By Rob Shaul COVID’s massive disruption forced focus and introspection on our day-to-day lives. The Pandemic put all plans on hold. No more teeth-gritting through weeks of work drudgery knowing that a vacation reward was waiting on the other side a few weeks away. No more daily escaping a troubled relationship by a trip to […]
Rob Shaul
Rob’s Personal May/June 2020 Programming
By Rob Shaul Most of my focus in May and June is to prepare for hunting season, which begins either mid-August or September 1. Beginning in July, I’ll be out 1-2 nights per week scouting new hunting areas. Scouting is a way to spend more time outside, in the mountains, and extend my hunting season. […]
Arete 6.4.20
Military / National Security / Foreign Affairs Trump plans to use active-duty military forces to deal with growing protests, Air Force Times Three Strategists Walk into a Bar, MWI Philippines backtracks on termination of US military deal, Al Jazeera Watch this F-35 nearly plummet into the ocean during a carrier’s limited power test launch, Defense News The Coronavirus Is Raising […]
Stockdale, Stoicism and The Art of Living
By Rob Shaul Over the years have devoured about every piece of “wisdom” literature I could get my hands on. The one I return to, at least weekly is “The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness,” by the Greek Stoic Philosopher Epictetus, and translated by Sharon Lebell. My path to […]
Arete 5.28.20
Military / Foreign Affairs / National Security Someone taped Steve Carell’s picture over Space Force’s top officer at the USAF museum, Air Force Times The inside story of two supersonic flights that changed how America operates the F-35, Defense News Palestinians announce end of intelligence cooperation with US and Israel, Intelnews.org Miniseries offers deep dive into misconceptions and complexities […]
Apply for MTI’s “Stuff I’ve Learned” Virtual Mini-Scrum, June 2020
By Rob Shaul MTI is calling for applications from our community of mountain and tactical professionals, and others, to apply for an upcoming virtual “Mini Scrum” next month. We aim to bring together 4-8 mid or late career professionals at a stage life where they are ready for some intense, thoughtful reflection on their professional […]
Arete 5.21.20
Military / National Security / Foreign Affairs Niger: 12 soldiers killed in Boko Haram attack on military base, Al Jazerra Japan suspects missile data leak in Mitsubishi cyberattack, Associated Press Scandal-ridden Ukroboronprom seeks fresh start in ties with Western arms makers, Defense News The Pentagon Tries to Pivot out of the Middle East—Again, Foreign Policy Pensacola shooter had ‘significant ties’ […]
Arete 5.14.20
Military / National Security / Foreign Affairs Afghanistan: Gunmen storm Kabul hospital, Al Jazerra The Future of Warfare Will Continue to Be Human, War on the Rocks Iranian Navy Hits Own Warship With Missile In Fatal Accident, In Homeland Security US Takes Steps to Answer China’s Rare Earth Elements Monopoly, In Homeland Security Brazil deploys thousands of troops to protect […]
The Professional Decision I Most Regret: Not Having a Solid Plan B
By Anonymous I was running at 0300 along the hardball road on three hours of sleep, secretly wishing for a truck to come around the next curve and accidentally hit and kill me. Was there some way to just die without doing it myself? Was I a coward for not being able to do it […]
The Professional Decision I Most Regret: I Feared Potential Failure
By John Peter Lombardo I began my career in the Fire Service at an early age and as a result felt a swell of wanderlust. It was on a particularly boring day in 2007 where I indulged a desire to join the military by scouring the internet for prospects in the varying service branches. Given […]