In July 2017, Team Rubicon launched a large scale flood response in Illinois and Wisconsin after a state of emergency was declared in multiple counties.

Stepping Back into the Arena — Honoring Commitments

Pat Ross III
Aug 8, 2017 · 5 min read

Day One

Finally stepping back into the arena. Too long — no excuse.

Red eye from LAX to ORD. Surprisingly no snow or construction delay in Chicago. Grab rental car and a quick snooze in the parking lot.

Pick up Jon, Region IV Greyshirt. This is his first deployment with Team Rubicon. One-hour drive to the FOB (Forward Operating Base). Stop for the world’s worst coffee. Somehow miss the Region I Dunkin’ Donuts down the road. Solve most of the world’s problems, debate what the first thing we’d do if we were marooned on a deserted tropical island, and exchange military stories about when we were still rough and tough.

Arrive at 10:30 a.m. At 10:31 a.m., heckled by the entire command and staff for arriving on scene in flip flops, shorts, and a tank top. I still don’t see the issue. 10:45am, we don our grey shirts, grab our gear, and join our strike team in the field.

Sweat, dirt, smiles. Wish I had taken Core Ops. What the hell does mark and score mean?

Explaining to Jon that we need to look at the camera — didn’t work

Day Two

Somehow miss the coffee station during breakfast — resort to punching myself in the face and slamming a Diet Pepsi. Kicked off Strike Team Alpha led by Paul, Region I Greyshirt, because I was slowing them down. Day is a blur. Next house, entire basement has to go — time to Get Shit Done. Become quite fond of the short pry bar. If I were a tool, I think I would be a pry bar, even though most of my teammates think I’d be a laptop. They think I am a house cat. Makes me wonder, if Team Rubicon had a mascot, what would it be?

Wearing the same grey shirt from yesterday, still dirty, sweaty, smiley.

Day Three

Miss coffee again — so mad.

Case Construction on scene for the day. Grateful for the Case work horses. Help pay our billeting rent by emptying out a school.

Over 51 percent complete when we realize put the trash in the recycling dumpster and the recycling in the trash dumpster. Empty both dumpsters, and refill them correctly. Adults only. No one complains. I admit, I go on a silent rant but realize it was futile but the work wasn’t going to do itself. Everyone has a role, and mine is to fill that dumpster.

Mission was to help those affected by the floods but we always take care of our fellow Greyshirts by ensuring we had a place to sleep so we can kick ass the next day. Work day ends early despite that dumpster oops.

Band, Italian beef, and beers (Thanks, Case!) on our FOB in the Home Depot Parking lot. The mix of live music, the TR Red and Grey, and the Home Depot orange brings out all the Red, White, and Blue. Blessed to be an American. Contemplating rejoining the Marines. My mother in law is a donor and she’s a local. She and her husband stop by to check it out and meet the crew. I suspect we’ll see them on the next Team Rubicon operation in the heartland.

Day Four

Determined to grab my coffee — actually wake up on time. Back in the field, empty basement — homeowner does most of the work, we are just the added muscle. In a TRUe military TRIbute, they thank us by bestowing on us their TReasured nerf gun collection and a stockpile of nerf ammo. On to the next house. Overwhelmed by the work ahead. Team make short work of it. We pull each other along.

Day Five

Last day in the Grey. Grab coffee with ease, finally in the swing of things. Made fun of by everyone for “putting stuff in my coffee.” Mary, Region V Greyshirt and Wounded Warrior Project teammate steps into the Grey for the first time.

Wendy from the University of Chicago (above) steps into the Grey. Close out a widow’s home. Left it TR clean. Feels like we did right. Her words were so kind, we felt those tingles it the back of our necks. We just like helping people. No need to say thank you — it’s just what we do. Okay, we’ll take the hug and the handshake. Hit the next house, another widow. Next site, dirtiest job of the day, team carries the load because I take a conference call with our home office in Los Angeles. Feel guilty.

Redirected to conduct Damage Assessments because we have two Spanish speakers on the team who will translate for us at the next home. On the drive, realize we need a refresher on how to actually conduct a Damage Assessment. Watch the DA and Palantir Curricula in Roll Call on our phone via the Cornerstone mobile app.

Just jamming through some online learning en route to the next work site

Okay, we got this. Team knocks out three assessments. Return to the FOB. Pose for farewell photos.

Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by a Greyshirt father. Next wave arrives — talk TRash over dinner. The energy is infectious. I’d rather stay with the next wave but it’s time to Change my Socks.

Region V

See you on the next one.

Pat, Region I Greyshirt

Stories About Service

Volunteers and supporters of Team Rubicon are invited to weigh in on disaster response, continued service, non-profit lessons, or why everyone looks great in grey.

Pat Ross III

Written by

Marine. Team Builder.

Stories About Service

Volunteers and supporters of Team Rubicon are invited to weigh in on disaster response, continued service, non-profit lessons, or why everyone looks great in grey.

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