My gifts from the Army upon my retirement.

**Wolfhawk** · 2nd May 09, 11:20 PM

How many of the 1000 places are you going to hit in the first year retired????

**Rogerson785** · 3rd May 09, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by george7

Hoorah! Thanks for your service. You older guys help shape us younger guys into the soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors that we become... It took me becoming an NCO to see how important they are.

I am sure that I have indirectly impacted some soldier’s lives and careers, but I tend to do it without screaming or getting mad at them when they stumble and make mistakes.

Having been a lifelong runner I used to bring my platoon with me on morning runs and would tell them the course, it was up to them to stick with myself and the other members of the platoon, and when we returned I would wait for the stragglers and ask them if they were OK, were they improving, and will they be ready for the much longer weekly company run. Some hated me for those runs, but others thanked me for pushing them and helping them to improve their physical training test scores.

Since being here at Fort Riley I have stepped back and let the other NCOs mold the junior soldiers, but I think these young kids see me, this old man that runs up and down the formation with admiration or perhaps contempt, but it is funny that a guy twice their age can run further, not faster than many of these kids who will eventually be future NCOs.

**The Barry** · 3rd May 09, 11:03 AM

Congrats on the retirement!

**Colonel MacNeal** · 3rd May 09, 03:15 PM

Many Congrats! Welcome to the retired military club.

**Colonel MacNeal** · 3rd May 09, 03:17 PM

I see your certificate was signed by George W Bush. Has Mr Obama not signed the master for this certificate yet, or does Fort Riley still have W's picture on the wall?

**TheSp8** · 3rd May 09, 08:54 PM

Way to go. I have to wait till Oct 2010. I had flashbacks about the Big Red One song. I was at Ft Riley when I did PLDC and had to learn it. As a non-division Soldier it was new to me then but it still runs through my memory. Enjoy retirement.

YMOS,
Tony

**BatlRatl** · 4th May 09, 10:03 AM

Congrats, Rogerson 785!!!

Don't forget our Branch of service tartan.
Will raise a pint to you on the pubcrawl this
weekend. Until then, I bid you (B Co. 3/187 Inf.)"RAKKASANS!"

**Tartan Shortbread Jock** · 4th May 09, 10:42 AM

Glad I joined this forum, everyone is so nice to each other.
All the best on your retirement.

**davedove** · 4th May 09, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Colonel MacNeal

I see your certificate was signed by George W Bush. Has Mr Obama not signed the master for this certificate yet, or does Fort Riley still have W's picture on the wall?

I noticed that myself. I guess they have to exhaust the supply with GW's signature first.

**berserkbishop** · 4th May 09, 12:20 PM

Congrats Rogerson. Thank you for your service. It is the men like you that keep us newbies in line. I know in the Navy we look up to our Senior NCO's and I am sure that you we also a great influence on junior sailors. I only hope that I will make as good of an NCO as well.

MM3 Bishop