IOC Journal #2

 Post a live fire range from Capt. Dickey:

Grit: courage and resolve - strength of character -> Noun

Verb-> Clench your teeth to keep resolve when faced with a difficult duty. 

In the infantry you have to have GRIT, its the start. And its the officer who needs that. Rommel never went to sleep before his men. There are reports of him being so sleep deprived he fell off his horse.

The German Army in WWII were outgunned by the French but beat them anyway. Blitzkreig worked because a German Division stayed awake for 72 hours. The French rushed to defend a small mountain town as it was the key to Blitzkreig. The personal example of the officer to continue cannot be overstated.

 Lt Clifton B Kates platoon commander in WWI Belleau Wood - Where the IOC emblem comes from. He became company commander by blood. "I will Hold" he and 22 men survive the night, seizes a town and secures a victory at Belleau Wood. Infantry, we are the lifeblood. 

Takeaway - Leaders sleep last, eat last, and look out for the men, not themselves. Time to stop thinking about yourself. You will never be comfortable again, while you wear this rank, and that is a privilege.