{"id":1305,"date":"2024-10-10T12:26:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T16:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cognitivewarriorproject.com\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2024-10-10T12:26:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T16:26:00","slug":"moral-clarity-two-anniversaries-lessons-learned-and-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cognitivewarriorproject.com\/?p=1305","title":{"rendered":"Moral Clarity, Two Anniversaries, Lessons Learned and Hope?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I am not big on anniversaries. It\u2019s not that I don\u2019t care but for some reason remembering dates is hard for me and they usually have a tendency to sneak up on me.  Thankfully social media helps in this regard but, unless it is in the immediacy of my house, I still tend to miss the significance of the time until it is almost past. That is indeed the case with this article, it probably should have been written several days ago but alas, that is not the case and, in several ways, I think that I am better for it because looking back can provide a clarity that can be lost in the moment. So, what am I talking about? October 3, 1993, and October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n

If October 3, 1993, doesn\u2019t jump off the page, how about a little mental nudge with a book\/movie reference \u2013 Black Hawk Down, to help you out? Although my Army career would not start for another 7 years, this event largely shaped what I would learn and do in my relatively short military career. Instead of watching the movie, perhaps we should hear from the folks there that day, which is possible because the Modern War Institute<\/a> did just that in their latest podcast. (Actually, the conversation was originally recorded in 2018 and released as an episode of the <\/em>MWI Podcast on the thirtieth anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu.<\/em>)  From the description<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty years ago this week \u2013 on October 3, 1993 \u2013 US special operations forces launched a mission in Mogadishu. It was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, which was aimed at capturing Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The mission was intended to be of a short duration. But things changed when, shortly after members of Task Force Ranger launched from their base, fighters on the ground began firing on US aircraft. The battle that ensued \u2013 which would later become the subject of journalist Mark Bowden\u2019s book, Black Hawk Down, and subsequently a film of the same name \u2013 lasted well into the next day. In this episode, you\u2019ll hear from three people who took part in that battle. Listen as they share their firsthand perspectives of the action over those two days, describing the challenges they faced, reflecting on what was required to overcome those challenges, and exploring the lessons the battle holds for future Army leaders.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s not just lessons for future Amy leaders though, anyone who has faced or potentially will face adversity should be able to take something away from this episode. I highly recommend listening to the whole thing. Here are some of the lessons that they provide at the end of the show:<\/p>\n

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  1. Fight Light \u2013 Fight off the vehicle and what it carries first, have a go-bag<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. Water<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Chow is not a priority<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Seek a better planning process \u2013 Cross-train<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. *Medical \u2013Gauze, tourniquets, chest seals, and the importance of direct pressure all were lessons learned that shaped our medical treatment today.<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. Physical fitness \u2013 You never know the depth you will be tested<\/em><\/li>\n
  7. Leading from the DECISIVE POINT<\/em><\/li>\n
  8. Always be ready<\/em><\/li>\n
  9. Humility \u2013 You are probably not the subject matter expert<\/em><\/li>\n
  10. Composure \u2013 Be as calm as possible, don\u2019t let fear control you<\/em><\/li>\n
  11. Be a credible combat leader<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n