My First Steps Toward Afghanistan Followed a Hand-Sketched Map
Sergeant Major’s Words of Wisdom to a Boot Lieutenant
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“Do you really want this to happen?” The Battalion Sergeant Major, a senior Marine with decades of experience, pulled me into his office and sat me down.
“Yes! Of course! I want to deploy.” I said, with the heartfelt enthusiasm of a brand new officer waiting for the chance to prove herself.
“They are not expecting you. If you want this to happen, here’s what you need to do.”
This seasoned Marine grabbed a pen and sketched out a map on a blank sheet of paper. He talked me through each turn and landmark, which building to go to, and who to ask for.
“Give them my name. Tell him I sent you.”
A few minutes earlier, my company commander sat me down to tell me the words any young lieutenant fresh out of training aches to hear, “We’ve got a deploying billet with your name on it.” I was to be temporarily assigned to fill a newly opened spot on another unit’s deployment to Afghanistan.
Instead of taking my first operational leadership assignment as a platoon commander, this surprise deployment popped up. Since I wasn’t officially the platoon commander yet, I was not gainfully employed. My unit could afford to let me go.
Looking back, I recognize Sergeant Major’s method was unusual. At the time, I had no idea. I trusted the Sergeant Major. He knew what he was talking about. I folded the map, got in my car, and drove to the unfamiliar corner of base. Walked up to the door. Knocked. Introduced myself, and showed them the orders my unit had typed up.
Sergeant Major was right. There was a misunderstanding. There was a spot, but they weren’t expecting me. They were hesitant to take me. But they didn’t completely turn me away.
They gave me an application. Fill it out, hand it in, wait for an interview. If we need you, we’ll call.
I was determined to secure that spot. I went back to my unit, followed the requisite process and waited.
A couple of weeks later, I got the call. You’re up! Grab your orders and get over here. Next week you start the training and preparation to deploy in 4 months.
Words of Wisdom for a Successful Deployment
Sergeant Major continued to offer advice over the next few months. Shortly before I deployed, he gave me a list.
Just like that first map he drew for me, these insights helped me navigate twists and turns through an unfamiliar environment.
Sergeant Major’s Deployment Advice:
- Go out around those that aren’t dumbass risk takers.
- Figure out your environment and who is who before you trust anyone with you, both Afghan and American.
- Embrace enlisted dudes and treat them as equals, BUT know who is who before you just open up.
- If you’re shot at, [expletive] shoot back, but don’t pretend you’re an operator.
- Trust your gut.
- Mentally prepare yourself now to have friends die so you don’t lose composure if and when it happens.
This list reminded me of the oath Liam Neeson’s character gives the young knight in the movie Kingdom of Heaven,
“Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright… Speak the truth…do no wrong.”
As a female officer in a remote deployed environment, Sergeant Major’s words reminded me of the professionalism that was essential for me to uphold. I was an officer so I needed to be a leader and maintain calm, composure, and a level-head. I needed to trust my training to react when a critical situation arose. I needed to respect others, but keep a sense of emotional distance.
Before that first meeting, Sergeant Major had never worked with me. He gave me the benefit of the doubt and took a chance on an officer with less than two years of service in the Marine Corps, straight out of Logistics Officer School with no fleet experience. At the time, I was very much what we refer to in the military as a “boot lieutenant.”
Sergeant Major’s actions, from the map to the list, were to me a vote of confidence from a combat-hardened warrior. I worked as hard as I could during preparatory training and deployment. I wanted to make him proud. I wanted to prove that I deserved the spot and that he hadn’t gone out on a limb in vain.
The desire to prove myself a valuable teammate turned into a committed habit through the entire deployment: Seek out ways to do something that I could learn quickly, was good at, or others didn’t have time for. Once that gap was identified, do the work, and contribute to the team.
Here Is My Challenge To Anyone, Military or Civilian
Seasoned Professionals:
That new-arrival who just walked in the door with what looks to you like a baby-face?
Try giving them the benefit of the doubt. Share a story, offer some advice, and take a bet on someone that shows a glimmer of promise.
Younger Professionals:
That person who’s been around what seems to you like forever with a weathered face?
Strike up a conversation, actively seek the guidance and lessons of those who were busy forging their path during the years you were in high school and college.
Young leaders must actively cultivate relationships with wise experts whose lessons learned have come at the cost of sweat and blood. The words of my first Sergeant Major are ingrained in my approach as I continue to lead Marines, even now as I approach the end of my first decade of active service.
We each have wisdom to gain and share by bridging generational divides.
