Veteran’s Corner

Tom Krabbenhoft

Thanks for the replies on last week’s footwear piece. I’d like to step off there and point out other leadership foibles us in the service find ourselves in.

Sometimes bad equipment is worse than no equipment. My first trip to Alaska was wrought with old gear I was sent with. I had the old M51fishtail parka, which was canvas, hung to the knees and had a quilted liner. The hood was windproof but not warm. It also had several miles of drawstrings in it and figuring them out was like mapping the human genome. Good old TF mittens. TF means trigger finger. Essentially like an oven mitt with a thumb and index finger. Black leather combat boots and the famous Mickey Mouse boots.

First meeting we went too we were greeted with laughter. It was 1989 and we had Korean War winter clothing. I was the low man on the totem pole so most of the ribbing and jokes about the vintage clothing were fielded my way. My favorite “Are guys in the Salvation Army?”

I’m glad we had a decent contingent of officers with. Things change when leadership knows and it affects them directly. Next trip there we were all outfitted with Gore-Tex, coats and pants and matterhorn boots. I have a feeling had the first trip been just the Sgt. Krabbenhoft show my next several trips would’ve been with Korean War gear.

A buddy and I were talking about some of our past leaders. Neither of us were surprised at lack of weather knowledge or downright lack of concern on leadership behalf. His career working on aircraft in cold weather became a safety concern. He pointed out cold weather policy which they were not aware of. He remarked on leaderships aloofness to even care about cold gear. I had a similar event. I evoke “wet bulb globe index”.  It states when heat and humidity hit specific target areas, work must be modified or ceased. I took it to the safety officer on base and they agreed with me.

I’m not a fan of General Mark Milley and could point to a dozen examples why. At a function there were a few generals there. Milley came up and I asked “how does a general become so detached from what’s good for the military.” A 2 star answered quickly. “Too many DC cocktail parties and not enough time with the troops. They start listening to people at these parties.” Bells went off for me when I heard this. No matter where you are at in the leadership spectrum, you have to listen to the needs of people below you are with, not just hear them.

General Rommel “The Desert Fox” was famous for enduring the same hardship of his troops.        Omar Bradley is another example. He would jump in chow lines with privates and NCOs and pick their brains.

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