Feet off the Pedal and on the Desk

I was recently reassigned from being a truck driver to the Operations Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). That means I sit at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) for ten hours a day to help plan and monitor the Operations we do as a company. That also means I don't actually get to do any of the Operations we do as a company.

My job is to make sure the convoys have everything the need set up before they go out on the road. I also monitor the phone, the radio, and the Movement Tracking System (MTS) while they are out on the road. There is usually not that much to do but when something needs to be done it needs to be done 'yesterday.'

I imagine its kind of like participating in a rodeo. You sit around most of the day waiting to actually start. When you do start 'working' its a lot of work and a lot of pressure. Then you are done eight seconds later if you did a good job. Sooner if you did not.

I have been able to learn a lot about how the company is run and how the Operations work. That has been very valuable and eye-opening. I have also learned many lessons that I plan to apply as I search for a full-time civilian job. The biggest one is that I just can't have a job where I only sit at a desk. Sitting at a desk for ten hours a day, seven days a week has been really hard on me. I would much rather be out on the road for sixteen hours a day or down at maintenance for twelve hours working on my truck.

I do get lot of ribbing from the other guys about being a 'fobbit' or a 'TOC roach.' I have also got a few compliments on the improvements and changes I have made in the Operations. I guess they kind of balance each other out.

It is unclear how long I am going to be doing this. It might be only for a few more weeks but it could also be for the rest of our tour here. I am going to do my best to "improve the foxhole" while I am here and try to make things run more smoothly. I have been able to apply many of the skills from my previous civilian job and civilian education to analyze and improve the processes.

Dreaming of the road,

Kyle




Executive ability is deciding quickly and getting someone else to do the work.

- John G. Pollard