WEBVTT 00:08.119 --> 00:10.229 Welcome to the Log Stat , the Army's 00:10.229 --> 00:11.896 premier podcast on all things 00:11.896 --> 00:13.840 sustainment , where we analyze new 00:13.840 --> 00:16.062 developments , discuss current trends , 00:16.062 --> 00:18.309 and forge the path ahead for the next 00:18.309 --> 00:20.365 generation of sustainment soldiers . 00:27.540 --> 00:29.484 Hello , everyone . Welcome back to 00:29.484 --> 00:31.484 another episode of The Log St . I'm 00:31.484 --> 00:33.540 your host , Captain Garrett Powell , 00:33.540 --> 00:35.762 coming at you today from the Pentagon , 00:35.762 --> 00:37.596 one of our very first live video 00:37.596 --> 00:39.818 podcasts . So I'm very excited today to 00:39.818 --> 00:41.596 be able to jump in with you and 00:41.596 --> 00:43.540 actually talk to you today about a 00:43.540 --> 00:45.707 unique . Fellowship program . One that 00:45.707 --> 00:47.929 I imagine some of you have no idea even 00:47.929 --> 00:47.794 what it is . And today , we're going to 00:47.794 --> 00:50.115 be discussing the General Omar Bradley 00:50.115 --> 00:52.395 Fellowship . And with me today , I'm 00:52.395 --> 00:54.715 going to have Major Ephesian points set 00:54.715 --> 00:56.771 to kind of walk us through what this 00:56.771 --> 00:58.826 fellowship is , how you can become a 00:58.826 --> 01:00.937 part of it , what you're going to get 01:00.937 --> 01:02.993 out of it . So without further ado , 01:02.993 --> 01:05.104 I'm going to turn it over to my guest 01:05.104 --> 01:07.437 today to give a quick introduction , uh , 01:07.437 --> 01:06.345 on himself , and that's , and we'll 01:06.345 --> 01:08.456 dive into this . Hey , Garrett , glad 01:08.456 --> 01:10.375 to be with you . Um , my name's 01:10.375 --> 01:13.370 Ephesian Poinset , Major type . Uh ROTC 01:13.370 --> 01:15.537 graduate from Morehouse College , um , 01:15.537 --> 01:17.648 in Atlanta , Georgia . I'm originally 01:17.648 --> 01:19.759 from North Carolina . Um , got an RTC 01:19.759 --> 01:21.537 scholarship , commissioned as a 01:21.537 --> 01:23.910 quartermaster officer back in 2015 . Uh , 01:24.040 --> 01:26.040 right out of there , I went to Fort 01:26.040 --> 01:27.984 Drum , served in the 10th Mountain 01:27.984 --> 01:30.096 Division , then I , um , transitioned 01:30.096 --> 01:32.429 over to JBLM , uh , for an aid position , 01:32.440 --> 01:35.080 and then I did my command time for a 01:35.080 --> 01:37.080 support maintenance company down at 01:37.080 --> 01:39.191 Fort Hood . Um , and here I am now in 01:39.191 --> 01:41.302 the Bradley Fellowship . Um , I was a 01:41.302 --> 01:43.302 lieutenant serving in , uh , in the 01:43.302 --> 01:45.319 Middle East back in 2017 and my 01:45.319 --> 01:47.680 battalion commander was like , Hey , I 01:47.680 --> 01:49.624 think , uh , you know , you should 01:49.624 --> 01:51.736 apply for the JCS internship . That's 01:51.736 --> 01:53.958 what it was called then . At the time , 01:53.958 --> 01:56.013 I had no idea what that meant . Um , 01:56.013 --> 01:58.124 just a young first lieutenant serving 01:58.124 --> 02:00.458 as the assistant S3 as a battle captain . 02:00.458 --> 02:03.040 Um , I said , OK , sir , Roger . Um , 02:03.199 --> 02:05.255 so then further on as I continued my 02:05.255 --> 02:07.532 career , kept , kept in touch with him . 02:07.532 --> 02:09.421 And he asked me , he said , Hey , 02:09.421 --> 02:11.199 where's your packet for the JCS 02:11.199 --> 02:13.310 internship ? I said , Oh , sir , like 02:13.310 --> 02:15.588 that was a thing . Like you're serious . 02:15.588 --> 02:17.866 You're really serious ? Yeah , so , um , 02:18.289 --> 02:20.456 there I was , I was in company command 02:20.456 --> 02:22.567 at the time . Um , he had then become 02:22.567 --> 02:24.733 my brigade commander , and I looked at 02:24.733 --> 02:26.789 the broadening Opportunity catalog , 02:26.789 --> 02:28.956 the bop catalog is commonly known as , 02:28.956 --> 02:31.710 and I saw the JCSR staff internship . 02:32.520 --> 02:34.759 Um , and I , and I looked at the 02:34.759 --> 02:37.800 requirements and , uh , there I was . I 02:37.800 --> 02:39.967 was like , OK , sir , I acknowledged , 02:39.967 --> 02:42.419 um , took a look at the catalog , and , 02:42.479 --> 02:44.479 uh , a week later , he said , Hey , 02:44.479 --> 02:46.701 where's your packet ? Um , so he stayed 02:46.701 --> 02:49.035 on me . He , he was a constant pressure , 02:49.035 --> 02:51.035 which I appreciated . Um , but as I 02:51.035 --> 02:53.201 read through the , um , summary of the 02:53.201 --> 02:55.368 fellowship , I got a sense that , OK , 02:55.368 --> 02:57.479 it's a Georgetown education , you get 02:57.479 --> 02:59.479 your master's from Georgetown , and 02:59.479 --> 03:01.701 then you get to serve on the Army staff 03:01.701 --> 03:03.757 and the joint staff or the OS OSD or 03:03.757 --> 03:05.979 OSW staff , um , in the Pentagon . So I 03:05.979 --> 03:08.312 said , OK , so I submitted my documents , 03:08.312 --> 03:10.201 which consisted of like a writing 03:10.201 --> 03:12.535 sample , um , letters of recommendation , 03:12.535 --> 03:14.757 um , and then the application had had a 03:14.757 --> 03:16.868 couple of essay questions on it and , 03:16.868 --> 03:18.812 um , obviously your last couple of 03:18.812 --> 03:21.090 evals and such . And thereof I sent it , 03:21.090 --> 03:24.020 um , I got selected . Um , so I was 03:24.020 --> 03:26.187 deployed at the time in Germany when I 03:26.187 --> 03:28.520 got selected . I was in company command . 03:28.520 --> 03:30.298 So it's , you know , broadening 03:30.298 --> 03:32.520 opportunities are specifically for like 03:32.520 --> 03:34.464 post KD captains . So , um , I got 03:34.464 --> 03:37.070 selected , myself and 20 or 19 other 03:37.070 --> 03:39.070 captains who were selected for this 03:39.070 --> 03:41.181 fellowship , and my family and I were 03:41.181 --> 03:44.119 off to DC . Um , spring is 03:45.279 --> 03:47.446 not good , is this , um , is this just 03:47.446 --> 03:49.779 for captains or post KD captains ? Yeah , 03:49.779 --> 03:51.779 post-KD captains , um , and I think 03:51.779 --> 03:53.890 some early majors may be considered , 03:53.890 --> 03:56.080 um , and some are obviously promoted 03:56.080 --> 03:58.302 while on the fellowship , but yes , the 03:58.302 --> 04:00.839 timeframe to apply is kind of like once 04:00.839 --> 04:04.279 you've , I say begun KD or key 04:04.279 --> 04:07.250 development assignment and post KD . So , 04:07.320 --> 04:10.160 um , A nugget for , you know , advice 04:10.160 --> 04:12.327 to the to the field is , I was talking 04:12.327 --> 04:14.382 to someone the other day , as you're 04:14.382 --> 04:16.327 starting your Katie begin thinking 04:16.327 --> 04:18.549 about your 2nd and 3rd assignment after 04:18.549 --> 04:20.660 that . And the broadening opportunity 04:20.660 --> 04:22.660 catalog is a great place to look of 04:22.660 --> 04:24.827 what do you want to do next . Um , and 04:24.827 --> 04:24.619 I'd say the key word in that is 04:24.619 --> 04:26.786 broadening . So , of course , you as a 04:26.786 --> 04:28.980 sustainer , you do your PL time , you 04:28.980 --> 04:31.091 do some staff time , then you go into 04:31.091 --> 04:32.813 company command , which is key 04:32.813 --> 04:34.758 development . But what do you like 04:34.758 --> 04:36.924 start thinking about what fellowship , 04:36.924 --> 04:39.036 what post grad education I can gain , 04:39.036 --> 04:41.739 PME that I can gain um to kind of 04:41.739 --> 04:43.461 broaden myself as a low , as a 04:43.461 --> 04:45.683 professional . And you bring up a great 04:45.683 --> 04:47.920 point . And I would also say like when 04:47.920 --> 04:50.198 you're looking at that broadening , uh , 04:50.198 --> 04:52.420 the broadening catalog , and I remember 04:52.420 --> 04:54.587 I was a lieutenant looking into that , 04:54.587 --> 04:54.179 and that's when I was in company 04:54.179 --> 04:56.401 command , I would tell my lieutenants , 04:56.401 --> 04:58.720 hey , get into this now because some 04:58.720 --> 05:01.489 opportunities are very time-specific , 05:01.970 --> 05:03.970 um , when you can get into it . For 05:03.970 --> 05:06.137 instance , uh , the Harding Fellowship 05:06.137 --> 05:08.359 that I'm with , it's one person every 3 05:08.359 --> 05:10.081 years . So it's not only is it 05:10.081 --> 05:12.192 competitive just to get it , it's the 05:12.192 --> 05:14.303 right place at the right time , and I 05:14.303 --> 05:16.414 know there's other fellowships . Like 05:16.414 --> 05:18.414 that . So you need to , when you're 05:18.414 --> 05:20.637 young , just be like , OK , what , what 05:20.637 --> 05:22.803 am I interested in ? And , or you have 05:22.803 --> 05:25.137 a great , great leader like you did say , 05:25.137 --> 05:24.950 hey , you know , they're they're 05:25.170 --> 05:27.337 they're pushing the gas , like , hey , 05:27.337 --> 05:29.281 where are you at ? And , and to be 05:29.281 --> 05:31.281 honest , to your point , it is very 05:31.281 --> 05:33.392 time-specific because when I did pull 05:33.392 --> 05:35.503 up the catalog , I said , well , that 05:35.503 --> 05:35.000 deadline passed , that deadline passed , 05:35.010 --> 05:37.190 and , OK , this deadline's in March , 05:37.209 --> 05:39.329 and , and , uh , a similar program is 05:39.329 --> 05:41.551 Army Congressional Fellowship . So that 05:41.551 --> 05:44.010 was one I kind of applied to in tandem 05:44.010 --> 05:46.343 because they're both located in DC . Uh , 05:46.343 --> 05:48.677 we were living in Fort Hood at the time , 05:48.677 --> 05:50.843 so it's like , OK , I moved to DC is a 05:50.843 --> 05:53.010 different environment . You're kind of 05:53.010 --> 05:54.954 at the Pentagon and exposed to the 05:54.954 --> 05:57.177 environment writ large . So I say , why 05:57.177 --> 05:59.399 not take the shot ? Um , but yes , as a 05:59.399 --> 06:01.454 young lieutenant , uh , early , just 06:01.454 --> 06:03.121 promoted captain , definitely 06:03.121 --> 06:05.232 familiarize yourself with the catalog 06:05.232 --> 06:07.399 because each program , it's , it's a , 06:07.399 --> 06:09.621 it's a multi-page document , I'll say . 06:09.621 --> 06:11.843 And it's a catalog for sure . They have 06:11.843 --> 06:13.954 multiple programs , and it spells out 06:13.954 --> 06:16.010 the requirements , the eligibility , 06:16.010 --> 06:18.066 the timeframe , who you send it to , 06:18.066 --> 06:20.232 who's got , like , if it's a board , a 06:20.232 --> 06:22.232 panel , or what have you . Um , and 06:22.232 --> 06:24.399 it's , it's definitely a good document 06:24.399 --> 06:26.621 to familiarize yourself because at your 06:26.621 --> 06:28.677 4-year mark . You're invested , like 06:28.677 --> 06:30.621 you're , you're pinning on those , 06:30.621 --> 06:32.732 those railroad tracks , like you're , 06:32.732 --> 06:34.788 you know , looking to become a field 06:34.788 --> 06:36.954 grade officer essentially . So how are 06:36.954 --> 06:39.177 you going to broaden and take your game 06:39.177 --> 06:41.288 to the next level ? Exactly . And and 06:41.288 --> 06:43.343 to your point , that there's so many 06:43.343 --> 06:45.566 different opportunities in that in that 06:45.566 --> 06:47.510 catalog , and they always check it 06:47.510 --> 06:49.677 because it it updates every year . And 06:49.677 --> 06:51.899 things are not only because the dates , 06:51.899 --> 06:53.954 of course , are going to update when 06:53.954 --> 06:53.220 things are due , but sometimes 06:53.220 --> 06:54.831 fellowships come , sometimes 06:54.831 --> 06:56.942 fellowships go , and as you said , or 06:56.942 --> 06:59.164 change names in your case . Yeah , so , 06:59.164 --> 07:01.498 um , a little more about the fellowship , 07:01.498 --> 07:01.459 I'll dive into it . So it started as 07:01.459 --> 07:03.779 the JCS internship , Joint Chief of 07:03.779 --> 07:06.459 Staff internship , um , but it's since 07:06.459 --> 07:08.459 become the General Omar N . Bradley 07:08.459 --> 07:10.510 Fellowship . Um , and General Omar 07:10.510 --> 07:12.621 Bradley was the first chairman of the 07:12.621 --> 07:14.899 Joint Chiefs , um , in our DOD history . 07:14.989 --> 07:17.100 And , um , we start off with one year 07:17.100 --> 07:19.045 at Georgetown , uh , we earned our 07:19.045 --> 07:22.059 master's in policy management . So , um , 07:22.940 --> 07:26.059 We PCS I think early spring 2023 , and 07:26.059 --> 07:28.392 we were in like a report date of 1 June . 07:28.392 --> 07:30.559 So our spring classes , summer classes 07:30.559 --> 07:32.779 started June 2023 . Um , it's kind of 07:32.779 --> 07:34.835 like a summer intensive course where 07:34.835 --> 07:36.946 you do a week on , week off , um , of 07:36.946 --> 07:39.112 summer courses , and kind of like your 07:39.112 --> 07:41.390 core electives , your core programming , 07:41.390 --> 07:43.168 and then in the fall and spring 07:43.168 --> 07:45.223 semesters , you are a full-time grad 07:45.223 --> 07:47.446 student . So , um , let's say it's like 07:47.446 --> 07:49.557 the best year of your life in a way , 07:49.557 --> 07:51.779 because , you know , you go to school , 07:51.779 --> 07:54.001 go to campus , um , you go home to your 07:54.001 --> 07:55.890 family , you do your study , your 07:55.890 --> 07:55.519 requirement , any extracurricular 07:55.519 --> 07:57.630 activities you want to get into . And 07:57.630 --> 07:59.799 to be honest , um , that Georgetown 07:59.799 --> 08:01.799 year is , is , as some people say , 08:01.799 --> 08:03.966 it's like taking a knee , um , but you 08:03.966 --> 08:06.519 do have a more civilianized schedule , 08:06.559 --> 08:08.726 um , for folks coming out of command , 08:08.920 --> 08:10.864 coming from overseas assignments , 08:10.864 --> 08:13.429 deployments . It's a way to kind of You 08:13.429 --> 08:15.549 know , take the uniform off and , you 08:15.549 --> 08:17.716 know , look inward and say , Hey , who 08:17.716 --> 08:19.771 am I and what do I care about ? What 08:19.771 --> 08:21.993 are the things that , you know , as I'm 08:21.993 --> 08:23.827 continuing my career that I find 08:23.827 --> 08:26.049 valuable ? Um , I've heard it said talk 08:26.049 --> 08:28.382 about like self-maintenance on yourself . 08:28.382 --> 08:30.271 Absolutely . Um , so you get your 08:30.271 --> 08:32.271 appointments , you attend different 08:32.271 --> 08:34.382 conferences or opportunities , and DC 08:34.382 --> 08:34.270 is a fruitful place to , you know , 08:34.349 --> 08:36.127 stumble upon a conference about 08:36.429 --> 08:39.080 Artificial intelligence or defense 08:39.080 --> 08:41.549 contracting or or a myriad of topics . 08:41.919 --> 08:43.586 So , um , that Georgetown you 08:43.586 --> 08:45.586 specifically that we're amongst the 08:45.586 --> 08:47.530 Georgetown population , Georgetown 08:47.530 --> 08:49.586 graduate community , and because the 08:49.586 --> 08:51.252 JCS internship or the Bradley 08:51.252 --> 08:53.308 Fellowship has been around for , I'd 08:53.308 --> 08:55.419 say about 20 years , um , it's gained 08:55.419 --> 08:57.252 some notability , right ? So the 08:57.252 --> 08:59.475 Georgetown community , the professors , 08:59.475 --> 09:01.530 they look forward to welcoming us to 09:01.530 --> 09:03.697 campus , um , because they know , um , 09:03.697 --> 09:06.030 as you mix with the civilian population , 09:06.030 --> 09:08.141 you bring a wealth of knowledge . And 09:08.141 --> 09:10.363 as I look to my left and right , um , I 09:10.363 --> 09:12.530 was one of 5 sustainers , I think , in 09:12.530 --> 09:14.641 my cohort , um , but I'm serving with 09:14.641 --> 09:16.919 infantrymen , field artillery men , um , 09:16.919 --> 09:18.975 different maneuver , you know , guys 09:18.975 --> 09:20.697 and gals that have a wealth of 09:20.697 --> 09:22.697 knowledge , and we're all convening 09:22.697 --> 09:25.010 upon Georgetown to learn policy 09:25.010 --> 09:27.590 management . I will be honest , I was 09:27.590 --> 09:29.590 like , Hey , what is policy ? I was 09:29.590 --> 09:31.368 like I was like , Hey , where's 09:31.368 --> 09:33.423 Georgetown and what is policy ? What 09:33.423 --> 09:35.534 does this actually mean ? And then so 09:35.534 --> 09:37.812 coming in as a as a captain , you know , 09:37.812 --> 09:40.090 you've experienced the Enterprise , um , 09:40.090 --> 09:42.257 as a lieutenant and now as a captain . 09:42.257 --> 09:44.423 Now you get to see how the wheels kind 09:44.423 --> 09:46.960 of turn in the Enterprise . Um , so 09:46.960 --> 09:49.127 Georgetown was a good experience and a 09:49.127 --> 09:51.340 good exposure for that . Um , we had a 09:51.340 --> 09:53.396 couple of meet and greets within the 09:53.396 --> 09:55.451 Pentagon , kind of introducing us to 09:55.451 --> 09:57.562 the Director of the Army staff , um , 09:57.562 --> 09:59.062 then we kind of set up our 09:59.062 --> 10:01.007 opportunities for the OSW or Joint 10:01.007 --> 10:03.229 Staff year , and that's the 2nd year of 10:03.229 --> 10:05.229 the fellowship . So , um , I had an 10:05.229 --> 10:07.451 opportunity to serve in the chairman of 10:07.451 --> 10:09.729 the Joint Chiefs Public Affairs Office . 10:09.729 --> 10:11.451 Um , so I did , uh , media and 10:11.451 --> 10:13.451 engagements for the Chairman of the 10:13.451 --> 10:15.562 Joint Chiefs . Um , it was General CQ 10:15.562 --> 10:17.507 Brown and then General Kane . Um , 10:17.507 --> 10:19.673 great experience , great opportunity , 10:19.673 --> 10:21.673 but I had fellow cohort members who 10:21.673 --> 10:23.896 were working in the Deputy Secretary of 10:23.896 --> 10:23.690 Defense's office . They were working , 10:24.150 --> 10:26.317 um , travel engagement for the Chief , 10:26.317 --> 10:28.539 um , the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs . 10:28.590 --> 10:30.812 Um , they were working in the J5 , they 10:30.812 --> 10:33.049 were working in different OSD offices 10:33.049 --> 10:35.105 because as a cohort , you're kind of 10:35.105 --> 10:37.327 scattered across . Um , the joint staff 10:37.327 --> 10:41.000 and the OSW staff , OSD OSW . Um , 10:41.080 --> 10:43.247 so and it's , it's , you got , you got 10:43.247 --> 10:45.358 a fellow in certain offices , right ? 10:45.358 --> 10:47.524 So in the fellow network , it's like , 10:47.524 --> 10:49.691 Hey , anybody got this chart ? Anybody 10:49.691 --> 10:51.858 have this information ? or , hey , can 10:51.858 --> 10:54.024 we , you know , and we would do a good 10:54.024 --> 10:53.380 opportunity , or we would do a good job 10:53.380 --> 10:55.491 of pretty much meeting for lunch , or 10:55.491 --> 10:57.547 grabbing coffee , or certain offices 10:57.547 --> 10:59.491 work closely with others . So as a 10:59.491 --> 11:01.547 fellowship cohort , You kind of grow 11:01.547 --> 11:03.436 and we're one of the , you know , 11:03.436 --> 11:05.658 junior ranking people in the building , 11:05.658 --> 11:07.824 but we know we can kind of utilize our 11:07.824 --> 11:09.991 network to get certain things done . I 11:09.991 --> 11:12.213 mean , that , that's huge right there . 11:12.213 --> 11:14.324 It's so much in the army . It's about 11:14.324 --> 11:16.047 who you know and building that 11:16.047 --> 11:18.158 community and staying close to , um , 11:18.158 --> 11:20.436 your classmates you went to , you know , 11:20.436 --> 11:22.658 your bullock with , your career courses 11:22.658 --> 11:24.991 and like . That's how you go . You said , 11:24.991 --> 11:24.549 I , hey , if someone doesn't know , if 11:24.549 --> 11:26.716 you don't know how to do something , I 11:26.716 --> 11:28.716 bet somebody else does . And having 11:28.716 --> 11:30.716 that tight community that you had , 11:30.716 --> 11:32.882 it's so key to be able , hey , to just 11:32.882 --> 11:34.938 meet up for lunch , and it , because 11:34.938 --> 11:34.890 you don't want to exist on an island 11:35.190 --> 11:37.246 and trying to go out by yourself and 11:37.246 --> 11:39.301 conquer the world . You need to have 11:39.301 --> 11:41.357 that community . And that's what you 11:41.357 --> 11:43.523 guys have built . So it's made you not 11:43.669 --> 11:45.780 just develop and sharpen your toolkit 11:45.780 --> 11:47.891 stronger . It's like help the overall 11:47.891 --> 11:49.780 staff because then you're able to 11:49.780 --> 11:52.002 bounce ideas off each other , uh , find 11:52.002 --> 11:53.891 better ways to do it . You're not 11:53.891 --> 11:56.113 reinventing the wheel every single time 11:56.113 --> 11:58.225 you do a project , so that's really . 11:58.225 --> 11:58.224 It's good that you guys have stayed 11:58.224 --> 12:00.280 connected like that . And definitely 12:00.280 --> 12:02.391 talking about broadening , right ? So 12:02.391 --> 12:04.854 there was a logistics officer coming 12:04.854 --> 12:06.743 out of Georgetown , got my policy 12:06.743 --> 12:09.465 degree , policy master's , and I ended 12:09.465 --> 12:11.465 up in the chairman's public affairs 12:11.465 --> 12:13.187 office . I think when I had an 12:13.187 --> 12:15.021 opportunity to interview for the 12:15.021 --> 12:17.132 position and um what did I know about 12:17.132 --> 12:19.243 public affairs ? It was very little , 12:19.243 --> 12:21.132 but I did know as a commander , a 12:21.132 --> 12:23.354 company commander . It was important to 12:23.354 --> 12:25.576 tell the story . As always , you had to 12:25.576 --> 12:27.521 communicate , you know , to senior 12:27.521 --> 12:29.798 leaders , to the families back at home , 12:29.798 --> 12:31.798 or even , you know , other military 12:31.798 --> 12:33.965 partners , like what you're doing . So 12:33.965 --> 12:36.298 taking pictures , producing storyboards , 12:36.298 --> 12:35.270 which I'm sure some lieutenant or 12:35.270 --> 12:37.369 captain is responsible for doing for 12:37.369 --> 12:39.919 the biweekly sit rep , right ? Um , 12:40.349 --> 12:42.460 coming into a public affairs shop , I 12:42.460 --> 12:43.905 was able to see strategic 12:43.905 --> 12:46.071 communications and what that meant for 12:46.071 --> 12:48.016 the senior military advisor to the 12:48.016 --> 12:50.293 Secretary of Defense and the president , 12:50.293 --> 12:52.405 right ? Um , so media engagements , I 12:52.405 --> 12:54.516 got an opportunity to work with , you 12:54.516 --> 12:56.627 know , the big major news outlets and 12:56.627 --> 12:58.571 see what that means to work on the 12:58.571 --> 13:00.349 record or off the record and um 13:00.349 --> 13:02.571 background or deep background . So that 13:02.571 --> 13:04.682 that truly pulled me out of a comfort 13:04.682 --> 13:06.793 space of , you know , log sat reports 13:06.793 --> 13:08.609 or maintenance reports or fuel 13:08.609 --> 13:10.609 consumption rates , etc . providing 13:10.609 --> 13:12.570 sustainment , but it put me into a 13:12.570 --> 13:14.403 space that allowed me to kind of 13:14.403 --> 13:17.799 broaden and grow . Um . So that was a 13:17.799 --> 13:19.855 unique experience that I would offer 13:19.855 --> 13:21.577 anybody . From this broadening 13:21.577 --> 13:23.855 experience , I've been able to do that , 13:23.855 --> 13:25.799 earn a master's degree in policy , 13:25.799 --> 13:27.966 which was something that wasn't really 13:27.966 --> 13:30.159 on my bingo card for my career , but I 13:30.159 --> 13:32.270 was able to broaden into a space that 13:32.270 --> 13:34.381 now I look at defense policy , I look 13:34.381 --> 13:36.270 at international policy through a 13:36.270 --> 13:38.492 different lens . I now look at you know 13:38.492 --> 13:40.492 how we as an enterprise communicate 13:40.492 --> 13:43.159 strategically , which delineates down 13:43.159 --> 13:45.440 to the tactical level . Um , for 13:45.440 --> 13:47.909 example , Things that were going on in 13:47.909 --> 13:49.742 Gaza , I was able to see how the 13:49.742 --> 13:51.965 building was kind of turning on it real 13:51.965 --> 13:54.076 time , um , and the messaging that we 13:54.076 --> 13:56.242 had as a department to the force or to 13:56.242 --> 13:58.187 the public . Um , so that was very 13:58.187 --> 14:00.520 interesting to see . And as a sustainer , 14:00.520 --> 14:02.409 I kind of , as I understood water 14:02.409 --> 14:04.465 operations , watercraft operations . 14:04.465 --> 14:06.353 It's a little nugget to different 14:06.353 --> 14:08.465 experts or senior leaders say , hey , 14:08.465 --> 14:11.140 you know , I know what a boat company 14:11.140 --> 14:13.460 does . I know how , you know , choppy 14:13.460 --> 14:16.059 weather or choppy water can can impact 14:16.059 --> 14:18.440 sustainment , right ? And that little 14:18.780 --> 14:21.580 nugget shifted the conversation , right ? 14:21.619 --> 14:23.952 They're like , Oh , good to know . Like , 14:23.952 --> 14:26.175 and sometimes being in the room is just 14:26.175 --> 14:28.341 as important as who's in the room . So 14:28.341 --> 14:30.563 This fellowship definitely gives you an 14:30.563 --> 14:32.786 opportunity to be in the room , kind of 14:32.786 --> 14:32.359 when the conversations are happening . 14:32.679 --> 14:34.790 And , you know , sometimes the leader 14:34.790 --> 14:37.068 may look around the room and say , hey , 14:37.068 --> 14:37.039 what do you think , you know , Captain 14:37.039 --> 14:39.690 so and so , and how are we what are we 14:39.690 --> 14:41.857 missing ? And I think that's that's an 14:41.857 --> 14:43.801 impactful part of the fellowship . 14:43.801 --> 14:45.857 Exactly . That's what's so key about 14:45.857 --> 14:47.801 getting yourself into a broadening 14:48.015 --> 14:50.182 Broadening opportunity of fellowship . 14:50.224 --> 14:52.446 It doesn't matter what it is because it 14:52.446 --> 14:54.613 gets you to see parts of the army that 14:54.613 --> 14:56.724 you wouldn't see in the tactical side 14:56.724 --> 14:56.465 because you become , especially as 14:56.465 --> 14:58.984 sustainers , you just become so , and 14:58.984 --> 15:01.095 you , I wanna say you , you can , you 15:01.095 --> 15:03.262 can become very tunnel vision . Like I 15:03.262 --> 15:05.428 just need to get my , all my logs that 15:05.428 --> 15:07.651 you said my logs in I just focus on the 15:07.651 --> 15:09.928 numbers , the data , all the logistics . 15:09.928 --> 15:11.873 But when you get into a fellowship 15:11.873 --> 15:13.873 program , You get to see the bigger 15:13.873 --> 15:16.095 picture , so to speak , and it helps to 15:16.095 --> 15:18.317 really make you more well-rounded as an 15:18.317 --> 15:17.799 officer . So as you progress through 15:17.799 --> 15:20.021 your career , um , it gets you to see , 15:20.169 --> 15:22.391 especially before you hit field grade , 15:22.659 --> 15:24.881 and that's what's so key about doing it 15:24.881 --> 15:26.937 after your company command time . So 15:26.937 --> 15:26.469 now before you become a field grade 15:26.469 --> 15:28.580 officer , you're able to understand , 15:28.580 --> 15:30.802 OK , this is the world that I'm getting 15:30.802 --> 15:32.858 into right now . And as you , as you 15:32.858 --> 15:35.080 alluded to , like all these things that 15:35.080 --> 15:37.025 you got to see , um , through this 15:37.025 --> 15:39.247 fellowship program , seeing things here 15:39.247 --> 15:41.469 in the Pentagon live . As decisions are 15:41.469 --> 15:43.525 being made , I mean , even for you , 15:43.525 --> 15:45.636 it's changed your career trajectory . 15:46.669 --> 15:48.836 It has . Um , and it's something I , I 15:48.836 --> 15:50.947 appreciate and I look forward to as I 15:50.947 --> 15:53.169 continue to move on . So I completed my 15:53.169 --> 15:55.058 second year and now I'm currently 15:55.058 --> 15:57.169 serving the Army G4 . Um , and that's 15:57.169 --> 15:59.336 how we got to meet , right ? So , um , 15:59.530 --> 16:01.641 General Donahue came on board as a G4 16:01.641 --> 16:03.863 and she mentioned the Harding Project , 16:03.863 --> 16:06.030 which , as a Bradley fellow , um , the 16:06.030 --> 16:08.030 Harding Project is one of the CSA's 16:08.030 --> 16:10.086 initiatives . Um , and as a fellow , 16:10.086 --> 16:12.252 we've we've kind of been abreast about 16:12.252 --> 16:14.474 the Harding Project , about writing and 16:14.474 --> 16:14.440 the doctrine and being able to 16:14.440 --> 16:16.969 contribute to the to the conversation . 16:17.369 --> 16:19.880 Um , so as soon as she said that , um , 16:20.159 --> 16:22.381 we reached out , we , you know , wanted 16:22.381 --> 16:24.603 to talk sustainment podcasting things . 16:24.603 --> 16:27.799 And within the G4 . I've been a 16:27.799 --> 16:29.910 sustainer for , you know , 10 years , 16:29.910 --> 16:32.309 almost 11 . And I'd learned things that 16:32.309 --> 16:34.476 I didn't even know . I was like , Oh , 16:34.476 --> 16:36.587 there's multiple directors within the 16:36.587 --> 16:38.642 G4 and how they interact with AMC or 16:38.642 --> 16:40.920 how Cascom plays into the conversation . 16:40.920 --> 16:43.419 And as we go through the Army 16:43.419 --> 16:46.030 continuous transformation , um , kind 16:46.030 --> 16:48.197 of cycle that the period that we're in 16:48.197 --> 16:50.363 now , seeing it in real time and being 16:50.363 --> 16:52.363 a part of the conversations on Army 16:52.363 --> 16:55.400 food or OCIE reform or the OIB , um , 16:55.549 --> 16:57.382 and the transformation that it's 16:57.382 --> 16:59.216 undergoing and understanding the 16:59.216 --> 17:01.105 logistics or the Army sustainment 17:01.105 --> 17:02.940 enterprise writ large is just as 17:02.940 --> 17:05.790 eye-opening , right ? Um , so yes , I 17:05.790 --> 17:08.123 was selected to serve on the Army staff , 17:08.123 --> 17:10.123 um , in the G4 . Um , we have other 17:10.123 --> 17:12.890 fellows across the Army staff , so You 17:12.890 --> 17:14.890 know , in context again , you go to 17:14.890 --> 17:17.057 Georgetown , you get your degree , you 17:17.057 --> 17:19.168 go in the army , uh , excuse me , the 17:19.168 --> 17:21.334 OSW staff , joint staff . You get this 17:21.334 --> 17:24.089 joint , you know , jointness to you , 17:24.099 --> 17:26.043 and then you come back to the army 17:26.043 --> 17:28.210 staff , which is home , right ? So now 17:28.210 --> 17:30.432 you put on your uniform again . And now 17:30.432 --> 17:32.543 you're talking amongst your peers and 17:32.543 --> 17:32.349 colleagues in a different language , 17:32.430 --> 17:35.479 right ? I would I would akin it to 17:35.479 --> 17:37.535 having kind of a different dialect , 17:37.535 --> 17:39.535 right ? So now you have a different 17:39.535 --> 17:41.701 perspective of jointness . I have Navy 17:41.701 --> 17:43.812 colleagues , I have Marine colleagues 17:43.812 --> 17:46.035 that I've earned or I've gained working 17:46.035 --> 17:48.520 on the OSW joint staff . Um , that I 17:48.520 --> 17:50.576 can reach out . Air Force colleagues 17:50.576 --> 17:52.242 that , I can gain a different 17:52.242 --> 17:54.464 perspective as I look in the Army realm 17:54.464 --> 17:56.520 of like , Hey , I know someone who , 17:56.520 --> 17:58.742 what's the Air Force doing about this ? 17:58.742 --> 18:00.964 Or how's the Marine go about this ? and 18:00.964 --> 18:02.909 compare notes . And that's just by 18:02.909 --> 18:05.020 being in the building for the last 18 18:05.020 --> 18:07.076 months . So back on the Army staff , 18:07.076 --> 18:09.242 kind of going in the logistics realm . 18:09.242 --> 18:11.353 It's been a unique opportunity to see 18:11.353 --> 18:13.353 different rollout , especially with 18:13.353 --> 18:15.576 Army continuous transformation and what 18:15.576 --> 18:17.298 the chief is saying , what the 18:17.298 --> 18:19.464 secretary is saying , Secretary of the 18:19.464 --> 18:21.687 Army is saying , and how we kind of put 18:21.687 --> 18:23.909 it into practice . So I've got a couple 18:23.909 --> 18:23.839 more months left on the Army staff , 18:23.920 --> 18:26.640 but it'll be , I'll be very excited to 18:26.640 --> 18:28.807 kind of take what I've learned back to 18:28.807 --> 18:30.973 the field and put it in practice . And 18:30.973 --> 18:33.140 just for clarification , with all this 18:33.140 --> 18:35.029 joint , does this count for joint 18:35.029 --> 18:38.229 credit ? Um , not necessarily . Um , so 18:38.229 --> 18:40.729 it is kind of , there are ways you can , 18:40.829 --> 18:43.430 uh , apply for joint credit , but we're , 18:43.510 --> 18:45.566 I think as we continue to refine the 18:45.566 --> 18:48.510 fellowship , um , we're trying to get 18:48.510 --> 18:50.677 that a part of it . But as a captain , 18:50.677 --> 18:52.677 I think there are regulations on If 18:52.677 --> 18:55.010 you're in a joint J billet and so forth . 18:55.010 --> 18:57.177 So the joint credit is something we're 18:57.177 --> 18:59.288 still working on . And because I know 18:59.288 --> 18:58.589 that'll be a question a lot of the 18:58.589 --> 19:00.756 audience would ask because it's like , 19:00.756 --> 19:02.978 OK , if I do this fellowship , do I get 19:02.978 --> 19:05.200 some of my joint credit ? Yeah , that's 19:05.200 --> 19:07.311 and to be honest , that's a conundrum 19:07.311 --> 19:07.310 that um to the director of Army staff , 19:08.270 --> 19:10.437 they're they're they're very receptive 19:10.437 --> 19:12.492 and feedback that we as a fellowship 19:12.492 --> 19:14.381 give in ways that we can codify , 19:14.381 --> 19:16.603 continue to refine the fellowship to be 19:16.603 --> 19:18.659 one of the premier , one of the best 19:18.659 --> 19:20.714 opportunities experienced for such a 19:20.714 --> 19:22.826 good population . So we've taken that 19:22.826 --> 19:24.826 feedback to the to the leaders that 19:24.826 --> 19:27.489 need it and they're avidly working . To , 19:27.500 --> 19:29.880 um , advocate for us . I know that'd be 19:29.880 --> 19:32.047 very good benefit to the program , and 19:32.047 --> 19:35.150 100% , um , it , it , it 19:35.900 --> 19:38.670 myriad of benefits and in context as 19:38.670 --> 19:41.003 you continue to look to serve long term . 19:41.069 --> 19:43.270 That is one of the premier benefits of 19:43.270 --> 19:45.380 it is having that joint access , 19:45.790 --> 19:47.957 accessibility , and the opportunity to 19:47.957 --> 19:50.123 walk away with that credit . Exactly . 19:50.150 --> 19:52.150 And sometimes it's not on what's on 19:52.150 --> 19:53.817 paper . It's , it's all about 19:53.817 --> 19:55.872 relationships , especially if you're 19:55.872 --> 19:57.983 going to be successful in your career 19:57.983 --> 20:00.317 or overall just successful in the force , 20:00.317 --> 20:02.372 just making the team they're serving 20:02.372 --> 20:04.483 with successful . It's about building 20:04.483 --> 20:06.650 those relationships with people . So , 20:06.650 --> 20:08.817 and on that . Say I'm interested , you 20:08.817 --> 20:10.872 know , in doing this fellowship . If 20:10.872 --> 20:13.094 you could , if someone walked up to you 20:13.094 --> 20:15.317 and said , hey , I , I saw you did that 20:15.317 --> 20:15.219 fellowship , I'm interested , uh , what 20:15.219 --> 20:17.330 are some good tips or tricks to going 20:17.330 --> 20:19.552 through the application process or what 20:19.552 --> 20:21.719 you would say makes a good applicant ? 20:21.719 --> 20:24.099 Uh , do well in your current job . So , 20:24.140 --> 20:26.362 um , you're gonna get , you know , kind 20:26.362 --> 20:28.418 of boarded or reviewed based on past 20:28.418 --> 20:30.529 performance . Um , so do well in what 20:30.529 --> 20:32.696 you're doing . Make sure you're giving 20:32.696 --> 20:34.862 your best . Um , I would say start the 20:34.862 --> 20:36.973 Bob catalog . Look at the look at the 20:36.973 --> 20:39.196 requirements because they do shift from 20:39.196 --> 20:41.251 year to year , um , and present your 20:41.251 --> 20:43.418 best self . That's that's what I would 20:43.418 --> 20:45.529 tell anyone . I think we talk amongst 20:45.529 --> 20:47.696 fellows , it's like , hey , you know , 20:47.696 --> 20:49.862 how was your application ? What was it 20:49.862 --> 20:49.439 like for you ? How did you , how did 20:49.439 --> 20:51.550 you approach , you know , how did you 20:51.550 --> 20:53.328 hear about it ? And we all have 20:53.328 --> 20:55.272 different answers . So I think the 20:55.272 --> 20:57.439 secret sauce is yet to be discovered , 20:57.439 --> 21:00.219 but , um , I'm also amongst high 21:00.219 --> 21:02.441 caliber officers , so present your best 21:02.441 --> 21:05.569 self on paper and in person . Um , 21:05.699 --> 21:07.866 don't tell yourself no before you give 21:07.866 --> 21:09.921 them the opportunity to . So even if 21:09.921 --> 21:11.810 you feel like you're not a strong 21:11.810 --> 21:13.755 candidate , I would definitely say 21:13.755 --> 21:15.810 apply , um , because that that plays 21:15.810 --> 21:18.143 into it , because they just want to see , 21:18.143 --> 21:20.310 you know , what what what high caliber 21:20.310 --> 21:22.366 offices do we have in the field that 21:22.366 --> 21:24.532 are , you know , ready to serve at the 21:24.532 --> 21:26.588 next level and capable of serving at 21:26.588 --> 21:28.810 that level . So , um , those are Two or 21:28.810 --> 21:30.921 three of the things I would , I would 21:30.921 --> 21:32.755 say do , do your job , check the 21:32.755 --> 21:32.270 catalog for the requirements , and then 21:32.270 --> 21:35.709 just present your best self . So , I'm 21:35.709 --> 21:38.109 an applicant , I got selected . Now I'm 21:38.109 --> 21:40.276 about to head to Georgetown . I mean , 21:40.276 --> 21:42.387 what's , what should I expect when it 21:42.387 --> 21:44.553 comes to that experience ? I would say 21:44.553 --> 21:46.720 lean into your interest , right ? Um . 21:46.760 --> 21:50.109 One thing I did was I went back to my 21:50.109 --> 21:52.910 college days . So in college , I did 21:52.910 --> 21:54.799 community service in the Atlantic 21:54.799 --> 21:56.577 community , um , and hunger and 21:56.577 --> 21:59.310 homelessness were two issue topics that 21:59.310 --> 22:02.170 I served in the most . Um , 22:03.430 --> 22:05.430 So I leaned into that when I got to 22:05.430 --> 22:07.430 Georgetown . OK , food insecurity , 22:07.479 --> 22:09.646 food security , where do we stand with 22:09.646 --> 22:11.646 that ? Or affordable housing , what 22:11.646 --> 22:13.701 policy implications are there around 22:13.701 --> 22:15.757 that ? So I actually did my capstone 22:15.757 --> 22:17.701 project , which is about a 30 page 22:18.040 --> 22:20.349 thesis on food insecurity in the 22:20.349 --> 22:23.719 military . Um , and oddly enough , when 22:23.719 --> 22:25.941 I got to the G4 , I was seeing the work 22:25.941 --> 22:27.830 that was done around campus style 22:27.830 --> 22:31.000 dining or the Army Food Program . So it 22:31.000 --> 22:33.079 was almost like , you know , I 22:33.079 --> 22:35.640 foreshadowed myself into the G4 . But 22:35.640 --> 22:37.751 once I got to Georgetown , I was able 22:37.751 --> 22:39.918 to talk with practitioners , talk with 22:39.918 --> 22:42.290 policy , um , Agents , if you will , in 22:42.290 --> 22:44.068 the DC community , writ large , 22:44.068 --> 22:46.290 national community about those topics . 22:46.530 --> 22:48.419 And so I was just able to immerse 22:48.419 --> 22:50.586 myself , draw the connection , because 22:50.586 --> 22:52.530 you're also in class with the NPM 22:52.530 --> 22:54.530 program at Georgetown is a class of 22:54.530 --> 22:56.586 seasoned professionals . So everyone 22:56.586 --> 22:58.641 has at least 5 years in their career 22:58.641 --> 23:00.586 field and then they apply for this 23:00.586 --> 23:02.530 master's , but you're also amongst 23:02.530 --> 23:04.641 public policy students who are coming 23:04.641 --> 23:04.170 straight out of undergrad , kind of 23:04.170 --> 23:07.109 doing the graduate program as early 20s . 23:07.489 --> 23:10.680 But you're amongst Another high caliber 23:10.680 --> 23:13.160 set of people . Georgetown is not , is 23:13.160 --> 23:15.327 not a middle middle tier school . It's 23:15.327 --> 23:17.438 pretty prominent . So you have access 23:17.438 --> 23:19.493 to Capitol Hill , you have access to 23:19.493 --> 23:21.604 the DC , you know , K Street Avenue , 23:21.604 --> 23:24.300 if you will . And so I was able to lean 23:24.300 --> 23:26.244 into that . I was able to take the 23:26.244 --> 23:28.189 opportunity to go to talks , go to 23:28.189 --> 23:30.411 different discussion , attend different 23:30.411 --> 23:32.578 conferences here in DC um and draw the 23:32.578 --> 23:34.689 connection because they're looking at 23:34.689 --> 23:36.856 me as a professional of the Department 23:36.856 --> 23:39.022 of Defense industry , right ? So I can 23:39.022 --> 23:41.244 speak to that experience , but I'm also 23:41.244 --> 23:43.244 gaining more knowledge . So I would 23:43.244 --> 23:45.411 just say anyone who gets elected to go 23:45.411 --> 23:47.633 to Georgetown and lean into what you're 23:47.633 --> 23:49.689 what you're interested in . And just 23:49.689 --> 23:49.569 take advantage of that opportunity 23:49.569 --> 23:51.625 because you'll be surprised what you 23:51.625 --> 23:53.625 walk away with . I think it's a new 23:53.625 --> 23:55.847 perspective on yourself and how you see 23:55.847 --> 23:57.513 the world , and I think a new 23:57.513 --> 24:00.089 perspective on how we can inflict 24:00.089 --> 24:02.311 change within the world . Exactly . And 24:02.311 --> 24:04.478 that gives you that because you have , 24:04.478 --> 24:06.256 you said . A little bit of that 24:06.256 --> 24:08.145 downtime , do that maintenance on 24:08.145 --> 24:07.839 yourself , but it just really helps 24:07.839 --> 24:10.569 sharpen you , be able to explore 24:10.569 --> 24:12.625 different things , you know , as you 24:12.625 --> 24:14.791 said , get back to your college days , 24:14.791 --> 24:16.791 get back to that academia , um , so 24:16.791 --> 24:18.625 they can help make you more well 24:18.625 --> 24:20.791 rounded . On a personal note , I was a 24:20.791 --> 24:23.013 4 year soccer coach for my son's soccer 24:23.013 --> 24:25.125 team . So I was chasing 4 year olds , 24:25.125 --> 24:27.236 you know , and serving my community , 24:27.236 --> 24:29.402 right ? So I was able to get that time 24:29.402 --> 24:31.513 back with my family . But then also , 24:31.513 --> 24:33.680 you know , in inflecting that into the 24:33.680 --> 24:35.736 community as well . So it was good . 24:35.736 --> 24:35.589 It's amazing to me to be able to have 24:35.589 --> 24:37.700 that opportunity , not just with your 24:37.700 --> 24:39.811 family , but as you said , be able to 24:39.811 --> 24:42.033 volunteer , give back , um , so because 24:42.033 --> 24:44.033 I know when you're in command , you 24:44.033 --> 24:44.030 just come out of here doing stuff like 24:44.030 --> 24:46.141 that , it can be done , but it's very 24:46.141 --> 24:48.252 difficult to be able to have the time 24:48.252 --> 24:50.363 to dedicate to that . So now you have 24:50.363 --> 24:52.474 the time to be able to give back , be 24:52.474 --> 24:54.586 able to coach a team like that , um . 24:54.586 --> 24:56.641 So it's just another opportunity and 24:56.641 --> 24:58.641 huge benefit when it comes to doing 24:58.641 --> 25:00.697 these fellowship programs is to help 25:00.697 --> 25:02.752 you out with that . So you completed 25:02.752 --> 25:04.974 that and now you're , you're now you're 25:04.974 --> 25:04.589 going to the joint staff . Any good 25:04.589 --> 25:06.645 advice for that portion of it , um . 25:06.939 --> 25:08.995 Besides that , we talked a lot about 25:08.995 --> 25:11.050 when it comes to relationships , and 25:11.050 --> 25:10.869 knowing your team . Everyone has a day 25:10.869 --> 25:12.925 one , and sometimes listening is the 25:12.925 --> 25:14.980 best thing you can do , right ? Just 25:14.980 --> 25:17.202 being in the room is , is , is half the 25:17.202 --> 25:19.480 battle . Um , just listen , take it in , 25:19.480 --> 25:21.702 see how senior leaders make decisions , 25:21.702 --> 25:23.925 see how information is presented . Um , 25:23.925 --> 25:26.147 there's a decision making process class 25:26.147 --> 25:28.313 you take at Georgetown , that's a part 25:28.313 --> 25:30.425 of the policy policy curriculum , but 25:30.425 --> 25:33.339 Being able to apply that in reality is 25:33.339 --> 25:35.395 significant . You take information , 25:35.395 --> 25:37.283 you take data , information , you 25:37.283 --> 25:39.450 present it , and then you develop your 25:39.450 --> 25:41.617 course of actions , right ? We take it 25:41.617 --> 25:43.672 from the MDMP process , the military 25:43.672 --> 25:45.561 decision making process , but now 25:45.561 --> 25:47.728 you're applying it in real time . Um , 25:47.728 --> 25:49.672 but then on the joint staff or OSD 25:49.672 --> 25:53.550 realm , OSW realm . It's very different 25:53.550 --> 25:55.883 because it's a high churn , high stakes , 25:56.229 --> 25:59.650 high volume environment because you're 26:00.229 --> 26:02.396 reporting information to the Secretary 26:02.396 --> 26:04.507 of War , you're reporting information 26:04.507 --> 26:03.670 to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 26:03.670 --> 26:06.150 Staff or 2 star , 3 stars . They're 26:06.150 --> 26:08.372 walking around the building like you're 26:08.372 --> 26:10.372 the junior person in the room , but 26:10.372 --> 26:12.780 your your your action officer vibe or 26:12.780 --> 26:14.836 your action officer efforts are very 26:14.836 --> 26:18.369 critical because We're trying to inform 26:18.369 --> 26:20.449 the force , inform senior leaders to 26:20.449 --> 26:23.310 make decisions , but then also , um , 26:24.160 --> 26:26.271 Do right by society , do right by the 26:26.271 --> 26:28.604 American public . And that's , you know , 26:28.604 --> 26:30.716 day one of the Pentagon . It's , it's 26:30.716 --> 26:32.604 bright , shiny , it's it's a huge 26:32.604 --> 26:34.493 museum , it's several corridors , 26:34.493 --> 26:36.604 several floors , but you take the job 26:36.604 --> 26:38.216 that you're , you know , the 26:38.216 --> 26:40.438 opportunity you're given , do it well . 26:40.438 --> 26:42.604 Listen , contribute as a good teammate 26:42.604 --> 26:44.827 or a good team player , and um you'd be 26:44.827 --> 26:46.882 surprised how you can inflect change 26:46.882 --> 26:49.104 within the environment that you're in . 26:49.104 --> 26:51.327 And still find your way around . Yeah , 26:51.327 --> 26:53.438 and still find your way around . Um , 26:53.438 --> 26:55.549 so it's good , but again , just being 26:55.549 --> 26:57.493 in the room is , you know , taking 26:57.493 --> 26:59.716 notes or just being able to converse in 26:59.716 --> 27:01.938 certain spaces about certain topics and 27:01.938 --> 27:04.104 inserting different experiences you've 27:04.104 --> 27:06.160 had in the field . Maybe we're we're 27:06.160 --> 27:08.493 seeing this from a different way , like , 27:08.493 --> 27:10.810 and because in the DOT sphere , in the 27:10.810 --> 27:12.930 Pentagon , it's , we're here , the 27:12.930 --> 27:15.599 field is out there . So sometimes you 27:15.599 --> 27:17.655 have to kind of say , OK , let's put 27:17.655 --> 27:19.710 myself as a company commander . If I 27:19.710 --> 27:21.821 receive this from the top , what's my 27:21.821 --> 27:23.932 first action ? Is it going to inflict 27:23.932 --> 27:25.710 more burden or is this going to 27:25.710 --> 27:28.760 alleviate a stress ? And that's where I 27:28.760 --> 27:31.630 found myself last year on the joint 27:31.630 --> 27:33.959 staff is saying , OK , if I hear this 27:33.959 --> 27:36.920 message , is it causing more stress or 27:36.920 --> 27:38.976 is this communicating what I want to 27:38.976 --> 27:41.142 say ? Or is that what they really want 27:41.142 --> 27:43.031 to hear ? And how does that , how 27:43.031 --> 27:45.253 should we change or shift the narrative 27:45.253 --> 27:47.364 or shift the conversation to um get a 27:47.364 --> 27:50.849 better outcome ? So , so , 27:51.140 --> 27:53.930 um , one of the talking points we'll 27:53.930 --> 27:56.050 look at is you did the two different 27:56.050 --> 27:58.969 staffs . OK . I did one . I did joint 27:58.969 --> 28:00.913 staff . Other fellows did OSA . So 28:00.913 --> 28:03.136 there's a choice . Yeah , you see , you 28:03.136 --> 28:05.358 said , do you get to choose . There are 28:05.358 --> 28:07.640 20 fellows and they kind of slice it in 28:07.640 --> 28:09.862 half . So there are 10 opportunities on 28:09.862 --> 28:11.973 the joint staff , 10 opportunities on 28:11.973 --> 28:13.473 the OSW staff . So there's 28:13.473 --> 28:15.529 opportunities to interview , you get 28:15.529 --> 28:17.751 selected because you'll submit your bio 28:17.751 --> 28:19.918 resume packet , um , kind of like your 28:19.918 --> 28:22.029 baseball card , and they'll , you get 28:22.029 --> 28:24.140 an opportunity to interview , but you 28:24.140 --> 28:26.251 either go one or 2 paths , one of two 28:26.251 --> 28:28.307 paths . One of those paths . So then 28:28.307 --> 28:28.119 after that , did you get to choose , 28:28.219 --> 28:30.386 Hey , I want to go to the G4 or was it 28:30.386 --> 28:32.386 assigned to you ? Like how did that 28:32.386 --> 28:34.608 next step of the fellowship work ? That 28:34.608 --> 28:36.775 next step , um , Similar in practice , 28:36.775 --> 28:39.108 and we're we're still refining that too . 28:39.108 --> 28:38.790 It's kind of like based on your 28:38.790 --> 28:40.957 interests , you can indicate , hey , I 28:40.957 --> 28:42.790 have an interest in , you know , 28:42.790 --> 28:45.068 serving in , you know , public affairs , 28:45.068 --> 28:47.068 continued public affairs , or , you 28:47.068 --> 28:49.068 know , I can go back to my roots of 28:49.068 --> 28:50.901 going to G4 . Um , so there is a 28:50.901 --> 28:53.012 conundrum , and I think we're working 28:53.012 --> 28:54.957 through how that selection process 28:54.957 --> 28:57.068 happens . There are some front office 28:57.068 --> 28:59.290 jobs in Army senior leader offices that 28:59.290 --> 29:01.401 have like an interview process , rack 29:01.401 --> 29:03.679 and stack , but , um , it , it , again , 29:03.679 --> 29:05.846 in an effort to broaden or continue to 29:05.846 --> 29:07.957 broaden or kind of hone you back into 29:07.957 --> 29:10.012 your skill set . That's where , um , 29:10.012 --> 29:11.846 either you're selected or you're 29:11.846 --> 29:14.012 positioned in that , um , in your next 29:14.012 --> 29:16.068 army staff assignment . OK , so this 29:16.068 --> 29:17.568 gives you , um , different 29:17.568 --> 29:19.790 opportunities . Yeah , because I mean , 29:19.790 --> 29:21.846 I've I've known people from previous 29:21.846 --> 29:23.790 cohorts that discover they have an 29:23.790 --> 29:25.901 interest in leg affairs , so they may 29:25.901 --> 29:28.012 do . OSD or Joint Staff L Affairs and 29:28.012 --> 29:30.199 then they transition to OCLL , um , to 29:30.199 --> 29:32.310 do continued led affairs . And that's 29:32.310 --> 29:34.477 just , again , either broadening their 29:34.477 --> 29:36.839 apparatus or just giving them , you 29:36.839 --> 29:39.880 know , continued service in that space 29:39.880 --> 29:42.047 because they've made the connections , 29:42.047 --> 29:44.479 done the work . Um , for me , it was 29:44.479 --> 29:46.590 kind of like , OK , bring you back to 29:46.590 --> 29:48.535 logistics , kind of honing in that 29:48.535 --> 29:50.479 before we send you back out to the 29:50.479 --> 29:52.090 field . So it's it's a great 29:52.090 --> 29:54.312 opportunity overall because Again , you 29:54.312 --> 29:56.479 can express and voice your concerns or 29:56.479 --> 29:58.646 your , or not your concerns , but your 29:58.646 --> 29:58.459 interests , but then they're going to 29:58.459 --> 30:00.515 kind of marry you with what's a good 30:00.515 --> 30:02.737 fit for you . And this has inspired you 30:02.737 --> 30:04.792 now to go the public affairs route . 30:04.819 --> 30:07.119 Yeah , yeah , I do have some , uh , 30:07.709 --> 30:09.709 good interest in public affairs and 30:09.709 --> 30:11.876 it's , it's , it's a great opportunity 30:11.876 --> 30:13.820 that I've , I've learned from this 30:13.820 --> 30:13.219 experience . I've gained from this 30:13.219 --> 30:15.441 experience , so I'm , I'm excited about 30:15.441 --> 30:17.275 it . So I don't know you're just 30:17.275 --> 30:19.330 beginning that that track now , uh , 30:19.330 --> 30:21.330 with the public affairs , being a , 30:21.330 --> 30:23.497 being a Loggie . Um , what good advice 30:23.497 --> 30:26.000 do you have for sustainers out there to 30:26.260 --> 30:28.260 help get our voice out there ? Um , 30:28.260 --> 30:30.316 having now done some experience with 30:30.316 --> 30:32.371 public affairs , how do we tie those 30:32.371 --> 30:34.650 together so that we can get our voices 30:34.650 --> 30:36.928 out there when it comes to sustainment ? 30:36.928 --> 30:38.872 Um , tell your story . Um , that's 30:38.872 --> 30:40.983 something I learned a long time ago . 30:40.983 --> 30:43.150 And tell your story , tell the story . 30:43.150 --> 30:46.160 So , A lot of people think they know 30:46.160 --> 30:47.993 what we do , but it's our job to 30:47.993 --> 30:50.049 communicate that in a very effective 30:50.049 --> 30:52.319 way of what we do . Storyboards , um , 30:52.640 --> 30:54.862 you know , just saying , Hey , here's a 30:54.862 --> 30:57.029 sew up behind what we did . We moved . 30:57.029 --> 30:59.029 X amount of fuel across this battle 30:59.029 --> 31:01.084 space , the impact of that is this , 31:01.084 --> 31:03.400 and that's , you know , sustainment . 31:03.489 --> 31:05.890 That is ensuring the battle , the 31:05.890 --> 31:08.057 warfighter can pull the trigger . It's 31:08.057 --> 31:10.112 getting , you know , right logistics 31:10.112 --> 31:12.223 where it needs to the point of need . 31:12.223 --> 31:14.112 Um , and I would just say through 31:14.112 --> 31:16.279 different avenues , whether it's , you 31:16.279 --> 31:16.250 know , talking to family readiness 31:16.250 --> 31:18.489 groups , just so the people closest to 31:18.489 --> 31:20.600 the soldiers know what's going on and 31:20.600 --> 31:22.656 communicating to your senior leaders 31:22.656 --> 31:24.878 like , hey , sir , ma'am . This is what 31:24.878 --> 31:27.045 this is what training got after . This 31:27.045 --> 31:26.780 is how it aligns to your to your 31:26.780 --> 31:28.947 priorities , to the initiatives of the 31:28.947 --> 31:31.058 army writ large . And just being able 31:31.058 --> 31:32.836 to , that's how we can do it in 31:32.836 --> 31:34.891 practice , right ? It doesn't take , 31:34.891 --> 31:37.169 you know , social media posts , always . 31:37.169 --> 31:39.391 It doesn't take , you know , a video or 31:39.391 --> 31:41.669 a reel . Those are ways to communicate , 31:41.669 --> 31:43.891 but just being able to say , OK , let's 31:43.891 --> 31:45.947 look at this . How can we share this 31:45.947 --> 31:47.959 with Key stakeholders , so they 31:47.959 --> 31:50.560 understand what we do and they have an 31:50.560 --> 31:52.616 idea of , wow , you're really moving 31:52.616 --> 31:54.393 the needle in keeping us safe , 31:54.439 --> 31:56.606 protecting us , or being good stewards 31:56.606 --> 31:58.717 by taxpayer dollars . So I would just 31:58.717 --> 32:00.890 say as a sustainer , Even with our 32:00.890 --> 32:02.699 maneuvering , uh , maneuver 32:02.699 --> 32:05.459 maneuverment . Even with our 32:05.459 --> 32:09.369 maneuvering peers . We 32:09.369 --> 32:11.880 have to be able to say , OK . This is 32:11.880 --> 32:14.102 the action you're trying to take . This 32:14.102 --> 32:16.324 is how we enable that action , um , and 32:16.324 --> 32:18.269 this is how we're supporting you . 32:18.269 --> 32:17.869 Being able to communicate and 32:17.869 --> 32:20.036 articulate that in a clear and concise 32:20.036 --> 32:22.258 manner is a good way to practice that . 32:22.359 --> 32:24.415 And then it becomes second nature of 32:24.415 --> 32:26.526 like , OK , what's the so what behind 32:26.526 --> 32:28.637 it ? And I think that translates down 32:28.637 --> 32:30.748 into leadership to your organizations 32:30.748 --> 32:30.719 because leaders are enable them to 32:30.719 --> 32:33.119 communicate to their organizations to 32:33.119 --> 32:35.119 say , Hey , this is what we need to 32:35.119 --> 32:37.230 accomplish . This is why it matters , 32:37.230 --> 32:39.452 and this is what we're going to get out 32:39.452 --> 32:41.563 of it . So any final good advice when 32:41.563 --> 32:43.619 it comes to not just your fellowship 32:43.619 --> 32:45.730 program , but just any any fellowship 32:45.730 --> 32:49.280 overall ? Know your job , um . Do your 32:49.280 --> 32:51.810 job and do it well . And then be a good 32:51.810 --> 32:54.849 teammate , always . And what about when 32:54.849 --> 32:56.905 it comes to just being sustainment , 32:56.905 --> 32:59.127 like any good advice for sustainers out 32:59.127 --> 33:01.460 there ? I would say the same . You know , 33:01.460 --> 33:04.439 I was talking to , um , a cadet just 33:04.439 --> 33:06.328 yesterday about , you know , he's 33:06.328 --> 33:08.550 commissioned , he's going to commission 33:08.550 --> 33:10.828 as a logistician , a logistics officer . 33:10.828 --> 33:12.939 And I said , Well , I've commissioned 33:12.939 --> 33:14.939 as a quartermaster basic branch . I 33:14.939 --> 33:17.161 said , I think we're redefining what it 33:17.161 --> 33:16.640 means to be a multifunctional 33:16.640 --> 33:18.751 logistician , but whatever it is , do 33:18.751 --> 33:20.939 it well . Um , and I think I learned 33:20.939 --> 33:22.939 that I went into a composite supply 33:22.939 --> 33:25.161 company as a young 2nd lieutenant and I 33:25.161 --> 33:27.439 was doing supply , uh , SSA activities . 33:27.439 --> 33:30.109 So know it and do it well , um , and 33:30.109 --> 33:32.900 then the rest will come . Um , be good 33:32.900 --> 33:34.939 at what you do . So always put your 33:34.939 --> 33:37.161 best foot forward , always present your 33:37.161 --> 33:39.161 best self , and then just be a good 33:39.161 --> 33:41.161 teammate , because I've come across 33:41.161 --> 33:43.161 folks in my career that I've caught 33:43.161 --> 33:45.161 again , I've come across again that 33:45.161 --> 33:47.495 we've been able to serve together again . 33:47.495 --> 33:49.550 Um , and when a friend reaches out , 33:49.550 --> 33:51.717 just be always willing to help in good 33:51.717 --> 33:53.717 faith , um , because you never know 33:53.717 --> 33:55.939 when you might need them . So it's been 33:55.939 --> 33:58.106 a great conversation we've had today . 33:58.106 --> 33:58.089 Uh , we went over a lot when it comes 33:58.089 --> 34:00.390 to just fellowship programs , going 34:00.390 --> 34:02.723 over the broadening opportunities to BP , 34:02.723 --> 34:04.668 and just really hearing about what 34:04.668 --> 34:06.834 makes yours , the General Omar Bradley 34:06.834 --> 34:08.779 Fellowship , truly unique . Um , I 34:08.779 --> 34:10.946 imagine there's probably gonna be some 34:10.946 --> 34:09.790 questions out there . People are like , 34:09.870 --> 34:11.926 OK , like , I'm interested in this . 34:11.926 --> 34:13.926 They , they hear this interview and 34:13.926 --> 34:16.092 they want to say , OK , I mean , I can 34:16.092 --> 34:16.070 ask some questions . So where can 34:16.070 --> 34:18.292 people reach out to you if they want to 34:18.292 --> 34:20.514 have some follow-up questions ? Find me 34:20.514 --> 34:22.737 on Global , uh , last name Poinsett , P 34:22.737 --> 34:24.959 O I N S E T T E . First name Ephesian , 34:24.959 --> 34:27.014 no numbers associated with it . Um , 34:27.014 --> 34:28.968 you can send me an email . You can 34:28.968 --> 34:31.079 shoot me a team's message . I'm happy 34:31.079 --> 34:32.968 to be a resource to anyone , um , 34:32.968 --> 34:34.912 seeking more information about the 34:34.912 --> 34:36.912 Bradley Fellowship in particular or 34:36.912 --> 34:39.135 just in general , um , about my journey 34:39.135 --> 34:41.246 and and I'm happy to be of assistance 34:41.246 --> 34:43.246 where I can . Well , thank you very 34:43.246 --> 34:45.412 much for that . It's been a great time 34:45.412 --> 34:47.690 to be able to , to talk with you today . 34:47.690 --> 34:49.857 I'm just able to sit down real quick , 34:49.857 --> 34:49.489 just to kind of go over this , this 34:49.489 --> 34:51.711 fellowship because I know for me , uh , 34:51.711 --> 34:53.878 when I was going through it , I know I 34:53.878 --> 34:55.822 looked at so many different , uh , 34:55.822 --> 34:58.045 fellowship programs , you know , I know 34:58.045 --> 35:00.100 the congressional one and Um , never 35:00.100 --> 35:01.933 thought I'd find my way into the 35:01.933 --> 35:04.100 Harding Fellowship . I mean , that was 35:04.100 --> 35:06.322 built and then say , this , this , this 35:06.322 --> 35:08.322 opportunity opened up , um , so I'm 35:08.322 --> 35:10.545 very blessed and thankful to be able to 35:10.545 --> 35:10.340 have been selected as this first 35:10.469 --> 35:12.691 Harding Fellow for systemic community , 35:12.691 --> 35:14.747 and , um , we , we joke , we're like 35:14.747 --> 35:16.691 we're building this thing from the 35:16.691 --> 35:18.913 ground up right now , but to anyone out 35:18.913 --> 35:20.969 there , I just , hey , get out there 35:20.969 --> 35:23.080 and , and do a fellowship . It really 35:23.080 --> 35:25.302 changes . It , it helps you to see , as 35:25.302 --> 35:27.302 we talked about earlier . Uh , your 35:27.302 --> 35:26.860 perspective on a lot of things , 35:26.979 --> 35:28.923 especially at higher levels of the 35:28.923 --> 35:30.868 force . So , but once again , just 35:30.868 --> 35:32.979 thank you for taking the time to , to 35:32.979 --> 35:35.035 come in today and sit down with me . 35:35.035 --> 35:34.939 Absolutely , glad to , like I said , 35:35.060 --> 35:37.219 open the aperture on the broadening 35:37.219 --> 35:39.108 fellowships and the opportunities 35:39.108 --> 35:40.719 because there are broadening 35:40.719 --> 35:43.370 opportunities and , um , apply , apply , 35:43.379 --> 35:45.601 because the worst thing they could tell 35:45.601 --> 35:47.323 you is no or redirect you to a 35:47.323 --> 35:47.310 different , different direction , but 35:47.739 --> 35:49.629 Um , I would hate to see some 35:49.629 --> 35:52.540 broadening fellowships go unused , um , 35:52.790 --> 35:55.270 so definitely apply . Reach out , ask a 35:55.270 --> 35:57.548 question , talk to your branch manager , 35:57.548 --> 35:59.659 um , get some more insight from those 35:59.659 --> 36:01.826 that are in those positions , and like 36:01.826 --> 36:03.826 I said , happy to be a resource for 36:03.826 --> 36:05.937 anyone willing to talk . Well , thank 36:05.937 --> 36:05.770 you very much . And to everyone out 36:05.770 --> 36:08.103 there , um , it'll be in the show notes , 36:08.103 --> 36:10.048 but go out and check out the , the 36:10.048 --> 36:12.214 broading opportunity , uh , pamphlet . 36:12.214 --> 36:11.969 That'll be in the show notes for you . 36:12.090 --> 36:14.034 Check it out . You might find some 36:14.034 --> 36:16.201 broading opportunities that you didn't 36:16.201 --> 36:18.423 even know existed , things that might , 36:18.423 --> 36:20.423 you know , just see your interest , 36:20.423 --> 36:22.646 what you could be doing , especially if 36:22.646 --> 36:22.489 you are a , you know , a junior officer 36:22.489 --> 36:24.711 out there . Uh , especially when you're 36:24.711 --> 36:26.933 a lieutenant , before you even become a 36:26.933 --> 36:29.045 captain , starts saying , OK , if I'm 36:29.045 --> 36:31.100 going to do this command , when do I 36:31.100 --> 36:33.045 need to apply ? As we talked about 36:33.045 --> 36:35.100 earlier in this episode , time is so 36:35.100 --> 36:34.840 important , uh , when you're going to 36:34.840 --> 36:36.896 apply for these different fellowship 36:36.896 --> 36:38.673 programs and how you align your 36:38.673 --> 36:40.840 timeline . Uh , when we talked earlier 36:40.840 --> 36:42.951 in , in an earlier episode . is about 36:42.951 --> 36:45.118 with mentorship . Find yourself a good 36:45.118 --> 36:47.062 mentor out there that can help you 36:47.062 --> 36:49.007 through these different broadening 36:49.007 --> 36:48.830 opportunities . Like we've talked today , 36:49.129 --> 36:51.240 you're gonna have a good leader who's 36:51.240 --> 36:52.962 gonna go push you to find that 36:52.962 --> 36:55.240 different broaden opportunities . They , 36:55.240 --> 36:57.407 they might seek you out even and say , 36:57.407 --> 36:59.518 hey , this , I think this is gonna be 36:59.518 --> 36:58.959 really good for your career . You 36:58.959 --> 37:01.181 should apply for this . So go out , you 37:01.181 --> 37:03.070 know , find somebody who can help 37:03.070 --> 37:05.015 mentor you through these different 37:05.015 --> 37:07.237 things , you know , reach out to people 37:07.237 --> 37:08.848 like today who've done these 37:08.848 --> 37:11.015 fellowships already . But , hey , what 37:11.015 --> 37:10.840 was that experience like for you ? 37:11.159 --> 37:13.159 Because they're going to be able to 37:13.159 --> 37:15.381 help answer those tough questions to be 37:15.381 --> 37:14.909 able to help assist you along this 37:14.909 --> 37:16.965 journey . So I highly implore you to 37:16.965 --> 37:19.187 check that out . Um , it's been a great 37:19.187 --> 37:21.409 conversation today , but that is all we 37:21.409 --> 37:23.242 have today , folks . As always , 37:23.242 --> 37:25.298 sustainment leaders start here . See 37:25.298 --> 37:25.229 you next time . 37:29.879 --> 37:31.823 Thank you for listening to another 37:31.823 --> 37:33.823 episode of The Logsta . We hope you 37:33.823 --> 37:35.935 enjoyed today's conversation . Please 37:35.935 --> 37:37.657 share this episode across your 37:37.657 --> 37:39.712 formation and leave us a review . If 37:39.712 --> 37:41.435 you have a topic you like here 37:41.435 --> 37:43.657 discussed , then please reach out to us 37:43.657 --> 37:45.750 at army sustainment at army.mil or 37:45.760 --> 37:47.699 directly to me on global at 37:48.100 --> 37:51.649 Garrett.h.pile . Follow us on Facebook , 37:51.709 --> 37:54.120 X and LinkedIn at Army Sustainment . 37:54.439 --> 37:56.550 We'll see you next time . Sustainment 37:56.550 --> 37:57.520 leaders start here .