Throughout the years I have witnessed many Aide de Camp or Personal Assistants to General Officers. I have often wondered what was the criteria for wanting the job, hiring someone for the job or whether or not I would develop the ego that would demand one. As I transitioned into the civilian world I have noticed that the title of the person demands staff to support. A important person to me and mentor left the military and took on a corporate job with a title that impressed you without even knowing exactly what he did. This fine gentleman didn't require a support staff because he was so efficient and capable at handling his tasks due to his great military education and experience. He had been mentored by the brightest minds we had to offer then and know he is one of them.

SOOO, I just figured ask a couple of questions and watch intently and I too will hold the secret of time management. Sounds and seems pretty simple right! WRONG, I have tried several different processes, habits and techniques to make sure that I get everything done that needs to get done and I accomplish my responsibilities. From being in the Army I learned to take notes in meetings and to memorize mission plans so that if captured or compromised that there would be no physical intelligence.

I still carry a green leaders book and I still try to listen carefully but I have noticed that things are getting by me. This is both good news and bad news. The good news is I am not as hyper vigilent as I used to be, the bad news I might be losing my edge and I need to get it back. I honestly don't think I'm losing too much of my edge but I do think that I am in a realm where my usual techniques are no longer enough. So is it an issue of ego or an issue of need.

I think its an issue in most cases of Need, in the terms of the military I think the leader needs to focus on the decision versus the process to accomplish the decision. I remember the old commercials for the Army which stated more was accomplished by 0900 than everyone else all day. I believe there was some truth to the work ethic perhaps not always the amount of complete. I think as a veteran I have a different work ethic and work expectation that those I come in contact with not military or Veterans.

Basically this boils done to, I need better time management skills and process to accomplish more and at a better quality of completion so if you know any secrets, let a Guy know.

Arrived back in Austin late this afternoon from our trip to Fort Meyers in Virginia. Soldiers Angels had been invited to attend a party and watch the AFC Championship football game with General Cartwright the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and some of our wounded heroes from Walter Reed. We worked the room with the brass (there were three Joint Chiefs at the party), intoduced ourselves to some celebrity football players and Washington Redskin cheerleaders (I just love pom poms), and spent most of the game moving from table to table to chat with the wounded guys and gals. Rich, the guy in the picture below, came wheeling by us and I asked him if he was Drew or Archie, as in the current Saints quarterback and fellow Austinite Drew Brees, or Archie Manning, the famous Saints quarterback from the 60's, and father of current NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli. He cracked up and we spent most of the first quarter listening to some great "war" stories. Rich was special forces and was blown up three times "having not learned the lesson the first two times". Once when he was "halo" parachuting over Cuba he accidently smacked into a British Airways Airplane. "I had enough time to think uh oh this is going to hurt." We all got a good laugh at that. Pretty good sense of humor for a guy who's got daily migrane headaches, nerve damage, and lives with a lot of pain.


           Rich and Toby at the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Football Party Fort Meyers Virginia January 24, 2010




                           Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Cartwright and Toby Ft. Meyers Virginia


An anxious moment during the Jets - Colts game. I was one of the few there who actually remembered the 1969 Jets - Colts game in Super Bowl III and the "old man" won a few football trivia question prizes for the Joes at my table. The advantages of getting old too quick and smart too slow.

and finially Check out this picture from Time Magazine....General McChrystal using a Soldiers Angels coffee mug!

General Stanley McChrystal (second from top right) Afghanistan Commander's Update Assessment Briefing December 2009.

Time is conceptual. For a Philosopher, for a rock n roll drummer, and for Toby. Had he taken my advice to octoclone himself a few months back he wouldn't be in half the jam he's in. Tick. Tock. We've been living breathing being the Soldiers Angels Center for the past week. It's a work in progress and we still have construction crews completing the build out as you read. If you listen close enough you can hear the hammers, saws, and grinders. Today we get a break as Toby and I are off to Washington D.C. to attend a party at Ft. Meyer with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General General Cartwright and some of our wounded heroes for the N.F.L. A.F.C. championship game. I'll keep you briefed...


Angel Sarah presenting a Wii and Wii Fit to an OIF wounded hero and his family West Los Angeles V.A. December 2009

I just wanted to send a Thank You to you guys for all you do. I submitted a Soldier to you guys a couple of weeks ago and my husband told me that his soldier received several packages from Soldiers Angels yesterday. You guys are a really wonderful group of people! Thank you so very, very much!
Sincerely,
Angela P.

Roger,
We have received a multitude of shipments from Soldier's Angels. The items have been perfect. Thank you so much. Our patients have been able to dress appropriately for the climate. The knit caps with the Soldier's Angel emblem have been a real hit. So many of our injured soldiers and civilians need replacement clothing following the scissors in the Trauma Room. We can see their eyes light up when we are able to offer them clothing and toiletries for a shower. Its amazing how much a shower means to these patients! You have really done a wonderful service.
Thank you so much,
CPT Teresa T.

Dear Soldiers' Angels,
Please see attachment and know we are grateful for all of your continued support. We could not do what we do without your support.
v/r
JOHNNY D.
MSG, USA
Chief Ward Master
TF 14th Medical

Hello Dear Ms. Patti.
Just wanted to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for such a wonderful holiday gifts. We have received Chest of Hope around New Years. It was sent to our PO Box. I sure wasn’t expecting it to be so Huge J. When I got a chance to pick it up all post office were wondering what that was that we got in the mail … !?, which made lots of smiles. Chest of Hope and letters are amazing, and our little girl absolutely loves the toys and blankets. And such a generous gift card, all we could say is … WOW. It is very warm and comforting to know that our guys have such support and care and such an unexpected kindness. I just sent package to Michael into Afghanistan (guys were deployed soon after that craziness). So he can’t wait to read the letters and have some good stuff and blankets. Thank You from All of Our Family to You and Every Soldier’s Angel. Our Family is Very Grateful that you touched Our lives.
Olessia P.
( SGT P., Michael)

Usually I like to use this venue to demonstrate some of the positive things that happen in my life and share with all those that I witness doing great things. I have been so blessed in my life to meet people that truly inspire and motivate me to be a better person. I have looked upon friends of mine and coveted their lives, been envious of their talents and desired to be more like them.

To me this could be "Living the Dream". Misfit 6 or Drew Jensen is really the guy that taught me that saying. He was a West Point Graduate and one of the Best Platoon Leaders I had ever met. He wanted nothing more to be a Leader and a Warrior and it was demonstrated in how he lived his life and how it came to an end. A Mutual Friend Nick Kardonsky sat across from my cot in Kuwait on my last trip and relived his last memory of Drew with me and it contained the statement of "Living the Dream". As a result of relationships like this I pledged to live my life and accomplish my dreams and let all those around me know how much I enjoy living at that it is my Dream.

Another HERO and guy I wish I could have been because of his athletic ability, amazing resolve and character, likable personality and was ENVIOUS of his career motivated me similarly. We attended a Military School together, partied together, hit a casino in the middle of the night in an undisclosed location while allegedly studying for a serious military test, did random crazy workouts that would be considered masochistic but mutually respected each other although I was always a little "star struck" by him since he was so good. He was a most talented shooter and savage warrior, lived the Ranger Creed and I never missed a chance to seek insight and hope that some of the magic would rub off on me by being around him. To me, he was "Living the Dream"

One can never know the truest of another person's soul, I guess we can only project as much happiness as there is a seed for to take life. I have found my place at times very dark in nature but always knew there was to be some shining moment to change it all. Even if at that moment of dark despair it was not present others lights have found their way to guide me out. 

Like many I get consumed by that around me and I get self absorbed. I let too much time go in between calls and find out One Man's dream is anothers nightmare. This is a somber fact of life, choices can be made by others for their reasons that shortchange the rest of us that beacon of light that was once there. 

Well, I can make choices too. I can choose to remember roulette at 0350hrs, the worlds cheapest flip flops that melted in the hot sand, I can choose to let light continue to travel through the Universe from him and not die once it reaches me. Sometimes you just got to Keep the Dream Alive!

RIP AG, RLTW!