{Not Your Average} Change of Command

Alternate Titles:

Never Say Never (Again)

Look Who's Laughing Now

Keepin' It in the Family

It's been quite awhile since I've posted, partly because of  the move, and exhaustion, and trying to get our footing back when it comes to daily routines. But it's also been due to another change in the past two months--a change in job description that brings with it all sorts of fun (namely extra work and responsibility)!

Backing up a bit...

When I officially lost my marbles in October and joined the Army again, Peter had been assigned as the unit's Headquarters Company Commander for over two years. After observing all the headaches he had been dealing with, I did the [relatively] smart thing and signed up to go straight back to the type of work I had known so well in Army Human Resources (aka Brigade Assistant S1 for those who speak Army). Peter's time as commander was supposed to be coming to and end, and being as burnt out as he was, he'd been kindly reminding his boss that he couldn't keep extending his tenure; the time had come to find a new commander.

So that first weekend back in uniform, when I was chatting with the Boss (aka Colonel/Brigade Commander) we were barely a minute into the conversation when he jovially pressed me, "so how about taking that command from your husband? I'd love to have you!" My response was to rather unsucessfully and unprofessionally try to stifle a hearty laugh.

I've always known that company command can be tough. But the position for this headquarters company is all the more special--with no middle man (aka Battalion commander), the company commander, a mere Captain, gets to do all the same work and be in all the same meetings and get all the same chewings-out that the other units' Lieutenant Colonels--two ranks senior--have to deal with. So when the Boss asked me the question, it was a no-brainer.

Me? Command? After two years of watching my husband bending over backwards? Not.a.chance.

The Boss offered again the next month at drill, and the next. I still wasn't convinced. But I'd started to realize that the all new HR experience I thought I'd gain in my position at the Brigade (having perviously already worked a level down at Battalion and a level up at Division) was, by and large, something I already had a handle on.

Soon after, I also had a conversation with my "Big Army" career manager in preparation for my upcoming promotion board. [The good/somewhat unfair thing about the Army is that even after I took two years off, I'm still on the same timeline to get promoted as all my peers. The bad thing is that I took two years off, and squandered all the time I needed to complete schooling requirements]. My career manager said that since I'd already met the experience requirements for my HR jobs on active duty, it would be the perfect time to take a command in the Reserves as long as I met my schooling requirements in time for the promotion board.

I considered what my career manager said. I also thought about the fact that command would force me out of my comfort zone...but it would also force me to grow and learn and stretch myself as a leader in ways that I couldn't if I remained closed inside my little HR box.  If I took command, I would already be set up for success in many ways, with the support of a great team of soldiers already in place, and my husband, the expert, at my constant disposal; he knew the ins and outs of the unit and the position, and had succeeded at it better than anyone. And a husband-wife Change of Command, I thought wryly, would be one for the record books.

After a bit more thought and prayer, the switch was officially flipped. I called my would-be boss (the DCO) to get his perspective. He brought up some good points in favor of the job, and encouraged me to call the big Boss. So I did. The Colonel about did a jig on the other side of the phone. It was a done deal. Now I just had to make it official...and start doing the real work.

That official part happened this past weekend. For all the flak that Army ceremonies get, it ended up being pretty entertaining. There were all sorts of extra references to our first names--being that both our middle initials and last names are the same, adding to the narrating confusion. Our bios metioned each other, and there were cracks about who was actually hosting the reception and whether we should pass red and yellow roses to each other along with the passing of the guidon. (Traditionally during the ceremony, red and yellow roses are given to the spouses of the departing commander and the new commander).

The company saluting Peter for the last time.

During the National Anthem.

The passing of the guidon...

...when the transfer of responsibility
officially takes place. 

Giving speeches. 

Peter also got a nice little gift from our awesome First Sergeant: a flask inscribed with "Black Diamond Rough Riders." "Rough Riders" is the company motto, and since the company knows very well how much Peter loves to ski, the "Black Diamond" part was a play on both the classification of the most difficult ski runs, as well as the extreme difficulty of this type of command. The flask was also filled with Kentucky Burbon, because of course it would be with the Kentucky Derby going on the same day!

Liquid gratitude for all the blood, sweat, and tears.

Sadly, our in-laws had other committments and couldn't bring the kids to the ceremony and make it even more of a family affair, but I got some sweet cards and flowers from them all, including one from Marie that said, "I hope you like your new job, Mommy!" I hope so too, kid.

Changeover...

So here we are on the other side of our little swap, just a few days in. I've made it down my share of Black Diamonds in the past without completely crashing and burning, so I hope that despite my initial laughter at the absurdity of it all, I'll make it to the end of this "run" with a little more confidence and a lot more experience than when I started. I have two years yet to work on it...but as I said to my new unit, I am guenuinely honored to be charged with their care, and I'm certainly ready to do my best.

Never say never...