Making the Leap

A Letter to Me as a Promotable Captain

Congratulations on your promotion to the field grade ranks in the U.S. Army. The Army values your demonstrated ability and your observed potential to continue the mission of fighting and winning our nation’s wars. More so, your promotion to major is a testament to the soldiers, NCOs, and fellow officers with whom you’ve served. It’s recognition of their endless dedication and your leadership. But there are some things you need to remember as you move forward. This letter serves as a reminder to stay grounded – as much as things change, some lessons are timeless.

Gen. Michael X. Garrett, FORSCOM Commander, visited the 3rd Cavalry Regiment out in ‘The Box’ while at the National Training Center. While on site he engaged with senior leaders and troopers discussing lessons learned during the rotation.

Talk About Fighting

A Company Grade Letter to New Field Grades

The Field Grade Leader recently ran a series of articles to Field Grade Leaders just graduating CGSC/ILE. The entire series is great, and I highly recommend you check it out. But, I took specific notice of a post written by Lt. Col. Teddy Kleisner. It is titled “Middle Management in the Trenches” and it is spot on. It is gritty, it is honest, and it is specific. As I am in the transition from Company Grade to Field Grade, this article inspired me to write a letter to my future self – the Field Grade version of me. This is in no way all inclusive or comprehensive as I have pages upon pages of notes from green notebook pages to Evernotes. But, it focuses on Lt. Col. Kleisner’s message specifically.