In Lieu of Meaningful Information

So I Missed March

I know, I said every month. I do have several updates from class members to post — those will be up shortly. In the meantime, to curb your need for information and entertainment, I’ll offer up the following nostalgic journey to the past.

The following exchange took place between a member of the Class of ‘07 who’s excited to get into the real Army, and a Major at West Point (apparently a course director) eager to squash his enthusiasm and assert some dominance. He also presumes to represent the Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Infantry branches as a whole. I’m sure you all remember those types from our time served. Maybe 10/10 Thompson rings a bell? Someone with a last name that sounds like Lazar?

Read the following from top to bottom (I moved the email chain into top-to-bottom order for ease of reading). Keep in mind that the email has been forwarded not only all over West Point, but also all over the country to include Congressional offices!

Bask in the Leadership

From: [removed]
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 7:29 AM
To: Newman, D. MAJ DMI
Subject: CTLT
MAJ [removed],
Is there any way that I could find out if my CTLT this summer is with a special forces team or with a CA unit? I would rather take my original CTLT to work with an infantry unit in Korea than a civil affairs team since I plan on branching infantry. Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,
[removed]
____________________________________
From: Newman, D. MAJ DMI
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 11:45 AM
To: x7 …. B4
Cc: [removed] CPT USCC; [removed] SFC DMI
Subject: RE: CTLT
To be honest, I don’t care. You signed up for SOF, and you get what you get. If you didn’t seriously want CA you should have never put it on your preferences. If you wanted IN CTLT you should never have tried out for SOF.

How can you presuppose that you know what’s best for you? I see how it is…It’s OK to go to an SF unit and then branch infantry but not to CA unit and then branch infantry? How in the heck do you know what SF is? How in the heck do you know what CA is? How can you determine that one is OK and one is not? And, after everyone did so much to create this opportunity for you, you want to back out? Wait, let me guess: you saw a movie or heard about all of this from someone else, and now you know…. Your behavior is fickle and immature. At this point, if I look up your name and see that it is going SF, I will remove you from the SF slot. You lack the maturity and commitment required to even intern with SF. In short, you are stuck with whatever you get. If I start looking things up I will probably also request (as a former infantrymen) that you be banned from IN CTLT, too. None of the three branches—IN, CA, and SF, have time to deal with soldiers whose attitudes are whiney and selfish.

There’s a war waiting for you out there. Our army is committed to winning that—not
committed to being at your beck and call to make sure you get the perfect summer assignment. You signed up, now deal with the consequences of YOUR VOLUNTEERING and get off of my radar.

DEAN S. NEWMAN
MAJ, SF
Course Director, Counterinsurgency Operations
Course Director, Special Ops and Low Intensity Conflict
Special Forces Branch Representative
Department of Military Instruction
Washington Hall, Room WH4134
West Point, NY 10996
845-938-3816 DSN 688

____________________________________
From: [removed]
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 12:29 PM
To: Newman, D. MAJ DMI
Subject: RE: CTLT

MAJ [removed],
I am sorry that you have decided that I am immature based upon what I believe to be a
reasonable request. If I am stuck with what was given then that’s fine, that’s all I wanted to know. Thank you again for your time.

Respectfully,
[removed]
____________________________________
From: Newman, D. MAJ DMI
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 1:55 PM
To: [removed]
Cc: [removed] CPT USCC
Subject: RE: CTLT

I don’t find your request reasonable. In fact, you sound like a spoiled brat. I don’t
appreciate your response here, either. And, you’re daggum right that it’s “fine” because I
don’t give a hoot what you think. You are “stuck” with an option that other cadets (including you) asked for and most of which didn’t get…now you are whining.

It’s ridiculous spoiled brat-behavior like yours that gives West Pointers a bad name
throughout the army. For every 10,000 west pointers that do something good or selfless, they have to compete against the reputation that some brat like you gives us.

Do yourself and West Point a big favor. Go down to the mess hall and ask them to cook
your sorry-spoiled-brat appetite up a big serving of humble pie. Try not to choke on it.
In the meantime, you can report by my office immediately. Your TAC will also be hearing from me. You need to grow up fast. You are dealing with consequences of your own actions—and now you don’t like it. You will not have the opportunity to whine your way out of this to a MAJ in the U.S. Army. I expect to see you very soon.

VR
DEAN S. NEWMAN
MAJ, SF
Course Director, Counterinsurgency Operations
Course Director, Special Ops and Low Intensity Conflict
Special Forces Branch Representative
Department of Military Instruction
Washington Hall, Room WH4134
West Point, NY 10996
845-938-3816 DSN 688

____________________________________
From: Newman, D. MAJ DMI
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 3:53 PM
To: [removed]
Subject: RE: CTLT
Why are you not at my office yet? Do you think I am kidding?

[removed]
MAJ, SF

And now for the D4 Duke

I originally wasn’t going to include this due to MAJ [removed]’s irreverent and flippant
use of the memory of our fallen comrades, but decided that it might just do some good as an example of weak leadership. When I first read the following letter, I assumed it was written to a Cadet who was wearing a Green Beret for some reason. That situation would be odd, and definitely something to address — but it turns out that’s not the case. The offending party in this instance is the D4 Company Mascot.

CDT X,
SFC Borgen and I have approached your Tac regarding your recent behavior wearing a green beret. We intend to press for severe punishment for your actions. This email is intended to serve as an initial warning until we can find you and inform you personally.

In our opinion, you have conducted yourself unprofessionally with gross disrespect for
our regiment. Additionally, you have worn (3 times, at least) a DA award, the green beret, which you are not authorized. You have twice disobeyed a direct order from a senior non-commissioned officer (to remove the headgear) and have fled from him in the hopes of not getting caught. These are not “cadet” violations. These are regular army infractions that we intend to press for regular army punishment, especially given your recidivism, your insolence, and your inclination to flee.

I don’t care if you claim somebody “authorized” you to wear it…they did not have that authority. The beret you chose was ragged and in disrepair, and when a Regimental member told you to remove it based upon your errant claim of authority, you deliberately disobeyed that order—twice, including fleeing the scene in order to continue to propagate this disrespect.

Our brothers in this regiment died wearing that beret. Their wives are widows, and their children are bastards because they chose to walk a unique path in their professional army career. The beret is not standard issue to soldiers, nor is it issued recklessly or worn as a Halloween or spirit costume. This beret is an award that is earned by men who have volunteered over and over and over and over again. Your defiance of requests and orders to remove it, coupled with your decision to flee your responsibility, speaks to your cowardice and unprofessionalism—everything we in the 1st SF Regiment stand to oppose. You are so informed in writing. You will hear from us personally as well as through your Tac officer.

DEAN S. NEWMAN
MAJ, SF
Course Director, Counterinsurgency Operations
Course Director, Special Ops and Low Intensity Conflict
Special Forces Branch Representative
Department of Military Instruction
Washington Hall, Room WH4134
West Point, NY 10996
845-938-3816 DSN 688

So that’s it. Stay tuned for some classmate updates soon!

Thanks,
Alex Cammenga