Being With Family

There's not much better than being with family.  Spending time with your parents, siblings and their children should be a joy for everyone, but for me it's especially enjoyable.  We simply don't get together enough, and when we do it's always fun to catch up and spend time laughing with each other.

I also enjoy being with my church family.  We've been around the world, and have Christian brothers and sisters from all over the U.S., but no one is closer to us than the members of Gateway Christian Church in Clarksville, TN.  Scott and Lynn Witt are the leaders of the flock, so to speak, and we love them dearly.  They have fed us with spiritual "meat" over and over again. 

We are now PCSing (Permanent Change of Station) to our next Army adventure at Fort Leavenworth.  We look forward to the opportunity to meet new people, find new friends, serve in a new church home, and do great work for the Nation.  The family is doing well as we make this adjustment.

Awarded for Service in the Marne Division



Friday afternoon, six of the division staff members, including me, were awarded Meritoriuos Service Medals for our time in the 3rd Inf. Div.  The six of us who were awarded represented about 20 combined years of duty as "Marne Men".  Each of us are moving on to new assignments, and I for one am grateful for the opportunity to be on the division staff to work with such fine officers and under such capable commanders.  It's been a good developmental experience for me.  COL Roger Cloutier, the current Chief of Staff, gave out the honors.  He's a great officer and a very good man--it was an honor to have worked with him this past year.  He will make a great general officer and DCG-M for the division. Rock of the Marne!

L to R: LTC Steve Aiton-G1, me, LTC Paul Heinlein-PMO, LTC Mike Marti-G2/DCoS, LTC Dana Smith-G-3Air, MAJ Jesse Pooler- DPMO







2011 Marne Combatives Tournament

What is "Combatives" you ask?  Plainly speaking, it is the latest version of the Army's hand-to-hand combat technique.  It is based on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, and other techniques and adapated to the needs of Soldiers while they are unarmed or require less-than-lethal force options.

This was a cool opportunity for me to do something new, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I hope you enjoy it too.


Marne Combatives Tournament 2011 from 3rd Infantry Division on Vimeo.