I Can't Get No Satisfaction

The Navy has it right...or so I've been told. I'm told that on their ships, one of the things they do not compromise on is the food. (This could absolutely be a falsehood...as I never have had any inkling to get on a ship...and drift off so far to sea that I can't see the shore. I like to know which way to swim when it goes down....) But back to the food...the idea behind it was that the food should be top notch. That way the sailors are happy...that way they don't consider doing bad things to the Captain...such as Mutiny.

Apparently, there was not a large focus on Morale, other than eating. (Which makes me very happy...Especially if it is my enchiladas...mmmmmm....but I digress...) Which makes me wonder...How much did these guys like their jobs? I mean, if you are so worried about your people being miserable, that you fear a bad meal will send them over the edge...(or it may send the captain over the edge...of the ship) you may want to re-evaluate your work environment.

So I started thinking...how much do we really love what we do?

A very wise man once told me to keep doing what I'm doing, as long I am having fun and nothing better comes along. (Thanks, Dad...) It has been good advice so far. Ten and a half years ago I joined the Army to get my footing...find a direction...get a jump start...and some other cliche to say that it was just a temporary thing. (Either I am slow on the uptake and haven't found my direction yet....or I just listened to Dad's advice.)

So far nothing better has come along. That's not to say that offers have not come up for contractor jobs that would pay me more than what I'm making now...I get a few of those every year. On a purely monetary level...yes, something better has come along with those...sort of. (These guys don't factor in that the Army pays me all the extra stuff for food, and rent, and then there's the medical and dental benefits....so in the end, the contractor offers are about what I make now...)

But as far as "BETTER?" Well, you have to look at the job. Being in the Army puts me in a category that a very small percentage of Americans can claim to be part of. I take pride in that. I volunteered to do this job...to train, to sacrifice, and to protect and defend the American way of life for everyone else. (Yes...I am Superman.) To me...that is very cool. I look at it this way...when someone asks my son, "What does your Daddy do?" he can answer "He's a Soldier." Which sounds much cooler than. "He's a contractor that works for the government."

Now...as far as having fun...where do I begin?

First I feel that I must acknowledge the fact that "FUN" is a relative term. I may talk about things in a moment that you personally have no desire to do, but I find extremely fun...and you may think I need professional help by the end of this. (I must warn you that there is very long and distinguished list of individuals who have already recommended such help...to no avail.)

I love guy stuff. The Army does all kinds of guys stuff. Therefore, I love being in the Army. First of all...the most obvious guy thing...I get paid to shoot a gun. (I'm not supposed to call it a gun...it is a "weapon" but sometimes the trailer park in me just has to come out...) I only fired a gun a few times before joining the Army. So when I joined and I realized that I was pretty good at it. Now I find it pretty fun.

Then there's the physical training side. (In a nutshell...not fun...but let me explain.) I don't like DOING the actual P.T. I LOVE the way I feel after a good workout...and how healthy it is for me. Every now and then, we do something fun for P.T. (Like playing Frisbee football...a game in which I get injured everytime I play, but it's a blast.) So all in all, that is a fun part of my job. (especially considering the next big P.T. thing we are doing is making a boat out of empty water bottles and hundred mile an hour tape...like duct tape only stronger...and racing other similarly constructed boats around a pool simply for the rights to say you won the race...How can you NOT love something like that?)

One of the biggest things is the camaraderie. I love the fact that I can go ANYWHERE in the world that the Army sends me...and within weeks, I have new friends. Some of these friendships will last as long as my tour...others are lifelong. I have TWO very good friends that I met in different duty stations and we keep in touch still...years later and thousands of miles apart. (And there's the one...who is here in IRAQ, and everytime we talk...no matter how long it has been...is like we just saw each other yesterday.) There is no amount of money that can be offered, no benefits package, no sign on bonus, or 401K that can take the place of the feeling of FAMILY that you get from this life.

I also get to meet some really cool people. In my time in the Army I have met the Current President, four former Presidents...a dozen foreign heads of state (to include Prime Minister Blair, and the Prince of Jordan.) I have stood next to Movie Stars and had my picture taken with Hollywood A-list personalities. More recently I have been involved in conversations with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and the Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq...General Casey. I have sat in meetings with the Iraqi ambassador to the US, and spoken to decision makers at the highest levels here in Baghdad. All of that equals very cool stories to tell the grandkids....someday. (Not to mention...FUN, and yes...I love it.!)

The last thing...feeling of accomplishment. I really feel like I am making a difference to someone...somewhere. I may not always immediately see it...but it happens. It can be frustrating, and make me want to pluck out my hair (what little I have left.) But in the end I feel satisfied with what I do.

For example...I had a 22 hour day last week. That was tough...highly stressful when I was on the wire...and frustrating when things aren't going just right. It boiled down to the Army wanting to do it's job...and needing approval to do so from hihger up.

So, I jump through the hoops and all that...being stuck to a Colonel's hip for hours after I'm supposed to be off. Our Goal? Give the General a good feeling about doing a certain mission. The INTEL drives the Ops. (If we give him the warm fuzzy...he says "yes" and recommends that "yes" to the higher ups. If all works out, then the higher ups say "Yes" and the world is a safer place...on more bad guy down.)

The frustration came when after all that work...and the jumping through hoops...and the last second phone calls are all done and the General says "Good Job." I sat down and let out a long and tired sigh. It was one of those days that drains you completely...but you feel good about what you did. You know you did a good job, and it was recognized by the right people. It was the good kind of tired...and I love that feeling. (All the way up to the point we found out that the Higher ups said "No" and all our work was essentially for nothing.)

I tried to explain that, although that sucks...completely...I am happy with the way I and the people I work for and with performed under the stress and pressure. I was proud and felt like I did a good job. And although that was kind of a big disappointment...tomorrow is another opportunity to start over, and try again to make a difference...and feel good about your job.

So while you have frustrations at home...or work...or school, think to yourself about the overall picture. Has anything truly BETTER come along? And are you having fun...overall? Forget the one off moments of frustration that make you want to scream and ask yourself...am I having fun even though sometimes it seems with this job...

...I can't get no satisfaction?

SFC NEWMAN
Out