Army recruiters receive WWII history lesson

Photo By Nelson Ballew | Col. Mark Olin, commander of U.S. Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade (third row right) rides a troop train with some of the brigade’s battalion and company leaders at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, 27 June 2018. The train, an interactive experience symbolizes America and its greatest generation’s initial involvement in the last war to end all wars.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

06.28.2018

Story by Nelson Ballew 

U.S. Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade

“What’s a more important trait for Army leaders; competence or character?”
That was the question Col. Mark Olin, commander for 2nd Recruiting Brigade, asked battalion and company leaders during a staff ride at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
The rhetorical question followed discussions on differences in how battles were fought between America and its enemy in Europe, as compared to those in the Pacific theater.
In reviewing the various exhibits, the fighting across and for the islands of the Pacific appeared to be more brutal than the warfare waged across the continents of Africa and Europe.
At what point does the brutality of a battle reflect on the character of the leaders in command of the warriors on either side of the conflict?
Capt. Andrea Roof, commander for Army Recruiting Company-Atlanta, was one of the company leaders who presented a briefing on battle campaigns with Germany. She briefed on the American involvement in North Africa Campaign.
Her response to the rhetorical question was that character is the more important quality. Roof provided context by saying, “historically the Nazis were considered very competent in doing their jobs, but some of their methods in retrospect were reprehensible.”
Roof went on to say, “If you accomplish your mission, but do it using immoral or unethical actions or tactics, do you really accomplish your mission?”
To put it into recruiting terms, “If you meet the requirement of enlisting a certain number of new Soldiers for the month, but you cut corners or conceal information on individuals to gain their enlistments you did not really meet the mission requirement,” Roof said.
The leaders had come to New Orleans to review third quarter fiscal 2018 performance. The museum provided an opportunity for professional development using its historical framework and applying it to today’s environment.

• Date Taken: 06.28.2018
• Date Posted: 12.27.2018 13:53
• Story ID: 305378
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US