Retirement

On December 28th, I was ceremoniously retired from the Armed Forces of the United States. I say ceremoniously because, well, that's when the ceremony was. Officially, I retired back on 30 June, but haven't been in the country since then to do the ceremony.

As retirement ceremonies go, I think it was pretty routine. I was awarded several medals and presented with the certificate of retirement and certificates of appreciation. My wife was presented with a certificate of appreciation as well, as is customary.

Then it was my turn. I gave my retirement speech. I hope you enjoy it.

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Thank you all for coming.

I believe that retirement speeches should serve two purposes. First, they should offer heartfelt thanks to comrades, friends, and family who have also shared the ride that has been this career. The second purpose is to offer one last piece of advice, make one last attempt to achieve immortality, of a sort - to be remembered. So, here it is, my thanks, and my attempt to pass on something of myself so that I might be remembered someday by someone else on this stage. Of course, in the best traditions of an intelligence officer I will be accompanied by a 48 slide presentation and the entire thing will be classified SECRET NOFORN. I will also be reversing the order, saving the thanks for last, as an OPSEC measure.

Michael Shaara, in his book "The Killer Angels" made perhaps the most poignent observation about the military that I have ever come across. He attributed it to Confederate General Robert E. Lee in a conversation with General Longstreet. "To be a good soldier, one must love the Army. But to be a good officer, one must be ready to order the death of the thing he loves. No other profession requires that." All of us have chosen to wear the uniform and swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foregn and domestic, amongst other things. My challenge to you is to live that oath every day.

The challenge is to defend the Constitution against complacency. It must take the form of a constant struggle to make things better, for your subordinates, your peers, and for your superiors as well as for your organization. By constantly seeking to improve your position, you create a culture that embraces change and seeks out ways to capitalize on change, for change is one of only two inevitables in life, the other being death.

As for my career, Wow, what a ride. I've been places I never would have dreamed of; seen things both wonderful and terrible to behold; done things that many just dream of; and best of all, I know I have made a difference.

I cannot imagine a better epitaph to a career. "I made a difference." I wasn't the best officer, the best leader, the best boss, the best husband, or the best father over the past almost 30 years in uniform. But I think it's fair to say that I have become better in all of these roles as time went on. Perfection isn't the standard, learning and improving are the standard by which we should measure ourselves.

So, there it is, my nuggets of wisdom for you all. All I can hope is that they resonate for someone here, makes their path a little clearer from here on out.

The people I owe for this success are legion. First and foremost is my wife Kim. She stood by me through the bad bosses and the long deployments and the 80 hour workweeks and somehow held it all together. Thank you, my dear - I know that today I am as much in love with you as I was in 1982 when I was that JROTC Geek.

I thank my two boys, Preston and Liam for constantly reminding me why this career is important - for if it is not for our children that we make a better planet, who is it for? Thank you both.

I am grateful to my parents who instilled the work ethic to do it right then keep going from there. Dad, you also were one of the best bosses I ever had the privilege to work for - serving as your intelligence officer was the highlight of my career.
I am grateful for my brother, who allows me a peek into the next generation's mindset and who reminds me to have fun in doing the job.

Over the years I had some great bosses and mentors who exemplified professionalism. LTCs Clair Armstrong and Kent Thomas, MAJ John Midgely, and COL James Sfayer from my West Point days. COL G. Pat Ritter, COL Robert M. Williams, COL Mike Altomare, COL Steve Lemons, COL Greg Fontenot, Col. Bill Shawver, COL John Goodale, COL Tim Kelly and COL Rob Lytle are just a few of the great officers and men for whom I have worked for or with and grown from the interaction.

No officer can hope to be a success without the support of his subordinates, and I had some great ones over the years. SGT Larry Halminiak my first gunner and Specialist John Stehley, my first driver were the first of many. Sergeant Major Bill Moore, First Sergeants Dana Sullivan, Mitch Andreasen, and Ric Holmes. Sergeants First Class Sean Kelly, Lonny Grout, Theodore Berryhill, and John Martin and Sergeant Marie Ristow all contributed immensely to my success as an officer over the years. It was a pleasure to serve with them.

Finally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my peers all along the way. They were the ones that kept me sane when things were tough and provided the support to keep going. You all, collectively, make up my "Band of Brothers" and I have no doubt that our friendships will last beyond the military. COL Steven Sauter, LTC Dave Dahle, LTC Tony McClure, LTC Albert Gomez, LtCol Bruno Plourde, LtCol Drummond Fraser, Maj Jerry Hager, and Maj Klaus Fisher - I owe you all for doing your jobs so well, which made it so much easier to do mine.

Finally, a Parthian Shot - and for once I won't explain the background as I've been talking too long already. Google it if you care. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned here in Idaho - It's better to know which battles to fight than it is to win all of the battles that you do fight. Choose your causes wisely.

Again, Thank you all for coming. I genuinely wish you all the very happiest of holiday seasons and a joyous and bountiful new year.

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There it is, short and to the point. The best part is that I truly believe the points I was attempted to convey.

The military is not like any other "job" - and we should continually emphasize that point, to the recruits, to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines; but most importantly, we need to remind the American People of that - and their elected Representatives and Senators.

Likewise, I see the danger to the Constitution, and by extension America, isn't that of radical change, it's of complacence, somnolence, and apathy. The words in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are not just quaint creative writings - they are the bedrock of what we are as a nation. We must be on guard that we do not chip away around the edges to the point where nothing remains.

Finally, I am proud to say that I HAVE made a difference, however small. I think that that is all that any of us can hope for.

That all being said, I'm glad that my time in uniform is done. It's time to move on to the next chapters in this adventure called life.

BTW - I can't resist - the Parthians were follow-ons to the Persian Empire in what is now Mesopotamia. They successfully resisted the Roman Empire's expansion to the East. One of their favored battle tactics was to conduct a cavalry charge, then at the last minute, wheel about, as if they were going to flee - then turn and fire a volley of arrows over the rumps of their horses - directly into the ranks of the defenders, who, more often than not, had risen and shifted out of position to begin pursuing. As an Armor Officer, we called these "rear deck engagements" - firing the main gun over the back of the vehicle as we displaced from our fighting positions. Same thought, different technology. Hence, the Parthian Shot is a powerful volley fired as one retreats from the battlefield.

Hooah
SLK
FOB Walton, Kandahar, Afghanistan