DVIDS:

Every morning I sit in my office preparing for another day of meetings, briefings, endless taskers, and a multitude of emails that never stop arriving. Just over a month ago, my office was the Director’s chair in the Missile Defense Element at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, executing the mission and leading my crew in the defense of the homeland from an ICBM attack. Life was good, so, what changed?

I became the first active-duty officer selected to be the 100th Missile Defense Brigade’s Operations officer in charge, and I bring a different perspective to this job. I’m one of roughly a dozen active-duty Soldiers currently assigned to the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, a unit primarily comprised of active National Guard Soldiers. A unit that I didn’t even know existed until I received orders to report to Colorado Springs. I’m often asked what it’s like to be in this unit. I think the question stems from both the unique mission and being a Regular Army Soldier in a National Guard unit. So, what can I tell you?

In many ways, it feels special. This unit is full of Soldiers and civilians who care about the mission and understand the importance of what we do. There are so few of us truly tasked with defending the homeland, and all of its 300 million-plus citizens, that we embrace the unofficial slogan of “The 300 defending 300 million.” There is a level of pride here that is different from any other unit I have served in, because of this mission. That pride results in a drive for excellence because failure is truly unacceptable. You must have an understanding that your crew of five Soldiers and a crew of five Soldiers at the Fire Direction Center at Fort Greely, Alaska, are the shield keeping our nation, our friends, and our families safe at any given moment in time. We take pride in ensuring we are as well-trained and ready to perform the mission as we can possibly be…

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