Because I have know for about ten months that I would be doing this job, I have had plenty of time to think about how I was going to go about "forming the tribe" as they call it. I knew there would be challenges bringing people together from the Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Army, Army Reserve and National Guard. Throwing together people from six different cultures to live in close quarters, train together and then travel to a far off land to do the nation's bidding provides a significant leadership challenge. So, for quite some time I have been thinking about how I would go about it, what I would say and what direction I would take to get them ready. But, I realized I really had no clue until they started arriving for training, and the team started to form throughout the first couple of weeks.
Working with such a diverse group requires an understanding of each person's circumstances and exactly how and why they ended up here...in Indiana...ready to go to Afghanistan. Some, like me, are active duty and this is just another duty station. Some of those on active duty were yanked from their ship or shore station and were told to be here. For others, up until a few weeks ago they had real jobs in the real world until it was time to once again put on the uniform and answer the call. It is not always easy to flip a switch and go right back into the military mode, especially if your civilian job is far removed from anything resembling the military. It is a good bet that the leadership style used in their civilian occupation is different, not to mention the working and living environment. For others, they come as an already established unit being folded into the tribe. Our National Guard brothers have been working together for some time now, training, bonding and getting in shape. So, for the first week the organization was a bit loose as we all had to attend a variety of training lectures and meetings. But, as I saw the team start to form and saw the variety of backgrounds and experience it really hit me that I need to get this team ready to go to war.
At first I waffled a little bit in my brain with one side of me saying "They are all going to Afghanistan. Let them relax a bit, get through this training with the least possible resistance and avoid stressing them out ." Wrong. If we are going to do the job right and if every single one of us is going to react in the correct way during any sort of crisis or stressful situation, then now is the time to prepare. Now is the time to stress them and to make mistakes and correct them here during training. Now is the time to get them in shape, physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually. None of them are new to the military so they understand the drill. They just need to reach back to that time where their minds were open and allow themselves to be molded, once again, into a cohesive team that will look after each other, protect each other, correct each other and support each other. Building a commitment to the team and the mission is vital to ensuring we excel every moment of every day that we are together.
So, we form up, every morning as a team prior to breakfast and prior to heading off in various directions for different training evolutions. We put out the word, communicate, and work on integrating the six tribes into one. Our physical training program will start in earnest this week so that they can build their fitness and endurance. We are carrying our weapons and training with them even though we do not shoot a single round for at least another week. We all have to be comfortable with the weapons so the weapons do not intimidate us when they are loaded with live rounds. We will take them apart and put them back together. We will clean them so that they work correctly when needed. We will learn safety procedures so we can do it in our sleep. For all evolutions, we will work hard now so that everything we do will be second nature when we leave for Afghanistan in June whether it be handling weapons, driving vehicles, interacting with the people of Afghanistan, ordering supplies or taking care of paperwork. All of it is important and we have to get it right. The glory of it is that we are going to do all this and have fun doing it. We are going to have fun because we will be working toward a purpose and everyone will know their role. It will be fun because we are not going to drive people into the ground. Challenging the team to take it to the next level is one thing but to be able to do it and to build a team that is proud, motivated and...yes...happy...that is the direction we are going.
I owe it to them to ensure they are ready. I owe it to them and to their family and friends so that while they are away from home they are fully prepared. I owe it to them so that we complete our mission and come home better than when we left. Better, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen....better citizens.....better people for having served with Team Kunar.
It is the right thing to do.
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