Blogging was light to the point of ZERO this week because I was "on the road again" with limited time and spotty Internet access.
Midweek, I attended the Annual Meeting of the Association of the US Army in Washington DC. My client Spec.-Ops. Brand had a small booth in the exhibit, and it was a good opportunity to learn more about the military market as well as meet with the client. After 2 days there, I went to Somerset NJ for the Morris and Essex Kennel Club dog show on Thursday and then home Thursday night.
I’m finally more or less caught up on work, and will resume or normal marketing program next week.
Today, I just want to share something that really struck me at the AUSA show.
The attendees at the AUSA show are primarily members of the US Army of all ranks, ages and experience — Specialists and USMA Cadets to Major Generals and Command Sergeants Major. Just like any other association meeting, the event is a combination of networking, education, trade show and socializing.
While walking around the exhibits, and looking at the mix of attendees, I thought back to my childhood when my father (a career Army officer) was stationed at the US Military Academy (West Point).
At the age of eight, I thought the cadets (at 19 and 20) were all grown up. What a difference 30 plus years makes. This week, when I saw young men and women of a similar age — cadets, NCOs and Lieutenants — all I could think was how young they were, barely out of childhood.
You read the papers, and it talks about these 20-year old kids, but most of us don’t see them on a regular basis. The reality is that the active duty Army is an Army of youth. Soldiers not much older than me are nearly through with their careers, preparing for retirement (and usually a second career in the private sector).
It may be trite, but it is also true: it is someone’s son or daughter, niece or nephew over in Iraq and Afghanistan. They may be well-trained, efficient soldiers, willing to do their duty for their country. But they are also kids far from home. Whatever you think of this war, remember that , and maybe do something nice for a serviceman or woman in the coming holiday season.