Rage & Fury

by Darryl Hadfield

  Sensei Kim dismissed the rest of the blackbelts, tossing Sensei Vinden the keys to the padlock on the chain at the front door. “Let ‘em out, Steve.” I remained sitting there for perhaps five minutes until all had departed, including Sensei Vinden.

  “James, you’ve done well. Steve told me about you training with him, and I’ve been watching tapes from his security system to see for myself. Sorry for the surprise, but it’s done better this way. Congratulations, Nidan.”

  I didn’t even know what to say. “Thank you, Sensei. Wait…Nidan???? That’s second degree???”

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  “Goddamn my arms hurt?”

  He laughed, then his face grew serious again. “You’ve done very well, James, as I said before. I expect a promise from you, because I see much potential in you, and I don’t want it wasted. When you find yourself ready to give up, or give in, then it will be time for you to set aside your intent, and pursue your purpose.”

  “Sensei, I’m sorry, but I’m exhausted and I don’t think I understand.”

  “Let’s just say for now, that I expect you to promise me that you will at some point teach everything I’ve taught you – and until then, practice and remember it.”

  “Yes, Sensei, I promise.” I’d never even considered saying no to this man, with something like that.

  “Well done, James. Very well done. Now git; you have classes at 0800.”

  I nearly missed class, sleeping late after my four hour long beating the night before.

  I barely kept my eyes open through the lecture about Development Programs, but my eyes snapped open when I realized that they weren’t talking about squads.

  “Battalion leader development programs will differ from smaller unit leader development programs, since at this level, a field-grade officer will have units under them spread across a much wider geographical area…” Colonel Orkut was a boring lecturer, dry and with a voice that would put a rabid dog to sleep. Why the hell was he talking about Batt level stuff? Shit, am I in the wrong class?

  I flipped back in my handouts. “Advanced Enlisted Leadership Course” is what I was in.

  This doesn’t make any sense – I’m only a Corporal.

  I pulled up my orders and read them in detail.

  23 Apr 2094

  In Re:Corporal Wolf

  S/N 20690401142857

  Pursuant to general orders of the Commander, subject soldier ordered to attend Advanced Enlisted Leadership Course, Advanced Training Division of Logistics Command, Fort Mcclellan, GA. Course Start date 3 May 2134.

  Required waiver of Junior Enlisted Leadership Course filed with Advanced Training Division of Logistics Command.

  Required waiver of Senior Enlisted Leadership Course filed with Advanced Training Division of Logistics Command.

  Subject soldier transportation by earliest available military transport.

  …

  Well shit. I don’t know how the hell THAT happened, but that explains why last week was so easy - it was just a review of basic shit I’ve been doing the last few months anyway.

  That didn’t explain where the waivers came from, though, nor did it explain why I was sitting in a class that was basically the training required for people moving into jobs like Sergeant Major Ballard’s.

  Well, fuck it, I’ve never turned down a challenge yet.

  The course material that Colonel Orkut covered was some of the worst training I had to attend in my entire career.

  Colonel Haskins, on the other hand, was an ENTIRELY different story. His commentary almost always inevitably brought in historical references, anecdotal stories, and other precedents that cemented the ideas in place.

  “Leadership, as many – but not all – of you are here to learn about, isn’t about managing. Any clown with authority granted to him or her – and in some cases, even without the authority – can ‘manage’ by diktat. There was a president who talked a good game, over a hundred years ago. He said all the right things, had excellent intentions, but unfortunately he decided to use his ‘pen and his phone’ to make law via executive orders. It was a shame, since he truly did have excellent intentions. Unfortunately, he was a manager, not a leader. Mister Wolf, what’s the difference between a leader and a manager?”

  I was easily the most junior person in the room, and was self-conscious about it – there were Sergeants, Master Sergeants, and Sergeants Major in the class with me; I was still a junior NCO.

  “Sir, leaders LEAD. Managers just shuffle papers and come up with good ideas, without any basis in experience.” I figured that was close enough to what the manual said, so I’d be covered.

  “Cute, so you read ahead. Well, yes, that’s partly right, but your paraphrasing of the material leaves something to be desired. What does it mean to lead, young man?” He was easily twice my age if not older.

  “Leading is just that, sir. You’re the one in front, taking the risks, showing by example what you want done, going by example to where you want others to go.”

  “Ahhh much better! You see, Gentlemen, we’ve managed to start enlisting young men who not only read ahead – which itself is laudable, since we must each and every one of us plan ahead, but this one is THINKING, too – since that particular reference is no-where in the material; I know, since I specifically looked for it myself when I started teaching this course.”

  That was nice, but I still hated being singled out like that. I knew the concepts, and knew them cold (Remember, I’d already built, run, LED, and managed a larger organization than I was likely to ever command, here!), but it’s a bit embarrassing to be asked questions that some of these guys, far my senior, might still be learning.

  I liked listening to Colonel Haskins, though – he took concepts that I knew and understood, and put them into more concise and appropriate wording that I wasn’t able to, yet. Better still, his stories and historical references would prove later to be invaluable – because they meant I could point to other authoritative examples, rather than just “do what I say because I say so.”

  It wasn’t all without struggle, though. When Haskins got to, “Benefits and Problems With Fraternization,” I was reminded immediately of the discussion with Colonel Marshall, ages ago it seemed.

  I get it, he was an officer, I was enlisted, and it wasn’t appropriate to be overly friendly. That wasn’t the same thing, though, as when we were in the Dojo.

  When it came time for questions in this lecture, I piped up. “Sir, I understand the difference between Officer and Enlisted, and even between different ranks if it’s two enlisted or two officers in question, but why does that have to extend to issues that are out of uniform?”

  “Mister Wolf, what would you do if you were, let’s say, out at the bar on a Friday night, let’s say just shy of midnight, and you got the emergency recall notification through your implant? Would you ignore it until Garrison hours start on Monday morning?”

  “No sir, I’d be court-martialed for ignoring it.”

  “Yes, yes you would. Why?”

  “Well, because when I enlisted, I acknowledged that the ‘job’ didn’t mean only regular hours.”

  “Yes, you did – and it’s even more pronounced, when one acquires a commission as an officer. If you think about it, you’ve answered your own question.”

  “I understand that, sir, but it almost sounds like you’re not allowed to have friendships or relationships with anyone who holds a different rank than you. That doesn’t make sense – since that’s pretty much what happens in the mess, after garrison hours or on weekends.”

  “Corporal, the distinction is not an easy one, and I suspect - or, in your case, I know – that you’ve had examples that would seem to directly counter this. However, there’s one very simple distinction that I will offer you, as a means of assuring that neither you nor anyone else treads on someone’s freedom, while still encouraging you to form meaningful working relationships with your superiors, your peers, and your subordinates.�
�

  I did a double-take at that reference to “treading” on “freedom.”

  He continued, “If you find yourself wondering if a relationship or mode of conduct is appropriate or not, ask yourself what your commander would say if they saw the details of that relationship posted on a billboard, or on the evening news. If you think they would bring you up on charges and push you into a general courts-martial for conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, odds are good the relationship is not appropriate. If you think they would not court martial you but rather, would be inclined to offer non-judicial punishment or counselling to redirect your conduct in another path, you probably should adjust before it progresses any further. If he or she would laugh, joke, or otherwise not have any negative reaction whatsoever to? Then you’re probably fine.”

  “Thank you sir, that makes a lot of sense. It doesn’t really address the other part of my question though?”

  “Mister Wolf, we as human beings need relationships – yes, even those who don’t seem to, still need some form of human contact. If we as a race were able to function without interaction at a social level, we would likely also be able to forego war-like conduct that you, I, and everyone else in this room have as our primary profession. The mess functions as a place where you can collaborate and discuss with your peers, and occasionally your subordinates and superiors, but only in a controlled circumstance. This is, coincidentally, also why there is ‘no rank in the mess’. Also worth noting is that your mess – as a Corporal, you’re in the Junior NCO Mess – is not the same as the Sergeant’s mess, which is also not the same as the Officers’ mess. The different messes may occasionally host events that permit inclusion of the other ranks, but as a general rule, there is no socialization and relaxation of rank and conduct between them.”

  “And I get that, sir, but I’m still not understanding why even have the mess at all, if any difference in rank should materially change how you act with someone.”

  “Ah, I see. That’s actually easier to cover, and I’m a little surprised you ask. Let me be frank, and even a little crude. If you, as a corporal, fuck one of your privates, do you think that might impact their ability to do their ‘job’?”

  “Of course, Sir. I wouldn’t ever do that.”

  “And why is that, Corporal?”

  “Because sir, the sex would probably make them think they could get away with it at other times when it’s critical that they follow orders.”

  “AHA! So, the fraternization lends itself to inappropriate conduct on the part of at least one person. Might it also go the other way? Would you be less inclined, or more inclined, to send a cute little blonde in your squad on a mission that had a greater likelihood of her death – presuming you like girls – if you knew she was going to be naked and waiting in your hooch for you after the mission?”

  “Good point, sir, I follow you.”

  “I think you do, but I want to make sure you completely understand this. You – or ANYONE in this room, myself included – could easily find themselves in either side of that equation.” He looked around the room as he paced slightly at the front of the room. “Now let’s put a slightly different twist on it for our colleague who has not yet had the benefit of our years and mistakes: Mister Wolf, what if that cute little blonde isn’t in your squad, or even in your section.. or not even your platoon? What if she’s in an entirely different unit? What reason is there, then, to NOT to enjoy the finer things in life, with her?”

  “Uhh… I don’t know sir!”

  “Precisely. For this reason, Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military justice makes it clear – somewhat – what is considered fraternization. If you are of a different rank category from the accuser, in the same unit – for example, she’s a private and you’re a corporal – then she’s enlisted and you’re a junior NCO. You are then compromising the impartiality of the chain of command.”

  “I did say ‘somewhat’ – it can be a little confusing in some circumstances, but there are easy ways to understand it. If you are an instructor? Your students are off limits, REGARDLESSS of their rank, because you are in a position of authority over them, in the chain of command. If you are an officer? ALL enlisted are off limits, because you are in a position of authority over any and all enlisted. The areas start to gray somewhat, when it’s two officers, or two enlisted…. Generally, if you are in their direct chain of command, they are off limits, no exceptions. If you are not in their direct chain of command, then a good rule of thumb is that you and they should have no more than three ranks’ worth of difference between you. You as a Corporal, dating a recruit? Iffy, but in most cases, no-one will care unless it materially impacts your or their performance.”

  “A Master Corporal instructor at basic training, for example, “ and he looked directly at me, “and a private, fresh out of basic training, is within the limits, but just barely – provided the instructor/student relationship has terminated. At all times, you must – MUST – maintain the impartiality of the chain of command, in order to support the combat effectiveness of our military. That means that even if something isn’t directly contrary to regs, but you know it will cause greater issues anyway? You should refrain.”

  “And on that note, class dismissed. For tomorrow, read through chapters…”

  Colonel Marshall was right, and had taught me this lesson already – I just didn’t fully grasp it until Colonel Haskins made it clear. Sometimes even the smartest humans just need to hear something with the right words, for it to stick.

  Chapter 18: Overseas Vacation

  I really did enjoy AELS; Colonel Haskins made me think, and think hard – but I was a better leader (not manager, ha!) for it.

  I apparently did well enough.

  25 JUN 2094

  In Re:Corporal Wolf

  S/N 20690401142857

  Pursuant to general orders of the Commander, and as a result of demonstrated knowledge and conduct, subject soldier is promoted from E3 to E5, effective immediately.

  Local command authorized to retain subject soldier provided chain of command proviso forwarded under separate cover.

  …

  Yay me. Lieutenant Colonel Bentley called me to his office via implant IM, and had a “chat” with me. By “chat” I mean, I stood at attention and listed while he told me what was going to happen.

  “Master Corporal Wolf, your AELS instructors apparently thought well of you, and your PER,” Personnel Evaluation Record, “ indicates you have been consistently performing above your pay grade. That’s fairly unusual in and of itself, but I’ve talked with Lieutenant Bloggins, and coupled with counsel from Colonel Watts, you are being transferred to 1st Platoon A company, under Lieutenant Manchin. Report to him after you leave here.”

  “Yes sir!”

  “That said, you may find yourself in a little over your head. I expect and require that you will engage either your platoon leader or platoon sergeant if you find yourself needing assistance with any personnel issues that may arise. Is that clear?”

  “Yes sir!”

  “Dismissed.”

  “Yes sir!” I saluted, about-faced, and walked out.

  Great chat, sir, thanks very much, sir, I appreciate your warmth and connection, sir, and I will endeavor to please not only my platoon leader, sir, but also you, the Regimental Commander, The President, and the Gods, Goddesses, and other deities of this world and the next.

  That fucker clearly needed the leadership course, himself.

  I walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs to Lieutenant Manchin’s office, and knocked once on the frame of the open door.

  “Master Corporal Wolf reporting as ordered, Sir.”

  He looked up from his desk. “Not by my orders, Wolf. Who sent you?”

  “Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Bentley has assigned me to your platoon, sir.”

  “Ohhhhh that’s right, yeah, come on in, park it.” He nodded to the chair nearest to me. “So, yeah, umm… Got a bit of a thing here to figger out
…” he seemed a little airheaded, and frankly, I was starting to worry that I was working for, well, an idiot. I sat quietly, waiting.

  He looked up at me. “OH, yeah, that’s right, now I remember. You’ll have second section – three squads, PFC Chang, Corporal Pangan, and Corporal Feltsin.”

  Once he’d started, he was on a roll. “You’ve got second section; Sergeant Satish has first, and Sergeant Toomey has third. Get with them to find out about any outstanding issues. Also, the warning order went out to the guys earlier today – we’re starting our workup to a deployment to Eastern Europe – some place called Bosnia-Herzegovina-Croatia or something like that – check with Satish and Toomey for details, and I’ll forward you a copy of the warning order as well. For reference, Toomey’s also the Platoon sergeant.”

  “Yes sir. Anything else?”