issue 6 the spartan leader · professional journal. the spartan leader 61st quartermaster...
TRANSCRIPT
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61st Quartermaster Battalion, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command
Issue 6 – 07 July 2020
THE SPARTAN LEADER
A Leadership Development
Professional Journal
THE SPARTAN LEADER61st Quartermaster Battalion, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command
07 July 2020
Issue 6
Page | 2
"Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today.
We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be
united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the
Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom...
Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation.
We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the
day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American
holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not
go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're
going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our
Independence Day!
-President Thomas Whitmore from the movie Independence Day
(1996)
If you haven’t seen the movie, and based on movie conversations I’ve
had around the battalion I would venture to say many of you have not
– Independence Day, starring Will Smith, matches the human race
against an alien invasion. The only way to defeat this unknown enemy
is for the world powers to band together and simultaneously defeat
the invaders – on the 4th of July no less.
While we all celebrated our Independence Day weekend, in a way
different than we’d ever had imagined, we were also fighting an
invasion.
Make no mistake, the Coronavirus is an invasion – albeit not alien –
and the only way for us, the human race, to defeat this enemy is to
come together and simultaneously take the steps to combat the
threat. Wash your hands, wear your mask, keep appropriate distance,
and treat everyone as if they have the virus. As BG Ragin discussed
last week – this is not about you, this is about protecting everyone.
From 1776 to the present day we have celebrated
our Independence Day. While the typical BBQ and
parades did not happen this year, we certainly have
a lot to celebrate. And always remember:.
"America was not built on fear. America was built on
courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable
determination to do the job at hand.“
- President Harry S. Truman
From the EditorIn This Edition:
From the Editor-CPT Keith Beeson
From the
Commander-LTC Paul Smith
Interesting
Articlesp. 4 – Achieving
Mental Toughness-CSM Keysa Chambers
p. 6 – COVID and
Combat-CPT Bryan Miller
Quotes Worth
Pondering-CPT Keith Beeson
Twitteringsp. 9 – Tragic Lesson:
A Thread on Task
Force Smith -CPT Keith Beeson
Thank You
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THE SPARTAN LEADER
Spartans,
Welcome to the 6th issue of The Spartan Leader.
We cover a diverse set of topics in today’s Spartan Leader,
ranging from Mental Toughness, to TF Smith (no relation) in
the Korean War, and a real-time look into the struggle against
COVID19 within the battalion from the perspective of lessons
learned during CPT Miller’s previous deployment in 2011.
I am incredibly excited for this issue as we see the first
contribution from our NCO Corps. CSM Chambers devoted
her time to share her perspective and reflections on Mental Toughness, which I think we all
could use some help with right now. I hope this is an indicator of what’s to come because
the battalion is only as strong as our sergeants so getting the NCO perspective is key in
the continued development of our Soldiers and the Spartan Leader.
We are seeing change across the battalion whether that be in key leadership positions (
CSM, company commanders, and 1SGs) or in missions (FTX, NTC, and potentially a
Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise) and on top of all that we are facing an unseen
enemy in COVID19. Despite these changes and challenges there is nowhere I’d rather be
than here with the Spartans.
The team we have assembled here is focused on the fundamentals, driving us to be better
everyday, and on accomplishing the mission. We have room to grow and will continue
seeking ways to provide predictability in what we do, balance the demands of the mission
with our need for Family or personal time, and will be Always Ready to Fuel the Fight.
I am incredibly proud to serve alongside each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
Spartan 6
LTC Paul Smith
Battalion Commander
From the Commander
Issue 6, 6 July 2020
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Achieving Mental ToughnessBy CSM Keysa Chambers, 61st QM BN CSM
THE SPARTAN LEADER
Continued on Page 5
Issue 6, 07 July 2020
What is Mental Toughness?
Why is it Important?
Being a Soldier in the military
requires a high level of patience,
understanding and caring for
others in order to build effective
teams and unit cohesion. As a
member of a team, Soldiers must
work together to complete
everyday requirements, tasks
and special missions.
Additionally, Soldiers are
required to be highly trained,
uphold standards, follow
regulatory guidance, and perform
in manner that demonstrates the Army values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless
Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage). Soldiers are expected to be
in top mental and physical condition, while enduring all the stressors that come
with each position.
Leaders’ abilities are tested everyday on making good decisions, leading by
example, training Soldiers and ultimately taking care of Soldiers and their
Families.
These obligations and responsibilities can’t be taken lightly, and in most cases
require more time than a person has in one day. So many of us struggle to
find balance between life at work and life at home. Who would think that three
very small words (balance, work and home) can result in a large amount of
stress and cause one to feel confused and disconnected with what is
important.
For this reason, I think it is important for Soldiers to understand how to achieve
Mental Toughness.
Mental Toughness is for individuals that want to produce ever lasting results.
It helps manage stress and provide a winning attitude.
Mental Toughness is an essential life skill that will help us defeat and
overcome the challenges that we face on a daily basis.
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
Achieving Mental Toughness
By CSM Keysa Chambers
Mental Toughness is having the ability to persist and persevere
in-order to live a comfortable life with little to no stress.
Mental Toughness is being able to resist doubting yourself and your abilities to
make it to your finish line.
Mental Toughness is not something you develop overnight. It is like a muscle
that grows over time.
Mental Toughness is a learned skill that will prepare you for difficult and
uncertain times.
In order for you to achieve mental toughness you must take on some
new habits. Habits that will ensure you are mentally prepared for any
and all obstacles that will happen in your life.
You Must Have A Great
Attitude
Be Proactive
Take Ownership Of Your
Actions
Accept The Things You
Cannot Change
Surround Yourself With
Positive People
Take A Break (Relax)
Savor The Moment By
Finding Meaning In
Everything You Do
Stay Physical
Have Faith That Everything
Will Work Out
So tell me “What is your Level of Mental Toughness?
https://www.essentiallifeskills.net/10-sure-fire-habits-for-
achieving-mental-toughness.html
The end of March 2020 is what I compare to the introduction of combat, in
May of 2011 during my 3rd patrol along Route Hyena we ran into a hasty
ambush. It was a poorly planned attack orchestrated by paying locals to shoot
at us with WWII style bolt action rifles. Obviously, they were no match for our
machine guns and grenade launchers. Fast forward to 2020, and we, like the
ambushers, were not prepared for the overwhelming power of the opposition
– COVID-19. Quickly our society was pushed to our limits and forced to
deploy extensive measures to combat an enemy we don’t quite understand.
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COVID and CombatBy CPT Bryan Miller, 53rd Quartermaster Company Commander
THE SPARTAN LEADER
Continued on Page 7
Issue 6, 07 July 2020
Leaders’ abilities are tested everyday on making good decisions, leading by example, training Soldiers and ultimately taking care of Soldiers and their Families.
These obligations and responsibilities can’t be taken lightly, and in most cases require more time than a person has in one day. So many of us struggle to find balance between life at work and life at home. Who would think that three very small words (balance, work and home) can result in a large amount of stress and cause one to feel confused and disconnected with what is important.
My deployment during the surge in Iraq had given me the experience I would need to explain to my Soldiers but not comprehend as we were headed into the birthplace of the Taliban, Panjwai Afghanistan. Similar to the challenge of command in a COVID environment, I learned many lessons – some easily and some in painful ways. I find it eerily familiar between which a Platoon of 24 surviving
some of the worst predicaments anyone can imagine and
in trying to protect a force of over 200 versus amicroscopic yet powerful foe.
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
COVID and Combat
By CPT Bryan Miller
In 2011 things grew quiet and we settled into a lull completing
our day to day tasks thinking that we had wiped out our foe
and that any attempt to fight us again would be met with an
overwhelming response.
In 2020, once 1st Medical Brigade returned and seemingly COVID was KIA,
our day to day routine resumed. Our assumption was COVID was contained
and that we had made it into summer. Like other infectious diseases and
enemy forces it should have learned it is no match for American firepower,
yet; as it regressed into the shadows and began to fall off our radar it was
preparing to attack us. This time as it attacked, our response wasn’t
overwhelming and we have found ourselves struggling to remain in the fight.
This is the deliberate ambush and like 2011 it has thrown many variables. It is
difficult to remain calm enough to clearly assess the situation. The decision to
employ indirect and direct fires, the ability to reach out for MEDEVAC, and to
deploy other resources such as CAS and QRF have quickly grayed in the
“Fog of War”. This can be compared with what criteria is mission essential and
what isn’t, who is a close contact and who isn’t, what can I afford not to
accomplish and what must still be done?
The thing I find most interesting is that what made my deployment in 2011 and
our CONUS biological fight in 2020 successful have many similarities.
1. PPE is Important:
In 2011 I must have complained about
wearing my “combat diaper” over a
million times and luckily never needed
the protection it offered this is similar
to the mask, both are uncomfortable
and annoying but protect us should
we come into contact we weren’t
expecting. Socially distancing, face
masks, and proper hygiene will
ultimately keep us and our teammates safe. I truly believe with the tasks we
accomplish daily had we let our standards down we would be facing a much
larger “casualty rate” or exposure to COVID.
Continued on Page 8
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
COVID and Combat
By CPT Bryan Miller
2. Constant adjustments to Tactics, Techniques and
Procedures
3. Lessons Learned
Although we are facing this head on now and many could argue we are in a
fight for grey space. Leaders at echelons are sharing information in real time. I
have found myself talking to more Commanders on this post than I could have
imagined due to the integration of Service Members. I have contacted
countless Soldiers and civilians effected by this fight. I have shared both my
successes and failures with all echelons because although, we may have had
the first outbreak we can prevent others from learning the same lessons we
have already learned.
We are all in this fight together, we will prevail versus this biological foe. Like
combat we need to lean on our brothers and sisters to our left and right to not
only do the right thing but do so in the interest of those they serve with. In
these crazy times, be safe, follow guidance, look out for each other, sharebest practices and ultimately we will prevail!
While it is frustrating to disseminate information
rapidly - it is based on up-to-date information. I
compare this to receiving the S2 enemy
SITEMP brief prior to a patrol. Knowing that a
patrol had just run into an ambush is similar to
our contact trace teams identifying potential
exposures. Ultimately, they both give us the
knowledge to prepare for the potential battle
we may face.
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Quotes Worth PonderingBy CPT Keith Beeson, 61st QM Battalion S3
THE SPARTAN LEADER
With the recent celebration of our countries Independence Day I share with
you a quote from U.S. Grant. The quote also seems apt with the current state
of affairs across our country.
Before Grant became the 18th President of the United States he was earned
his reputation by leading the Union Army as Commanding General of the
United States Army in winning the American Civil War.
He is also a native of the Great State of Ohio
Issue 6, 07 July 2020
"If our country could be saved or ruined by the
efforts of any one man we should not have a
country...What saved the Union was the coming
forward of the young...of the nation. To their
devotion, we owe the salvation of the Union.”- Ulysses S. Grant, July 4th, 1878
TRAGIC LESSONS: A THREAD ON
TASK FORCE SMITHXVIII Airborne Corps / May 21, 2019 @18airbornecorps https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1279741494103027712.html/
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TwitteringsBy CPT Keith Beeson, 61st QM Battalion S3
THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
1 of 60
TRAGIC LESSONS: A THREAD ON TASK
FORCE SMITH
2 of 60:
70 years ago today, Task Force Smith was
overrun by North Korean Forces. Let’s explore
that event a little more closely.
3 of 60:
Throughout the Army “Task Force Smith” has
become both a cautionary tale against
complacency and shorthand for a lack of
preparation for combat.
4 of 60:
“No More Task Force Smiths!” goes the warning
cry; an admonition against complacent
leadership.
5 of 60:
But what's the real story? Why was such a
small force committed to such a large North
Korean force? Why was FECOM (Far East
Command) caught so off guard? We’re so glad
you asked.
6 of 60:
It all started with Harry Truman, a frequent
character in #TDIDCH. After WWII, Pres
Truman made dramatic cuts to a
colossus @USArmy the country could no longer
afford.
7 of 60:
Clearly, we had to downsize the Army’s
presence in the Pacific. Clearly, we had to
prioritize military resources in Europe, where
the Soviet Union sought to expand its influence.
9 of 60:
General Douglas MacArthur, CINFE
(Commander-in-Chief Far East), protested
and pleaded for more troops and more
money with which to train and equip them.
But Truman wouldn’t hear it.
10 of 60:
From 1947 - 1950 Far East Command was
effectively rendered unable to fight. Troop
strength was cut in half. What remained was
cut by a third.
11 of 60:
Forget on-time services and motor pool
stabilization: There was not enough
equipment to fight and there were not
enough people to keep that equipment
serviceable. Many units just gave up trying.
12 of 60:
So at dawn on Sunday, 25 June 1950, when
the North Korean Army (NKPA - North
Korean People’s Army) crashed through the
38th Parallel into democratic South Korea
behind artillery fire launching the Korean
War, there wasn’t a heck of a lot MacArthur
could do.
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
TRAGIC LESSONS: A THREAD ON TASK FORCE SMITH
By CPT Keith Beeson
13 of 60:
The ROK Army fought with the equipment
they had, but the @USArmy and
the @DeptofDefense were unprepared.
14 of 60:
In the early days of the war, the NKPA seized
the South Korean capital of Seoul, and was
making its way south in a bid to take over the
entire country.
15 of 60:
MacArthur knew he had no large ground
force established in Korea & not enough
cargo planes in the region to quickly transport
a large ground force to the fight. So he
decided to make one.
16 of 60:
The best MacArthur
and @EighthArmyKorea’s General Walton
Walker could come up with was a delaying
force to contact the enemy until the 24th Inf
Div could come in from Japan by sea via the
port of Pusan.
17 of 60:
They sent in ~ 400 soldiers led by 34-year-
old WWII-vet Lieutenant Colonel Charles B
Smith: ~ half of Smith’s 1 Battalion, 21
Infantry Reg + some artillery. No tanks. No
forward air controllers. No combat engineers.
No air defense. Not even recon platoons.
18 of 60:
Most importantly, not nearly enough force to
slow down the NKPA. This force, Task Force
Smith, was to be the American combat unit to
meet the enemy in the Korean War.
19 of 60:
Now, the odds were REALLY stacked against
TF Smith. They did not have full platoons due
to manpower shortages.
20 of 60:
Much of TF Smith’s equipment
didn’t work; in Japan they were
never able to maintain most of the trucks
because they didn’t have enough mechanics or
enough $$$ for parts.
21 of 60:
TF Smith was mostly 18 - 20-year-old draftees
who did not fight in WWII and were never
trained in realistic combat scenarios.
22 of 60:
TF Smith would basically have to do the best it
could and stop the North Koreans as far from
Pusan as possible to give the 24th In Div
enough time to get set in theater w/combat
power
23 of 60:
MacArthur and Walker hoped that if the ROK
units saw TF Smith stand and fight against a
MUCH larger NKPA force in Osan, their ROK
counterparts would be so inspired that they
would rally and hold off their North Korean
adversaries.
24 of 60:
Task Force Smith assembled and moved out
really, really quickly. The unit had never trained
or prepared to move out on such short notice
and in the chaotic hustle, the men left a lot of
necessary combat equipment in Japan.
Continued on Page 9
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
TASK FORCE SMITH
By CPT Keith Beeson
25 of 60:
They got into ships in Japan and headed for
South Korea.
26 of 60:
TF Smith arrived in the port of Pusan on the
morning of July 1. The next morning, July 2,
the men arrived in Taejon, S. Korea by train.
27 of 60:
MacArthur could only monitor.....and hope.
28 of 60:
On July 4, Charles Smith set up his command
post in Pyeongtaek, some 15 miles southeast
of Osan, with a plan to develop a defensive
position in Osan the next day and wait there
for the enemy.
29 of 60:
In the early, early morning of July 5, Task
Force Smith moved out of Pyeongtaek in
dozens of trucks in blackout condition in a
pouring rain, reaching their position at 3 a.m.
By daylight, TF Smith was dug in.
30 of 60:
Smith and his men did not have
to wait long for the enemy. At
around 7:30 a.m. observers spotted eight
Soviet-made T-34 tanks of the NKPA’s 107th
Tank Regiment rolling directly toward them.
31 of 60:
By 8:30 AM, Smith’s tiny force was as isolated
and outnumbered as the Texians at the Alamo.
32 of 60:
2 regiments of the NKPA’s 4th Inf. Div.,
supported by a tank regiment—some 5,000
well-trained, well-resourced soldiers and three
dozen tanks - closed with the tiny tankless Task
Force.
33 of 60:
The @USArmy had no anti-tank mines in
Korea, & in the rush to get to the fight, TF Smith
brought none with them from Japan.
34 of 60:
The T-34s soon opened fire on the Americans
with their turret-mounted 85mm guns and 7.62
machine guns. The North Koreans melted
through TF Smith’s initial defense.
35 of 60:
19 year old Kenny Shadrick from Harlan
County, Kentucky, a member of the bazooka
team, was the first American Soldier killed in the
Korean War.
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
TASK FORCE SMITH
By CPT Keith Beeson
36 of 60:
For much of the early afternoon, TF Smith held
valiantly. Despite all the odds stacked against
them, they actually delayed the North Koreans
for a few hours.
37 of 60:
By 2:30 PM, TF Smith was basically completely
defenseless. The men had no comms (NKPA
tanks cut the comms wires).
38 of 60:
Large numbers of the enemy were now on both
flanks and moving toward their rear; a huge
enemy reserve waited in front of them.
39 of 60:
Most of their limited amount of ammunition was
gone.
40 of 60:
There were no reinforcements anywhere around
to help.
41 of 60:
Pouring rain prevented friendly air from arriving
at the scene.
42 of 60:
Charles Smith did the only thing he could:
ordered a retreat. [blue line on map]
43 of 60:
The retreat quickly broke down
into a confused and disorganized
rout. With virtually no comms, the retreat order
was passed by shouts. Things became chaotic
and most of the TF wasn’t sure what was
happening or where to go.
44 of 60:
Task Force Smith suffered its highest casualties
during this withdrawal as its soldiers were most
exposed to enemy fire.
45 of 60:
Most equipment was left in place by retreating
American Soldiers, to be captured by North
Koreans.
46 of 60:
It was the first American battle of the Korean
War and it was a humiliating defeat.
47 of 60:
TF Smith lost 60 dead, 21 wounded and 82
captured. ~ 40% of the TF was a casualty in the
fight. Most of the equipment was destroyed or
captured by North Koreans.
48 of 60:
So, what does it all mean? What is the real
moral of Task Force Smith?
49 of 60:
Certainly there is a lesson in there about the
inability to predict when and where the next war
will begin. Truman hedged his bets that North
Korea would not attack the South and did not
allocate enough men and materiel there.
50 of 60:
There’s a lesson about the need to train in
realistic, tough, combat-focused scenarios and
environments.
51 of 60:
However, the most important lesson is the most
complicated: Army leaders must scan the global
environment for gaps and opportunities for our
enemies. The truth is, we should have known
North Korean was going to attack.
Continued on Page 11
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THE SPARTAN LEADERIssue 6, 07 July 2020
TASK FORCE SMITH
By CPT Keith Beeson
52 of 60:
The South Korean defenses were practically
BEGGING to be attacked.
53 of 60:
Army analysts were wrong because they were
not paying attention to global trends. The cost
of erroneous environmental scanning and
prognosticating is potentially catastrophic.
54 of 60:
There’s another important message in here
about the role journalists play in combat. We
know much of what we know about the story
we just told because the NY Herald Tribune’s
Marguerite Higgins bravely traveled w/ TF
Smith & masterfully reported on this event
56 of 60:
Also, sometimes when the history
of TF Smith is recounted, the wrong
story is told.
57 of 60:
Some books on this subject focus on a gutsy,
under-equipped, undermanned force that
valiantly held off a larger North Korean force.
That is true but can paper over the more
important conclusion.
58 of 60:
Leaders failed the men of Task Force Smith.
59 of 60:
And while MacArthur and the Army adjusted
over the course of the next 4 months and
eventually fought to a draw, today's
technological advancements (AI, cyber,
missiles) may no longer allow such
adjustments.
END:
The next war’s opening salvo may prove to
be the Nation's final if the Army is not
prepared.
55 of 60:
Independent combat correspondence is
important for the country. It’s also important for
our understanding and for the development of
lessons learned.
For further reading on the Korean War –
This Kind of War by T.R. Fehrenbach is
an excellent account of the war. The
story of Task Force Smith is an excellent
reminder of our constant requirement to
be Always Ready to Fuel the Fight!
15
Thank You
Thank you for reading the fourth edition of The Spartan Leader.
Request for Submissions: In order to make this the best
resource possible for developing Leaders, we ask that if you have
any content you would like to share that will help to develop others
in the Battalion that you send them to the S3/editor (CPT Keith
Beeson).
Editor
CPT Keith Beeson, 61st Quartermaster Battalion S3
[email protected] @keithbeeson
This Edition’s Contributors
LTC Paul Smith, 61st QM Battalion Commander
CSM Keysa Chambers, 61st QM BN Command Sergeant Major
CPT Bryan Miller, 53rd Quartermaster Company Commander
CPT Keith Beeson, 61st QM Battalion S3
Page |
THE SPARTAN LEADER
Resources:
A free discounted e-books email subscription:
https://www.bookbub.com/welcome
Battalion Command Sergeant Major
CSM Keysa L. Chambers
Battalion Commander
LTC Paul W. Smith
61st Quartermaster Battalion Leadership
Issue 6, 07 July 2020