to see what the military could offer me and still ended up working with him until he retired and I bought his business from him.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Aug 30 at 2017 2:55 PM

2017-08-30T14:55:51-04:00

CMSgt Bill Reynolds. He taught me how to be a leader and supervisor. His whole approach was taking care of those troops under your supervision. Not about being a "manager", it's all about taking care of your people, your people will take care of the mission.