Q&A 12.8.16

QUESTION Love your programs!!!  You got me up Mont Blanc, the Eiger and the Matterhorn…my partner and I would like to attempt the Nose next fall (8 months from now). I plan to do the Big Wall program just prior but I’m looking for your advice on what to use  prior to that.   I […]

My Biggest Leadership Mistake: I Failed 10,000 Ways

By Anonymous Be forewarned. There is no deployment badassery here. This is only a story of an ordinary lieutenant leading ordinary men in difficult circumstances. I hope its lessons are of use to you. We were about seventy-five Americans out on a small combat outpost (COP) in northeast Afghanistan. Because of the regularity and intensity […]

My Biggest Leadership Mistake: Insecurity & Self-Centeredness

By Anonymous It is fairly easy to admit that I’ve made many mistakes in my military career thus far.  It is more difficult to reveal that many of my mistakes have originated out of pure, unadulterated insecurity and self-centeredness.  These twin character flaws have been at the heart of many of the experiences I wish […]

My Biggest Leadership Mistake: Poor Situational Awareness

By Daniel Dumas I was riding the seat of Engine 6 with a 4 man crew as a Lieutenant in the City of Pontiac. Pontiac is a small inner city that suffers from all of the problems of a big inner city: drugs, violence, low education rates and high unemployment rates, vacant houses and free […]

My Biggest Leadership Mistake: Abdicating Leadership in a Toxic Command

By Major David Chichetti In 2013, I had just relinquished command of my Cavalry Troop, when I sat down for one last counseling session with my Brigade Commander. We spoke of a few things, in particular the situation with my “toxic” Squadron Commander. He then asked me “What was your biggest failure in command?” I […]

Arete 12.8.16

HOMELAND SECURITY & TERRORISM Why American Women Join Jihadi Movements, Vice News The Limits of Air Strikes Against ISIS, lawfareblog.com Our Counterterrorism Allies. What are they Good For?, lawfareblog.com Green Berets Fighting ISIS Frustrated with Command, Washington Times Trump’s Misdiagnosis of the Jihadist Threat, lawfareblog.com NATIONAL DEFENSE America Must Stop Losing to China, The National […]

Is Popular Support and Generous Benefits Creating Over-Entitled Veterans?

By Rob Shaul and Charles Bausman   A conversation is growing regarding the rising sense of entitlement from veterans. What do we, as veterans, believe we are owed, and at what point does it become a crutch to self-development? Do public support and government program benefits create the over-entitled veteran, who believes he or she […]

How Has Being a Cop Changed You? – Answers

By Charles Bausman   Updated April 26, 2017:  This article was originally published Dec 1, 2016. We’ve continued to receive feedback from the Law Enforcement community, and have updated the responses to reflect their answers and thoughts.  The feedback we receive from MTI’s questions and surveys is always well thought out and candid. However, the […]

Dirty Little Fire. Intense Physical Demand.

I received an email from a close friend of MTI – full-time firefighter, and fit – about a fire his crew fought in a tiny house …. and how physically demanding this “average” fire was. His note is below… – Rob Shaul Rob – We had a good house fire this morning. Nothing to make […]