Giving back a little...

Today some of my BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course) classmates and I went to Girard Middle School in Dothan, Alabama.  Our mission,… to provide tutoring to some 6th graders.  Why?  Because our class is required to do a community service project while we are in BOLC.

Before we were released from class on Friday our commander showed up to class to make sure we understood his "intent" for this "mission".  He said to us, "does anybody know why you are doing this community service project?"  Somebody jokingly said, "because you're making us sir?"  While there may be a bit of truth to that statement, I'd like to think that deep down inside we all know there is some inherent value to giving back to the community.  As appointed officers in the US Army we are expected to do a lot.  Community service is one of them.  I'm sure there is part of me that would have rather stayed home or slept in this morning but in the end I'm glad we were given this opportunity today.


The tough part of today though was realizing how much 'need' there is right here in our own backyard.  I tutored a young boy (pictured right) who was really struggling with math.  After about 30 minutes with him I realized that he didn't know how to do long division.  He just didn't understand at all.  I did my best to get down to the basics and show him what I could, but it was very challenging for him and I both.  I couldn't help but feel guilty when it was time to leave.  It took my student and I 3 hours to do a little over 20 math problems.  I wanted to do more for him but didn't know how.  Another classmate of mine spoke with a student who's father was in jail, he was only 11 or 12 and had been stabbed recently too.  On top of that, he was pretty much raising his younger siblings by himself.  I have to admit, I was a little heartbroken.  I'm not sure how exactly my life has been so different and why I have been so fortunate and blessed to have the many opportunities that I have had.

Now the burden is on us (me and my classmates)… We can take this experience and not learn from it at all… Check the box and move on...  Or, we can make sure we try a little harder to take advantage of every opportunity we get to give back to our community.  There are certainly plenty of people out there who could use our help.

In memory of Cpt Sean E Lyerly

June 4, 1975 - January 20, 2007

"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom..." - Abraham Lincoln

"I just want to fly helicopters…"

Today very well may have been one of the most boring days of my entire Army career.  Death by Power Point (picture to the right).  And I have no doubt that there will be many more to come.  But for now, at this moment,.. today was it.  It almost makes me feel a little better that my sentiments were for the most part congruent with many of my other classmates.

The defining moment came today when our instructor asked a question about what DA (department of Army) form you use when filling out a monthly,.. inspection, workflow,… something.. ish… thing.  The class was generally silent and you could tell the instructor was slightly perturbed by our lack of enthusiasm in demonstrating the ability to fire off DA Form numbers back at him.  I could barely hear someone from the other side of the classroom (probably because whoever said it didn't want the instructor to hear) say, "but I just want to fly helicopters."  Probably not the most appropriate thing to say, but I think for the most part,… we were all thinking the same thing.  Is it too early to start counting down the days until we get to learn how to hover?  Or just maybe start the engine… turn on the landing light?  Can we at least go to the airfield and look at helicopters?  I think we are actually doing that soon….  all in good time I suppose.

Basic Officer Leadership Course - "This job is dangerous…"

Second week of Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) is in the books.  Next week we'll be at the range… FUN!  I've been licking my wounds from a week of combatives.  It's not that bad, but an hour and a half of the Army's version of the UFC will wear you out quick.  We still have another week of combatives later in February.

I've now heard several people tell me and my classmates "this job is dangerous".  I believe them.  A week before we left for Christmas leave there was a helicopter crash.  The student is still recovering but the instructor pilot did not make it.  Three years ago my friend Cpt Sean Lyerly [picture to the right] lost his life when his Blackhawk was shot down in Iraq.  A year later while I was at Basic my friend and mentor CW2 Matt Smith was involved in a crash at Texas A&M.  He is still recovering from his injuries.  Unfortunately, 2nd Lieutenant Zac Cook from Texas A&M and Sgt Charles Mitts the crewchief (from Austin) did not survive the crash.

I know it's a little taboo to talk about it and all, but don't think for one second that we (my classmates and I) don't think about the possibility of not coming home one day.  This is a dangerous job and we're not crazy and we definitely don't have a death wish either.  I do believe though that there are certain individuals in this world that somehow just know that they are capable of doing certain things that other people just simply aren't willing to do.  For some of us, that might mean manning a post in the Korengal Valley fighting off daily attacks…. or flying a medevac mission to save a fellow soldier's life…. hell, it could be as simple as ensuring the supply lines don't get broken by some logistics officer back in the rear at some FOB.  I look around at some of the guys I'm here with and I know that for most of them, they would probably feel guilty for not being here.  Why?  Because some of us just know that we can.  I'm not saying we're better than anyone else, but we know we're simply capable and you just can't sit back in a suit at the bank taking clients to lunch when you know you belong somewhere else.

Well,.. I'm looking forward to range week and getting a chance to go home again soon.  Until then it's back to the books.