WEBVTT 00:00.590 --> 00:03.100 Good evening everyone and welcome to 00:03.100 --> 00:06.200 another Ask me Anything Big Red one 00:06.200 --> 00:08.870 year family live event . My name is 00:08.870 --> 00:10.870 christian Bishop and I will be your 00:10.870 --> 00:13.900 moderator . Ask me Anything is this is 00:13.900 --> 00:16.000 an opportunity for a Big Red One 00:16.010 --> 00:18.700 Families , soldiers and veterans to 00:18.700 --> 00:21.310 share their personal experiences of 00:21.310 --> 00:23.366 building resilient homes through the 00:23.366 --> 00:26.580 use of the many resources , resources 00:26.580 --> 00:29.050 that the army provides . Today , we 00:29.050 --> 00:31.870 have the pleasure to welcome the second 00:31.880 --> 00:34.455 Armored Brigade Combat Team Team , 00:34.465 --> 00:37.125 Colonel brian Harris and Sergeant Major 00:37.125 --> 00:40.195 Darwin Williams tonight to be our guest 00:40.195 --> 00:42.805 host , our guests . Um , so what 00:42.815 --> 00:44.925 further ado , let's introduce and 00:44.925 --> 00:46.925 welcome Colonel Harris and Sergeant 00:46.925 --> 00:49.045 Major Williams . Would you guys just 00:49.045 --> 00:51.045 kind of take a moment and introduce 00:51.045 --> 00:53.325 yourselves ? Um , and just kind of let 00:53.325 --> 00:55.235 us know um , a little bit about 00:55.235 --> 00:57.575 yourselves . Well , christian , thank 00:57.575 --> 00:59.686 you very much for this opportunity to 00:59.686 --> 01:01.631 talk to the community . My name is 01:01.631 --> 01:03.686 brian Harris . I'm the commander for 01:03.686 --> 01:05.550 second Brigade , first Infantry 01:05.550 --> 01:08.190 Division . Um , I'm married , I have 01:08.200 --> 01:11.400 twins . 26 year olds , Jason and Isabel , 01:11.410 --> 01:14.110 my wife Jackie . And this is our second 01:14.110 --> 01:16.900 tour here . Uh , as a member of the Big 01:16.900 --> 01:19.980 Red One were first here in 2015 to 01:19.980 --> 01:22.960 2018 . We're very excited to be back 01:22.970 --> 01:25.540 and to be up on Custer hill with the 01:25.550 --> 01:26.940 Big Red One soldiers 01:28.930 --> 01:31.310 again . Thank you ma'am and thank you 01:31.310 --> 01:33.088 all for tuning in . I'm command 01:33.088 --> 01:35.910 Sergeant Major Darvin T Williams and I 01:35.910 --> 01:37.966 am the brigades are Major for second 01:37.966 --> 01:40.580 Abc T . Uh , we've been here now as a 01:40.580 --> 01:44.520 family for man , Almost 01:44.530 --> 01:46.780 almost 20 months . And this is my 01:46.780 --> 01:49.650 family's third time being at Fort Riley , 01:49.870 --> 01:53.310 My son who is 19 years old now , Keeton 01:53.320 --> 01:55.430 and my beautiful wife Chandra . And 01:55.430 --> 01:57.900 we've had a great time every time we've 01:57.910 --> 02:01.000 been at Fort Riley . So a lot to do . 02:01.010 --> 02:03.177 There's a lot of people to always meet 02:03.177 --> 02:05.450 as you rotate in . So yeah , what ? 02:05.450 --> 02:07.672 We're here and we're definitely excited 02:07.672 --> 02:10.020 to be . Well , thank you guys again for 02:10.030 --> 02:12.252 taking time out of your busy schedule . 02:12.252 --> 02:14.474 I know you guys are preparing for a big 02:14.474 --> 02:16.990 rotation . So today we will just spend 02:16.990 --> 02:18.823 some time answering some of your 02:18.823 --> 02:21.370 important questions . Um , again , if 02:21.370 --> 02:23.592 you don't get your questions answered , 02:23.592 --> 02:25.759 please check back to our live facebook 02:25.759 --> 02:27.880 feed . Um , and your answers will be 02:27.880 --> 02:30.440 answered . Um , so without further ado , 02:30.450 --> 02:33.050 let's go ahead and get started . Um , 02:33.060 --> 02:35.230 Colonel Harris , the brigade recently 02:35.230 --> 02:38.470 did an NtC rotation . Um , what were 02:38.470 --> 02:41.250 the rotations training objectives . Um , 02:41.250 --> 02:43.194 and how do you think your soldiers 02:43.194 --> 02:46.580 performed ? Great question first . I 02:46.580 --> 02:48.358 think the dagger team performed 02:48.358 --> 02:51.330 exceptionally out in the high desert in 02:51.330 --> 02:53.219 the mojave desert at the National 02:53.219 --> 02:55.330 Training Center were out there , some 02:55.330 --> 02:57.640 of the team was out there for almost 50 02:57.640 --> 03:00.030 days , average time for the soldiers 03:00.030 --> 03:02.650 were about five weeks out there in in 03:02.650 --> 03:04.372 the high desert and Fort Irwin 03:04.372 --> 03:06.539 California . But it was our first time 03:06.539 --> 03:08.539 to bring the whole brigade together 03:08.539 --> 03:10.761 under my command , Time to get them out 03:10.761 --> 03:12.650 in the desert to , to stretch the 03:12.650 --> 03:15.670 brigade out over 20 miles . And to do 03:15.680 --> 03:17.930 what a brigade combat team does , which 03:17.930 --> 03:20.340 is combined arms operations . We did 03:20.340 --> 03:22.740 offensive type operations for a period 03:22.740 --> 03:25.290 of time . We did defensive operations 03:25.290 --> 03:27.457 for a period of time . And then at the 03:27.457 --> 03:29.790 end of it , we brought it all together 03:29.800 --> 03:31.911 and we went up into the northern part 03:31.911 --> 03:34.260 of the high desert training area and we 03:34.260 --> 03:38.050 did live fire for several days uh which 03:38.060 --> 03:40.171 brings it all together for the team . 03:40.171 --> 03:42.800 It shows the the youngest soldier to 03:42.800 --> 03:45.330 the most experienced leader , what all 03:45.330 --> 03:47.330 of our training is geared towards , 03:47.330 --> 03:50.580 which is bringing the team together in 03:50.580 --> 03:52.920 a combined arms environment , showing 03:52.920 --> 03:55.500 what the tanks and the Bradleys can do , 03:55.510 --> 03:57.850 showing what the field artillery can do 03:57.860 --> 04:01.050 and every other member of the team and 04:01.050 --> 04:03.350 how they fit in to what the dagger team 04:03.350 --> 04:06.270 does as part of as part of the United 04:06.270 --> 04:08.690 States Army . It was a great , great 04:08.690 --> 04:11.310 experience . We left that training 04:11.310 --> 04:14.590 opportunity after five weeks . Uh , so 04:14.590 --> 04:16.812 much better than when we started . What 04:16.812 --> 04:19.200 I saw out there . Uh , as I engage with 04:19.200 --> 04:22.360 soldiers was just constant learning , 04:22.370 --> 04:25.010 constant growing from the individual 04:25.010 --> 04:27.610 soldier level , all the way up to the 04:27.610 --> 04:29.900 battalion and brigade level . So it's a 04:29.900 --> 04:32.380 great opportunity and it absolutely 04:32.380 --> 04:35.270 prepared the dagger team for what we're 04:35.270 --> 04:37.920 about to do here in a couple of months 04:37.930 --> 04:40.930 in uh in europe . And uh and in Poland , 04:42.380 --> 04:45.430 thank you , I'd like to ask , you know , 04:45.430 --> 04:47.319 what was probably one of the most 04:47.319 --> 04:49.510 challenging aspects , but I know going 04:49.510 --> 04:51.566 out into the desert in the middle of 04:51.566 --> 04:53.677 the summer would probably just be the 04:53.677 --> 04:55.788 short and best answer for that . So , 04:55.788 --> 04:58.450 um Sergeant Major Williams after the 04:58.450 --> 05:00.394 army announced that second brigade 05:00.394 --> 05:02.740 would be deployed in europe . How are 05:02.740 --> 05:04.629 you or how are you preparing your 05:04.629 --> 05:07.950 formation for a successful tour ? Yes , 05:07.950 --> 05:10.990 ma'am . We after getting the news , 05:11.000 --> 05:13.390 started our training timeline and 05:13.390 --> 05:16.270 through this we trained from individual 05:16.270 --> 05:20.120 to team squad , platoon and 05:20.130 --> 05:23.390 once we had a platoon we had a gunnery 05:23.390 --> 05:26.270 set , we moved on , we did battalion 05:26.270 --> 05:28.492 training and like the colonel said , we 05:28.492 --> 05:30.714 went to the National Training Center uh 05:30.714 --> 05:32.714 to be just a capstone event for the 05:32.714 --> 05:34.881 training that we were receiving before 05:34.881 --> 05:37.080 going to europe and through that we 05:37.080 --> 05:39.650 still had a deployment fair , which I 05:39.650 --> 05:41.872 hope everyone showed up because that is 05:41.872 --> 05:44.050 part of the training of being able to 05:44.050 --> 05:46.120 get out the door with so many good 05:46.120 --> 05:47.953 organizations that were there to 05:47.953 --> 05:50.064 support our soldiers . It was a great 05:50.064 --> 05:52.120 event and I hope that you were there 05:52.120 --> 05:54.180 and then the last that I can really 05:54.180 --> 05:58.020 harp on is leave . Right , so now we're 05:58.020 --> 06:00.550 giving soldiers leave so they can take 06:00.550 --> 06:02.606 time they can reset . They can visit 06:02.606 --> 06:04.550 family members and and really just 06:04.560 --> 06:08.530 enjoy themselves before we go over and 06:08.530 --> 06:10.752 uh and support and defend our country . 06:11.680 --> 06:15.130 Um so thank you for that . Um as a C . 06:15.130 --> 06:17.640 Y . S outreach service , we thank you 06:17.640 --> 06:19.630 guys for providing that deployment 06:19.630 --> 06:22.060 resource fair . We were able to get 06:22.070 --> 06:24.237 talk to a lot of families , you know , 06:24.237 --> 06:26.820 let them know at C . Y S . Um a CS was 06:26.820 --> 06:29.640 there and military one source was there 06:29.655 --> 06:32.805 and a lot of other resources um 06:32.815 --> 06:35.215 While you guys are gone , is there 06:35.215 --> 06:37.565 somebody that can you know , is there 06:37.565 --> 06:40.935 somebody back gonna be back behind that 06:40.935 --> 06:42.824 can still continue to support the 06:42.824 --> 06:45.215 families um where you guys have your 06:45.215 --> 06:47.625 rear ? D have you identified them ? 06:48.790 --> 06:51.610 Great question . Yes . We we have 06:51.620 --> 06:53.676 exceptional leaders that are staying 06:53.676 --> 06:55.787 back to take care of the soldiers and 06:55.787 --> 06:57.898 families here at Fort Riley and up on 06:57.898 --> 07:00.320 Custer hill . Major Cody Fields is a 07:00.320 --> 07:02.570 Ready reserve Commander for the second 07:02.570 --> 07:05.740 brigade combat team . We also have a 07:05.740 --> 07:09.210 brigade uh Family resource Support 07:09.210 --> 07:12.500 assistant mrs Jamie Simpson . And both 07:12.500 --> 07:14.611 of them will will head up the efforts 07:14.611 --> 07:16.800 back here while the brigade is forward 07:17.030 --> 07:19.400 to help soldiers that are that are 07:19.410 --> 07:21.920 entering the team and to help soldiers 07:21.920 --> 07:24.031 transition out of the army or to help 07:24.031 --> 07:25.820 soldiers that are conducting a 07:25.820 --> 07:27.987 permanent change of station to another 07:27.987 --> 07:31.370 location . Uh Cody fields and the rest 07:31.370 --> 07:33.203 of the ready reserve team at the 07:33.203 --> 07:35.148 battalion level and at the company 07:35.148 --> 07:36.926 level will be back here for our 07:36.926 --> 07:38.814 deployment , making sure that the 07:38.814 --> 07:40.814 soldiers and families are are taken 07:40.814 --> 07:43.490 care of . And uh this isn't the first 07:43.490 --> 07:45.657 time that a unit is deploying from the 07:45.657 --> 07:48.060 big Red one Fort Riley . The flint 07:48.060 --> 07:51.900 Hills community has deployed multiple 07:51.910 --> 07:54.330 units , multiple , multiple brigades 07:54.330 --> 07:57.850 over the last 20 years and our families 07:57.850 --> 08:00.090 and soldiers will be in good hands with 08:00.090 --> 08:02.146 the Big Red One community , Junction 08:02.146 --> 08:05.790 city and the flint hills uh folks . So 08:05.800 --> 08:07.710 we're looking forward to going to 08:07.710 --> 08:09.580 europe to do our mission for our 08:09.580 --> 08:11.691 country and we know that our families 08:11.691 --> 08:13.913 and soldiers will be in good hands back 08:13.913 --> 08:17.180 here . Um so Sergeant Major Williams , 08:17.190 --> 08:19.850 um what is um you know , just a 08:19.850 --> 08:21.961 critical piece of advice that you can 08:21.961 --> 08:24.128 give to one of your soldiers that it's 08:24.128 --> 08:27.950 their first rotation . Yeah , 08:29.240 --> 08:32.780 well now that is a good question , 08:32.780 --> 08:36.270 family . So a piece of advice I always 08:36.270 --> 08:39.330 give is definitely make sure everything 08:39.330 --> 08:42.280 is taken care of back here . So if if 08:42.280 --> 08:44.447 you have a family , you're making sure 08:44.447 --> 08:46.760 that all the bills are , are split up 08:46.770 --> 08:49.770 and and understood . If you , if you're 08:49.780 --> 08:52.002 by yourself , you're you're looking and 08:52.002 --> 08:54.113 you're like , oh , you know , it's my 08:54.113 --> 08:56.224 driver's license expiring this time . 08:56.224 --> 08:58.447 Just anything that you can take care of 08:58.447 --> 09:00.113 to give yourself steady state 09:00.113 --> 09:02.002 operations as you go over without 09:02.002 --> 09:04.113 having to worry about what's going on 09:04.113 --> 09:08.060 back at Fort Riley or at home is one of 09:08.060 --> 09:10.171 the main things that you want to take 09:10.171 --> 09:12.393 care of , like really digging through , 09:12.393 --> 09:14.530 really understanding what it is that 09:14.530 --> 09:18.280 you do every single day in and outside 09:18.280 --> 09:20.391 of the army and making sure that it's 09:20.391 --> 09:23.860 taken care of um Colonel Harris , what 09:23.860 --> 09:27.240 makes this deployment compared um to a 09:27.250 --> 09:30.660 combat deployment ? Great question . 09:30.670 --> 09:32.660 First , I would say that the 09:32.660 --> 09:35.900 preparation for a combat deployment or 09:35.910 --> 09:39.910 or a rotational deployment to me is 09:39.910 --> 09:42.660 the same . You have to train , you have 09:42.660 --> 09:45.730 to prepare your team for what we could 09:45.730 --> 09:48.610 potentially do uh on the on the 09:48.610 --> 09:50.721 deployment . So we we put in a lot of 09:50.721 --> 09:53.760 hard work over the last 4 to 5 months 09:53.760 --> 09:56.010 to get the team ready so that we can be 09:56.010 --> 09:59.130 ready for anything whatever . Um the 09:59.130 --> 10:01.330 world or the situation throws at the 10:01.330 --> 10:03.497 brigade combat team were ready because 10:03.497 --> 10:06.280 of our training , a couple of specifics 10:06.290 --> 10:10.180 um from my experience between a combat 10:10.180 --> 10:12.600 deployment and a normal rotational 10:12.600 --> 10:15.450 deployment , um hazardous fire pay is 10:15.450 --> 10:18.050 one of them that jumps out at me . Um 10:18.050 --> 10:20.217 The nature of the missions that you do 10:20.217 --> 10:22.430 on a on a day to day basis are also 10:22.430 --> 10:24.980 some things that are different uh from 10:24.980 --> 10:28.860 patrolling or uh you know , the tempo 10:28.860 --> 10:31.290 of your operations in a in a combat 10:31.290 --> 10:33.200 environment sometimes is a little 10:33.200 --> 10:37.000 higher than a normal rotational uh 10:37.010 --> 10:39.550 operation . But for for Poland , what 10:39.550 --> 10:41.890 we're gonna be doing , we're prepared 10:41.900 --> 10:44.540 as a brigade combat team to to do our 10:44.540 --> 10:47.890 job uh as a as an armored 10:47.890 --> 10:50.430 brigade combined arms element . But 10:50.430 --> 10:52.430 we're going over there to make sure 10:52.430 --> 10:54.670 that our allies are more prepared . We 10:54.670 --> 10:58.110 will partner with the polish um units 10:58.120 --> 11:00.990 across our area of operations and we 11:00.990 --> 11:03.240 will make sure that we enable their 11:03.240 --> 11:05.296 interoperability so that we can work 11:05.296 --> 11:08.130 together as a multinational team if 11:08.130 --> 11:10.130 something should happen while we're 11:10.130 --> 11:12.220 over there and were deployed . The 11:12.220 --> 11:14.331 other thing that we will do , we will 11:14.331 --> 11:16.331 continue to sharpen our skills as a 11:16.331 --> 11:19.520 combined arms um brigade combat team 11:19.530 --> 11:22.850 through training every day through our 11:22.850 --> 11:24.517 gunnery efforts , through our 11:24.517 --> 11:26.294 maintenance efforts while we're 11:26.294 --> 11:28.406 deployed into the country of Poland . 11:28.440 --> 11:30.273 And throughout that time we will 11:30.273 --> 11:32.329 partner with our polish units . Some 11:32.329 --> 11:34.440 folks will get an opportunity to pull 11:34.440 --> 11:36.496 to partner with the Lithuanian units 11:36.496 --> 11:38.829 and conduct some multinational training . 11:38.829 --> 11:40.829 Uh so that is what we will do while 11:40.829 --> 11:43.051 we're there , but the the whole time we 11:43.051 --> 11:46.400 are prepared to , to , to transition to 11:46.400 --> 11:48.570 uh to a combat type environment if if 11:48.570 --> 11:51.120 required by our national leaders . 11:51.870 --> 11:54.620 Thank you . Um Sergeant Major Will 11:54.630 --> 11:57.130 Williams training and deployments can 11:57.130 --> 11:59.690 be stressful to families and soldiers . 11:59.700 --> 12:02.200 Um can you just share some of the tools 12:02.210 --> 12:04.750 you've kind of used with your family to 12:04.750 --> 12:08.520 build a resilient formation ? Yes , 12:08.520 --> 12:11.160 ma'am . Absolutely . And um some of 12:11.160 --> 12:13.510 those definitely rely on the soldier's 12:13.510 --> 12:16.160 family and and something that my my 12:16.160 --> 12:19.370 wife has got really good at doing is 12:19.380 --> 12:21.860 saving things that she might not think 12:21.860 --> 12:25.150 that I want to do for when I'm deployed . 12:25.160 --> 12:27.590 So if there are some movies that she 12:27.590 --> 12:29.479 wants to watch , she gets excited 12:29.479 --> 12:31.646 because she's just really only cooking 12:31.646 --> 12:33.757 for herself and and my son so she can 12:33.757 --> 12:35.812 eat whatever she wants to eat . Like 12:35.812 --> 12:38.090 those little things that , that that , 12:38.100 --> 12:40.460 that make time go by faster and , and 12:40.460 --> 12:42.690 with that the connections that you're 12:42.690 --> 12:45.250 hopefully making while you're at fort 12:45.250 --> 12:48.080 Riley through the S . F . R . G through 12:48.080 --> 12:50.470 your neighborhood or wherever else you 12:50.470 --> 12:54.430 are to to help things just go along . I 12:54.430 --> 12:58.370 mean there is a lot about being just in 12:58.370 --> 13:00.650 a neighborhood with people that care 13:00.980 --> 13:03.000 and when you're in the military , I 13:03.000 --> 13:05.630 think you always expect to go somewhere 13:05.640 --> 13:08.610 and everyone wants to have a good time . 13:08.610 --> 13:10.832 Like they realize how it is that if you 13:10.832 --> 13:13.690 have friends , things are just fun . So 13:13.700 --> 13:16.280 keeping those friendships throughout uh 13:16.290 --> 13:18.360 staying and realizing that 13:18.360 --> 13:20.655 communication , it may not be steady , 13:20.665 --> 13:22.832 but knowing that your , your loved one 13:22.832 --> 13:25.835 will contact you when they can , it's 13:25.835 --> 13:28.355 just , it will make time go by so much 13:28.355 --> 13:30.522 faster and , and to talk about the S . 13:30.522 --> 13:32.735 F . R . G . Uh if , if you don't think 13:32.735 --> 13:34.902 you're S . F . R . G is fun , what I'd 13:34.902 --> 13:37.068 ask you to do is get in there and make 13:37.068 --> 13:40.340 it fun . Like please get in contact 13:40.340 --> 13:43.570 with people and make the best out of 13:43.570 --> 13:46.120 what you have little get togethers for 13:46.120 --> 13:49.060 yourselves and the Children . I mean 13:49.070 --> 13:51.870 bake sales , whatever it is just to sit 13:51.870 --> 13:54.900 around and and enjoy friends while your , 13:54.900 --> 13:57.530 your loved ones forward . So thank you 13:57.540 --> 13:59.436 and I know , you know , with the 13:59.436 --> 14:01.726 holiday seasons and everything , you 14:01.726 --> 14:03.948 know , you guys will be rotating during 14:03.948 --> 14:06.170 broccoli , but also leaving during this 14:06.170 --> 14:08.326 time . Um so just kind of caveat what 14:08.336 --> 14:10.669 Sergeant major Williams says . You know , 14:10.669 --> 14:12.892 just get to know your community . Um in 14:12.892 --> 14:15.286 the gate and outside of the gate . Um 14:15.296 --> 14:18.486 follow the second brigade facebook page 14:18.496 --> 14:21.122 for Riley facebook page , the one I . D . 14:21.122 --> 14:23.562 Page . Um There are a lot of things 14:23.562 --> 14:26.722 coming up between um trunk or treat on 14:26.722 --> 14:30.512 monday . Um all the way to um holiday 14:30.512 --> 14:33.152 parades and everything . So you know 14:33.152 --> 14:35.319 what whatever you're looking for , you 14:35.319 --> 14:37.430 know , just follow some pages and and 14:37.430 --> 14:39.622 reach out to the S . F . R . G . Um 14:39.622 --> 14:42.260 just to stay connected . Um Colonel 14:42.260 --> 14:44.316 Harris . Um what are some of the key 14:44.316 --> 14:46.650 benefits that the military lifestyle 14:46.660 --> 14:49.140 offers to soldiers and families that 14:49.140 --> 14:51.362 you know , maybe the civilian lifestyle 14:51.362 --> 14:54.750 doesn't uh christian great question for 14:54.760 --> 14:58.170 for my family for me . Uh you know why 14:58.170 --> 15:01.000 I continue to serve after 24 years . Uh 15:01.010 --> 15:03.010 it's about the people that you meet 15:03.010 --> 15:04.954 along the journey . It's about the 15:04.954 --> 15:07.288 places that you'll you'll go . You know , 15:07.288 --> 15:09.399 we're we're gonna go to Poland . Um I 15:09.399 --> 15:11.510 started my career in Germany 24 years 15:11.510 --> 15:13.860 ago and Poland really wasn't even a 15:13.870 --> 15:17.550 spot that you could go to due to the 15:17.560 --> 15:19.790 recent cold War . Now we're going to 15:19.790 --> 15:22.780 Poland . So for me it's been been about 15:22.780 --> 15:24.502 the journey has been about the 15:24.502 --> 15:26.669 adventure and I think the military , I 15:26.669 --> 15:28.336 think the the army is a great 15:28.336 --> 15:30.960 opportunity for the young men and women 15:30.970 --> 15:33.192 of our country to , to get out of their 15:33.192 --> 15:36.050 hometown to go be a part of the team 15:36.060 --> 15:38.460 that's bigger than themselves , uh , to 15:38.460 --> 15:40.700 have a sense of mission , uh , sense of 15:40.700 --> 15:44.140 purpose and go out and see different 15:44.380 --> 15:47.730 places , see different cultures , visit 15:47.730 --> 15:49.786 different countries . Uh , and , and 15:49.786 --> 15:51.786 just have a good time . Meet people 15:51.786 --> 15:53.952 from other parts of the country , meet 15:53.952 --> 15:56.680 people from across the world . Um , and 15:56.690 --> 15:59.270 they're part of your team and uh , you 15:59.270 --> 16:01.437 grow with them , you learn from them . 16:01.437 --> 16:04.180 Uh , and uh , it's , it's been a uh , 16:04.190 --> 16:06.640 it's been a great adventure for me and 16:06.640 --> 16:09.260 my family and I continue to serve 16:09.270 --> 16:12.460 because of because of that aspect of it . 16:13.110 --> 16:15.730 And uh , you know , it's , you're doing 16:15.730 --> 16:18.460 something that's bigger than you for 16:18.460 --> 16:20.516 our country , for our nation , for , 16:20.516 --> 16:23.450 for the world in some cases , and that 16:23.450 --> 16:26.610 is , that , to me is what sets the army 16:26.620 --> 16:30.120 apart from a normal civilian 16:30.120 --> 16:32.870 job in my experience . 16:33.890 --> 16:36.300 Thank you . Um , and then one of you 16:36.300 --> 16:38.450 guys just kind of like to share , You 16:38.450 --> 16:40.520 know , we just kind of jumped right 16:40.520 --> 16:42.590 into , you guys are heading over to 16:42.590 --> 16:44.810 europe . Um , but would you just like 16:44.810 --> 16:47.580 to share kind of , um , to the extent 16:47.580 --> 16:50.210 where some of the places um , that you 16:50.210 --> 16:53.010 guys may be going , um , if you guys 16:53.010 --> 16:55.340 are allowed to share any of that , so 16:55.350 --> 16:57.350 well , you know , we're gonna be in 16:57.350 --> 17:00.270 Poland , um , we'll also be operating , 17:00.280 --> 17:02.480 uh , some of us will be in Germany for 17:02.480 --> 17:04.990 a little bit . And uh , right now and I 17:04.990 --> 17:07.101 think we have some elements that will 17:07.101 --> 17:09.379 be down in the southern part of europe , 17:09.379 --> 17:11.440 um , partnered with our , our NATO 17:11.440 --> 17:14.920 allies and conducting training . Uh , 17:14.930 --> 17:17.041 and then , you know , when , when the 17:17.041 --> 17:20.180 soldiers aren't conducting um , their 17:20.180 --> 17:22.870 duties or maintaining their readiness , 17:22.880 --> 17:25.102 soldiers will , will be allowed to take 17:25.102 --> 17:27.540 a pass , not every weekend , but every 17:27.540 --> 17:29.762 now and again you might be able to take 17:29.762 --> 17:32.760 a pass and to go to , you know , maybe 17:32.760 --> 17:36.670 Berlin or Warsaw Poland and 17:36.670 --> 17:39.950 visit with visit that city with your , 17:39.960 --> 17:42.071 with your friends , with your buddies 17:42.071 --> 17:44.280 and see that culture . So yes , well , 17:44.280 --> 17:46.391 we'll have an opportunity to not only 17:46.391 --> 17:48.190 travel for our , our military 17:48.200 --> 17:51.480 requirements , but some folks on the 17:51.480 --> 17:53.258 weekends when they're not doing 17:53.258 --> 17:55.202 training will also be able to take 17:55.202 --> 17:57.258 advantage of being in eastern europe 17:57.410 --> 17:59.770 and go see some of the sites , you know , 17:59.770 --> 18:01.937 it's on the weekends are major and I , 18:01.937 --> 18:04.159 we , we plan to get out of going to the 18:04.159 --> 18:07.000 local town and check some of the sites 18:07.000 --> 18:09.440 out , eat at some of the local uh , 18:09.450 --> 18:11.550 restaurants and um , you know , just 18:11.550 --> 18:14.270 get to know the local people and uh , 18:14.280 --> 18:16.502 have a good time while we're deployed . 18:16.502 --> 18:19.800 Doing are doing our mission . Thank you . 18:19.810 --> 18:22.810 Um , Sergeant Major Harris . This um , 18:22.820 --> 18:25.870 is my soldiers first time deploying . 18:25.880 --> 18:28.480 Um , and I want to , and I would like 18:28.480 --> 18:30.810 to mail them a care package . Will we 18:30.810 --> 18:33.450 be able to mail mail care packages and 18:33.450 --> 18:36.120 how would I find out where to mail them 18:36.130 --> 18:40.120 to . And some of those addresses may 18:40.120 --> 18:42.453 change but they'll go out through the S . 18:42.453 --> 18:44.676 F . R . G . And most soldiers will have 18:44.676 --> 18:46.898 absolute communication most of the time 18:46.898 --> 18:49.064 with their family members . So when we 18:49.064 --> 18:51.342 talk about the ready reserve and S . F . 18:51.342 --> 18:53.453 R . G . They'll have the most updated 18:53.453 --> 18:55.564 information and when we start , yes , 18:55.564 --> 18:57.620 you will be able to immediately mail 18:57.620 --> 18:59.676 those packages with with things that 18:59.676 --> 19:01.590 you know will keep your your your 19:01.590 --> 19:05.440 service member happy . Um 19:05.450 --> 19:07.672 So I got another one for you sergeant . 19:07.672 --> 19:10.340 I'm hitting you hard today . Sorry . Um 19:10.350 --> 19:13.050 if you could tell your past self one 19:13.050 --> 19:16.050 word of advice about being a service 19:16.050 --> 19:18.106 member , what would it be ? Probably 19:18.106 --> 19:21.230 shut up ? Probably start there no one 19:21.230 --> 19:24.880 word advice would uh would be to 19:24.890 --> 19:27.150 listen more definitely if I was talking 19:27.150 --> 19:30.120 to my younger self and and to 19:30.130 --> 19:34.110 really to lack of a 19:34.110 --> 19:36.221 better term , just stop and smell the 19:36.221 --> 19:38.720 roses . I've had some some great 19:38.720 --> 19:40.776 relationships with people since I've 19:40.776 --> 19:42.887 been in the United States Army that I 19:42.887 --> 19:44.887 still have today . I mean people we 19:44.887 --> 19:46.980 text back and for like like brothers 19:46.980 --> 19:50.230 and sisters because of the trials and 19:50.230 --> 19:52.063 tribulations we all went through 19:52.063 --> 19:55.730 together . So it would be to know and 19:55.730 --> 19:58.040 and keep those friends that you have 19:58.050 --> 20:00.161 and and don't let go when when people 20:00.161 --> 20:02.490 are in good times or bad you're you're 20:02.490 --> 20:05.260 there for them because sometimes uh 20:05.270 --> 20:07.048 somebody's best , they can be , 20:07.048 --> 20:09.180 somebody's worst day , but they know 20:09.180 --> 20:11.840 when they can rely on a best friend or 20:11.850 --> 20:13.960 a brother or sister . So it's really 20:13.960 --> 20:15.682 important to take care of your 20:15.682 --> 20:17.770 relationships . Um and Colonel hair 20:17.770 --> 20:19.980 since you're his battle buddy , I'm 20:19.980 --> 20:22.790 gonna put you on the spot as well . Um 20:22.800 --> 20:24.967 So if there's one thing you could tell 20:24.967 --> 20:27.690 your past self um a piece of advice , 20:27.690 --> 20:31.160 what would it be ? You know , just 20:31.160 --> 20:34.340 continue to , you know , grow , 20:35.000 --> 20:37.980 continue to learn every day . Um maybe 20:37.980 --> 20:40.036 as a younger lieutenant , maybe as a 20:40.036 --> 20:42.670 younger captain , uh putting a little 20:42.670 --> 20:46.170 more effort to learn more uh during 20:46.170 --> 20:48.360 that time in my life , I find myself 20:48.360 --> 20:51.120 now reflecting and and putting a little 20:51.120 --> 20:53.490 more work to , to improve my 20:53.490 --> 20:55.500 professional knowledge as a young 20:55.500 --> 20:57.667 lieutenant . You know , you want to go 20:57.667 --> 20:59.667 out and have a good time and travel 20:59.667 --> 21:02.070 europe . But you know , if I could go 21:02.070 --> 21:04.126 back , I'd want to put a little more 21:04.126 --> 21:06.237 work in and maybe study a little more 21:06.237 --> 21:08.181 on some of the um the professional 21:08.181 --> 21:10.237 products as a , as a young officer . 21:10.410 --> 21:13.180 Thank you . Um and then Sergeant Major , 21:13.180 --> 21:16.160 I will start with you . Um your son is 21:16.170 --> 21:20.160 now older , so um , but he's still , so 21:20.160 --> 21:23.650 how do you prepare him ? Um as kind of 21:23.650 --> 21:25.706 an older child who's seen you during 21:25.706 --> 21:28.380 your rotations um and deployed during , 21:28.380 --> 21:31.180 but how do you still prepare him um for 21:31.180 --> 21:33.291 the fact that you know , you're gonna 21:33.291 --> 21:35.513 be gone for nine months . So you know , 21:35.513 --> 21:37.680 sometimes the Apple pay or the cash up 21:37.680 --> 21:39.847 isn't as easier . So you know , how do 21:39.847 --> 21:42.013 you help him prepare for your rotation 21:42.013 --> 21:44.520 this time ? I might not be a , might 21:44.520 --> 21:46.631 not be a good example for this . Um , 21:46.631 --> 21:48.940 So my son is really , he's really 21:48.940 --> 21:52.010 attached to , to his mom and uh , and 21:52.020 --> 21:54.300 our moments when we have , I think are 21:54.300 --> 21:58.100 super special , but what's important to 21:58.100 --> 22:00.320 me is even when we're going through 22:00.320 --> 22:02.320 training cycles , everything that's 22:02.320 --> 22:04.376 happening now is every moment that I 22:04.376 --> 22:06.510 have with them . I explained to them 22:06.510 --> 22:08.750 why it's special to me , right ? So I'm 22:08.750 --> 22:10.750 like , hey , you may not care about 22:10.750 --> 22:12.750 this here . You're gonna go back to 22:12.750 --> 22:14.806 your room and laugh like dad doesn't 22:14.806 --> 22:16.917 know anything . But I explain to them 22:16.917 --> 22:19.139 how special it is . And , and even with 22:19.139 --> 22:21.260 my wife , just try to do everything I 22:21.260 --> 22:24.600 can to make every moment special 22:24.610 --> 22:26.832 because you know , you're going to miss 22:26.832 --> 22:29.050 out on a certain amount of time and , 22:29.060 --> 22:31.227 and we don't count days , we make days 22:31.227 --> 22:33.700 count . But it's , it's making every 22:33.700 --> 22:36.470 moment special . Um , and Colonel 22:36.470 --> 22:38.637 Harris , um , you know , you mentioned 22:38.637 --> 22:42.040 you had two younger Children . Um , so 22:42.050 --> 22:44.460 how do you prepare them ? Especially , 22:44.460 --> 22:46.516 you know , knowing that , you know , 22:46.516 --> 22:48.793 it's kind of during the holiday season . 22:48.950 --> 22:52.760 Well we'll , we'll celebrate before I , 22:52.760 --> 22:54.710 I take off , we'll , we'll do some 22:54.720 --> 22:57.440 holiday activities before I take off 22:57.450 --> 22:59.770 and I will get a chance to visit them , 22:59.780 --> 23:02.002 uh , this upcoming week and they will , 23:02.002 --> 23:04.480 they will come out in in a couple of 23:04.480 --> 23:07.370 weeks to visit . What I'll do is I'll 23:07.370 --> 23:09.537 tell them where I'm going . I'll get a 23:09.537 --> 23:11.703 globe or a map and I'll point to where 23:11.703 --> 23:13.814 I'm going and we'll we'll have a talk 23:13.814 --> 23:16.250 about that and how far away it is . Uh , 23:16.260 --> 23:18.371 and then uh , I plan to stay in touch 23:18.371 --> 23:20.830 with them uh , routinely while I'm over 23:20.830 --> 23:23.130 there , there will be access to the 23:23.130 --> 23:25.290 internet . Uh , so being able to face 23:25.290 --> 23:28.770 time and uh , do some of the other um , 23:28.780 --> 23:31.740 video calls will be , will be important 23:31.750 --> 23:34.280 to maintain that , um , to maintain 23:34.280 --> 23:36.502 that relationship with my , my six year 23:36.502 --> 23:38.780 old twins . The other thing I'll do is 23:38.780 --> 23:40.947 I'll get them to give me some things , 23:40.947 --> 23:43.169 whether it's a , uh , a drawing that my 23:43.169 --> 23:45.800 uh , my daughter makes or or uh , maybe 23:45.800 --> 23:49.600 a lego , um , uh , car , something that 23:49.600 --> 23:51.822 my boy makes for me . But I'll probably 23:51.822 --> 23:53.656 take that with me and that'll be 23:53.656 --> 23:55.267 something that we talk about 23:55.267 --> 23:57.560 periodically while I'm away . Um , I 23:57.560 --> 24:00.060 think you guys again , um , for , you 24:00.060 --> 24:03.320 know , volunteering to do this being 24:03.320 --> 24:05.890 volunteer old . Um , you know , and 24:05.890 --> 24:07.946 just to share , you know , with your 24:07.946 --> 24:10.420 soldiers about this rotation . Um , and 24:10.420 --> 24:12.531 with the community , the importance , 24:12.531 --> 24:14.476 um , you know , wrapping your arms 24:14.476 --> 24:16.880 around and take caring of your families . 24:16.890 --> 24:19.010 Um , but before we go , um , start , 24:19.020 --> 24:21.187 I'll start with you , Sergeant major . 24:21.187 --> 24:23.298 Is there one last thing you'd like to 24:23.298 --> 24:25.353 say um , to your soldiers and to the 24:25.353 --> 24:27.353 family members out there before you 24:27.353 --> 24:29.710 guys leave ? Yes , ma'am . And thank 24:29.710 --> 24:31.654 you for the opportunity . And it's 24:31.654 --> 24:33.654 always great to have a conversation 24:33.654 --> 24:37.200 with you , ma'am . I would say we 24:37.210 --> 24:40.920 understand how tough this is . Like 24:40.930 --> 24:44.260 just some things don't seem any tougher 24:44.270 --> 24:45.990 as they're happening , but we 24:45.990 --> 24:48.290 appreciate you . It's our honor to 24:48.290 --> 24:50.346 serve with your service member . And 24:50.346 --> 24:52.568 it's our honor to call you our extended 24:52.568 --> 24:55.210 family by by being the army spouses . 24:55.220 --> 24:58.230 You mean a great deal to us . And 24:58.230 --> 25:00.286 sometimes you're like , oh , they're 25:00.286 --> 25:02.397 doing this and this . It does doesn't 25:02.397 --> 25:04.619 seem like , you know , someone's making 25:04.619 --> 25:06.730 the best decision , but we are like , 25:06.730 --> 25:09.130 it takes a lot . But we are , we are 25:09.140 --> 25:12.660 balancing the mission with people and 25:12.670 --> 25:14.800 never think that we don't care . And 25:14.800 --> 25:17.310 Colonel Harris always put soldiers and 25:17.310 --> 25:20.050 families first . He is very , very 25:20.050 --> 25:22.680 smart person and man . Some of these 25:22.690 --> 25:26.440 decisions are grueling right ? And but 25:26.450 --> 25:29.520 he is absolutely making the right ones 25:29.530 --> 25:32.390 for our loved ones . So thank you for 25:32.390 --> 25:35.140 what you do every single day . Thank 25:35.140 --> 25:38.910 you and Colonel Harris . Um , we will 25:38.920 --> 25:41.031 let you give some party words to your 25:41.031 --> 25:43.142 soldiers and families . Okay , well , 25:43.142 --> 25:45.364 thank you very much for the opportunity 25:45.364 --> 25:47.420 to talk to , to the community . It's 25:47.420 --> 25:49.531 been uh , been an honor first for the 25:49.531 --> 25:51.753 families . Uh , and the community . You 25:51.753 --> 25:53.864 know , thanks for , uh , for what you 25:53.864 --> 25:56.087 do for our soldiers . Thank you for the 25:56.087 --> 25:58.142 sacrifices that you made in the past 25:58.142 --> 26:00.364 and and all all the support that you're 26:00.364 --> 26:02.420 gonna show us going forward the same 26:02.420 --> 26:04.253 for the junction city flint hill 26:04.253 --> 26:06.309 community . Thank you for supporting 26:06.309 --> 26:08.142 families while we're away to the 26:08.142 --> 26:10.364 soldiers . Hey Sergeant Major and I are 26:10.364 --> 26:12.642 very excited for this upcoming mission . 26:12.642 --> 26:14.642 It's very important mission . We're 26:14.642 --> 26:16.753 going over there to assure our allies 26:16.753 --> 26:18.864 deter conflict and reinforce our NATO 26:18.864 --> 26:21.440 alliance and we are ready . We're 26:21.440 --> 26:23.850 absolutely ready to do this . So when 26:23.850 --> 26:26.128 you get over there , I need you to get , 26:26.128 --> 26:28.350 get linked up with your equipment , get 26:28.350 --> 26:30.406 linked up with your vehicle , get it 26:30.406 --> 26:32.406 maintained to the highest level and 26:32.406 --> 26:34.739 then we'll get after some good training . 26:34.739 --> 26:36.961 All right . So while we're over there , 26:36.961 --> 26:39.128 I need you to maintain your high level 26:39.128 --> 26:41.183 of readiness that you have right now 26:41.183 --> 26:43.239 and then we need to link in with our 26:43.239 --> 26:45.294 with our allies and get some quality 26:45.294 --> 26:47.406 training with them over there . So we 26:47.406 --> 26:49.350 can be a cornerstone of the NATO's 26:49.350 --> 26:52.260 eastern flank in Poland . We're very 26:52.260 --> 26:55.380 excited to to be part of this team and 26:55.390 --> 26:57.612 the Big Red one has a lot of history in 26:57.612 --> 26:59.620 Europe and we're about to go add to 26:59.620 --> 27:02.360 that history , add to that legacy . So 27:02.370 --> 27:04.370 Christian , thank you very much for 27:04.370 --> 27:06.426 your time tonight and thank you guys 27:06.426 --> 27:08.481 again . Um and thank you guys to our 27:08.481 --> 27:10.630 live audience . Um if there were any 27:10.630 --> 27:12.630 questions that you guys have or you 27:12.630 --> 27:15.040 guys think of , please drop them , um , 27:15.050 --> 27:18.020 on the comments page . Um , and the one 27:18.020 --> 27:20.980 I . D . And the second brigade daggers 27:20.980 --> 27:23.050 will ensure that they answer any 27:23.050 --> 27:26.510 questions , um , any concerns , um , or 27:26.510 --> 27:29.340 any comments that you guys have . Um , 27:29.350 --> 27:31.600 if you would like to join us for our 27:31.600 --> 27:34.210 next ask me anything , you know , 27:34.210 --> 27:37.560 please reach out and volunteer . Um , 27:37.560 --> 27:40.610 and we thank you guys and have a great 27:40.620 --> 27:43.230 night . Thank you very much .