Archives for 2013

Nov
13

Kelly Kennedy’s: They Fought for Each Other, is a testament to bonds of brothers in arms

Journalist and former soldier, Kelly Kennedy is the author of  They Fought for Each Other, the Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in Iraq.  The MilSuccessNet team had the privilege of hearing Kennedy speak a year ago in Denver at Sangria Summit, a military writers’ conference.

She took us all from the podium into the heart of her experience of the men whose lives are illuminated in this exceptional coverage of the unit who paid the heavy human cost of war. She was as honest about the situation that created those incredibly dark days and trauma as she was both loyal and protective of the warriors who got through their ordeals by virtue of their mutual caring for each other.

Kelly Kennedy, journalist and veteran

Kelly Kennedy, journalist and veteran

WoW features Kennedy’s book on this Words on Wednesdays to acknowledge the bonds of service members. Nations stood in honor of Veterans just a few days ago, so it feels right to note that what gets our nations’ warriors through is their caring for and protection of each other, day-to-day. [Read more…]

Nov
11

American Legion calls for service to Veterans

D.M. Dellinger, National Commander, American Legion

Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander, American Legion

On this Veterans Day, 2013, MilitarySuccessNetwork.com shares with direct permisson, this message from………..Daniel M. Dellinger, who is national commander of the 2.4 million-member American Legion…..in his own words…..

  

Let’s Serve Veterans as Well as They Have Served Us
 
By Daniel M. Dellinger
 
During the recent government shutdown many numbers were thrown around. But there is one number that stands out and it has nothing to do with the debate over the federal budget. [Read more…]
Oct
30

A book & a birthday support healthy lives at Valhalla

Warrior Police, the book by Gordon Cucullu

Cucullu’s 3rd book’s proceeds earmarked for Valhalla

WoW notes Words on Wednesdays of military supporter, Chris Fontana who co-wrote the book Warrior Police with Lt. Col (Ret.) Gordon Cucullu. Proceeds from the book were earmarked for The Valhalla Project and now Chris is hoping you’ll join in celebrating the start of her upcoming half century and contribute to Valhalla directly.

She is marking her 50th birthday very publicly via a Crowdrise campaign. The idea is to have the letters, cards, gifts and even good-hearted teasing that come with this birthday, delivered as funds to improve conditions for both the warrior and the critter participants of The Valhalla Project. [Read more…]

Oct
23

What’s sunk and what’s successful in your Military to Civilian transition process?

Sunk Costs: MilSuccessNet guest writer, Cindy Dachuk weighs in on what it means to readers in the midst of Military to Civilian transition. And, we revisit the sunk costs post of  US Army Light Infantry veteran, Jesse Hughes as he experienced it during his MBA process.

Sunk Costs in a team scenario was the topic of one of our Go To ‘business guys’ on the MilSuccessNet guest writer roster, Jesse Hughes.

Jesse Hughes (photo supplied)

Jesse Hughes (photo supplied)

The reality of sunk costs that Jesse introduced, goes a step deeper with Cindy’s post. It speaks to the every day  decision-making process. It may also touch on the analysis our readers experience as they shift from military to civilian work places and community situations.

During his MBA, Jesse bridged interests in his civilian academic study group using both military and business savvy. In his current work life now, he bridges his company’s interests through strategic matching of its specialists with clients’ needs for solutions in the marketplace.

We are wise to do what he does, pause and ask if we can afford to sink into one path without review, or being open to revision and refinement?  

Cindy D_2ThumbCindy Dachuk answers this question in today’s Wow- Words on Wednesdays. She is a Leadership Breakthrough Expert and founder of the Titan Training Group.

 A friend of MilitarySuccessNetwork, we  met her at the same time Team MilSuccessNet’s members first met each other- all at a communications boot camp led by Kevin Hogan

We were all there to learn, to adapt and to advance.. and we do so now again, with the reprint of Cindy Dachuk’s blog on sunk costs, from her post this week and in her own words… [Read more…]

Oct
16

End of deployment brings anxiety for spouse

Transitions are explored in WoW – Words on Wednesdays by folks connected to the military, writing about the transformative experience from a personal perspective or the experience of books of fiction and of biography.

Today, some direct advice from Pam and Shaun Collins. It’s reprinted from their mid summer column at their first writing base at Ft. Leonard Wood’s Guidon.

Now, directly from the He Said, She Said column and in their own words…….. [Read more…]

Oct
09

Still Having Fun documents military family life

Day by day the resilience of American military families is tested. Their triumphs and tears are rarely captured and chronicled. Their stories certainly are still few relative to their numbers across the land and their vast contribution as supports to service members, and to the fabric of society. We are most likely to hear of their challenges and regrettably, the tragedies they experience.

Candace George Thompson

Candace George Thompson

Author, Candace George Thompson’s glimpse into the intimate life of one family is, therefore, a rarity and a delight. She is the daughter of a career Air Force Officer whose first mission was on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Her book, Still Having Fun, a Portrait of the Military Marriage of Rex and Bettie George, 1941–2007  is today’s Words on Wednesdays (WoW) selection. It adds joy and love to the narrative of military family life, as most of us might imagine it to be.

In today’s Words on Wednesday:

  • Still Having Fun.. the award winning book
  • Author Candace George Thompson transitions
  • Life lessons shared

Excerpts from a recent interview with Military Success Network comprise today’s WoW post:   [Read more…]

Sep
20

Emily Carr closes to honor resilience and reconciliation process in Canada

It’s not generally expected that the topic of resilience and the discussion of trauma will shut down an entire organization. Yet, in Vancouver on September 20, 2013 one school – The Emily Carr University of Art & Design will – do exactly that.

This post is about:

* Canadians now refer to the original peoples of the continent, which you and I grew up calling Indians, and then aboriginals, as 1st Nations. On this part of the continent it is most correct both politically and culturally. 

The institute is closing down to honour its Aboriginal constituents, [Read more…]

Sep
13

Star Spangled Banner written this day in 1814

It’s Friday the 13th but our day here at base camp MilSuccessNet ‘unfurls’ magnificently today in full and glorious color and in tune!

Portrait of Francis Scott Key writer of The Star Spangled Banner

Francis Scott Key

It is the day that inspired the man who wrote the lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner. Francis Scott Key, a poet and a lawyer, penned the famous stanzas in 1814.

His words added to the beautiful tune, stir tremendous loyalty. The notes that follow were taken directly from the Writer’s Almanac. In a sense, this small poem became the soundtrack to a transition by a nation moved, musically, to great patriotism… [Read more…]

Jul
03

Gettysburg a test of faith for friends, foes & families

On this last day of commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg and the eve of Independence Day jubilation, veteran and armchair historian, Greg Johnson shares his reflections in this first guest post.

Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson

What follows began as a conversation with Greg about this week’s events. Even as a Canadian, I have been riveted to the re-enactments of the  first person accounts and the historical narratives, both strictly factual and fictitious, that mark the Battle of Gettysburg. It is said that this battle ended it for the South, even though the war waged on for long after in other regions. [Read more…]

Jul
03

Destiny of the Republic book notes by Greg Johnson

Candice Millard’s “Destiny of the Republic” tells a remarkable story. It’s of American public life in the late 19th century – a period in American politics which seems to have received little attention in popular history.

Destiny of the Republic: by Candice Millard

[Read more…]