The After Action Review: The Golden Ticket to Continuous Learning
The After Action Review (AAR) is a critical tool for driving continuous improvement and strategic learning in military and business contexts. Originating from military practices, AARs have proven invaluable in fostering adaptability and resilience, making them essential for organizations seeking to thrive in dynamic environments. Understanding After Action Reviews Definition and Origin: An AAR is […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 6)
Part 6: The Four Legs of Your Personal Resilience Table This is the last blog in the COVID-19 Survival Tent Routine series. This blog’s focus is on personal resilience. Resilience is the capacity to resist, recover from, and even thrive in the face of adversity. Resilience is an iterative process, not a static state. The […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 5)
Part 5: The Foot Check [Guest Author Dr. Peter Ceponis] “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” ~Abraham Lincoln By now, during these times of physical (social) distancing, you have no doubt adapted to a new routine. The most appropriate military analogy […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 4)
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~Seneca While in uniform, I was introduced to the concept of a PACE Plan. Pace is an acronym for: Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency. This equates to a hierarchy of sub-plans or means & methods to accomplish the mission (or elements […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 3)
“Act as if the enemy is always watching” ~Sergeant Bloggins, Infantry Phase Training Every member of the Canadian Armed Forces goes through basic training. In the Army, where you are always a soldier first, the next step is to pass basic infantry training. This is where you learn […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 2)
As part of my family’s “Tent Routine” we co-deliver a daily morning COVID-19 brief. I chair the meeting to guide its conduct. My wife talks about what is going locally. My eldest is in charge of the physical fitness routine. My youngest tracks the family outreach / check-in plan. We come to a consensus on […]
Survival “Tent” Routine: COVID-19 (Part 1)
(Photography Credit: Combat Camera) “There is comfort in routine.” ~John Steinbeck In a crisis, there is tremendous value in maintaining normal processes under stress. Keep doing the easy things easily so you save capacity (physical, mental, emotional, resources, financial, etc) to deal with the novel, exceptional, severe aspects of a crisis. This one of many […]
What I Learned Getting Hit by Friendly Fire
On 4 September 2006, during Operation Medusa, the Canadian Battle Group was preparing to re-assault Objective Rugby, the Taliban’s main defensive position west of Kandahar City. Before launching the attack, our forces at Ma’Sum Ghar, a mountain feature south of the objective, was strafed by a coalition warplane. It was daybreak and I was standing […]
What I Learned Sending Troops into Harm’s Way
In 2006 I deployed as the commander of 23 Field Squadron—135 soldiers, sailors, and aviators drawn from across the Canadian Armed Forces. In our ranks we had bomb disposal technicians, heavy equipment operators, map makers, and other specialists all supporting a core of combat engineers. We were part of a larger Canadian Battle Group (combination […]
PLAY THE PINK BALL: Overcoming Self-Doubt
Golf is a challenging and frustrating sport. It requires patience, practice, and a great deal of self-belief. My journey with golf has taught me invaluable lessons, especially about overcoming self-doubt. The Start of My Pink Ball Golf Journey Three summers ago, I decided to work with a golf professional to improve my game. After a […]