Chatted with a good friend who’s currently a Brigade XO. This guy has spent 3 of his last 6 years away from his wife and kids. Not just a hard worker but also a terrific person. The AIM marketplace is open for him and he said to me “man I wish I could take your job.”

I asked “why can’t you? This would be a great way to reset a bit, before command.”

Well, his mentor told him that broadening jobs will make him “irrelevant.”

Irrelevant to who, exactly? To MilTwitter? To Lawton, Oklahoma?What type of leader makes folks think this way?

“I can’t jeopardize battalion command” he said to me. This confused me. His command board would meet while he’s in this job, so nearly his entire board file would already be in place. It got me thinking about this strange and unhealthy belief that is often associated with command

Somehow achieving “command” has put you on this pedastal and allowed you to behave in a manner that only the cool kids can. As if we have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Like it’s not just a job. Like it doesn’t all come to an end at some point soon.

It’s unhealthy to think like that and it’s also directly connected to misconduct amongst the senior ranks. Because if command doesn’t happen, what does that mean? Life’s over? Lose followers? I hate seeing folks like my friend stressing over something they should be enjoying.

The marketplace is open. Take a moment to think about where you are & where you will find happiness. And remember — it’s a job. There isn’t a special place in heaven allocated for dudes who took miserable routes to that unattainable, mysterious, amazing command.

I get fired up when I hear my friend tell me he will take a job that will “probably make me miserable” all because someone he admires has poisoned his mind. It’s like talking to a victim of abuse and I’m serious about that.

As a BN XO, I had a mentor tell me “no offense Rich but I guess you don’t want to command!” when I told him that I was taking a job in England. It felt like someone punched me in the stomach. He acted personally offended. Don’t be that type of leader, friends.

And next year, I’ll be sure to send him a postcard from Hawaii with guns in position and ready to fire. No offense taken!

And things happen and change in life. If it changes, life will go on! Will work hard and be proud to serve no matter where I’m at.