My apologies for the brief thread jack...but it's funny I find myself reading this article on the day that I have to give a briefing to the Brigade Staff and one of our subordinate Battalion's on....
*wait for it*
Responsible use of Social Media.
Good luck with your briefing. You're bringing back fond memories of my long-ago days in Germany...how long ago? Let me put it this way, my battalion was deactivated in the 90s...lol.
My last two years was spent in the Battalion S-4 shop, first as an Assistant S-4 & PBO (filled in for six months as the incoming warrant had his transfer delayed), then as S-4. I was a PITA as S-4, lol. I was only a 1LT, but I'd argue with Group & 32nd AADCOM S-4/G-4 every chance I got. I was uniquely qualified for the position: had been with the battalion for 3 years before extending, bachelors degree in public accounting, and that six months as PBO was icing on the cake. The old man backed me to the hilt, one of the best jobs I ever had.
At one staff outbriefing, I even got into it with the Group Commander over the state of financial accountability of my battalion. We had been inspected by a butterbar, and she intimidated my Spec 4 (I was elsewhere, in a mission briefing), and he didn't answer her questions like she wanted. So she reported to the Group Cdr that things were FUBAR, boy I was pi$$ed. The moment they left, I called the Group S-4, and lit into him for about 15 minutes...he knew that we had things under control. Next day, the old man called me into his office, and with a sly grin, told me the Group Cdr called to apologize.
The Battalion Cdr and I arrived back at Fort Bliss about the same time. By a stroke of good fortune, I bumped into him, and he offered me the chance to work for him again...in an O-5 slot.
