Stop sabotaging your career, a lesson from this week's LDRB
As a member of the garrison leadership team, I’m currently dealing with the fallout from a Cadet who made a catastrophic decision during the final week of camp.
Just after completing the 12-mile ruck, this individual decided to take his issued service rifle and walk to the PX, unauthorized and alone, to get a haircut. He then proceeded to text with friends in another regiment and met up with and hopped in his personal vehicle while that regiment was on Family Day.
This isn’t just a "mistake"; it’s a total failure of discipline and a direct path to an LDRB or a negative spot report. Because of this one person’s inability to follow simple instructions, my company is now spending our final week answering for his lack of basic common sense.
The takeaway is simple: If you have that internal voice telling you, "I probably shouldn't be doing this," then for the love of God, do not do it. You are here to become an officer, not to jeopardize your commission because you were too lazy or entitled to follow standard operating procedures. Use your head.