BEING A RESOURCE

FRAGO

Hey, It's Cory! I was going to do a continuation from last week's blog, discussing my journey back as I transitioned into the civilian world.  But I had something occur within the past few days that I felt like sharing with you.

I was skimming through the dictionary the other day (yes, I gotta keep myself mentally alert) and I came across the word resource.  There were two definitions for the word that caught my eye:

1. a source of supply, support, or aid, especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.
2. capability in dealing with a situation or in meeting difficulties.

After reading this, it made me think of something my friend Boone Cutler had told me, "There are two things that a warfighter needs, a mission and a battle buddy."  Boone couldn't be any more clear with that statement.

This past weekend, an individual based out of Charleston, SC, contacted me to see how he could be a resource.  I had never met this person, nor have I had a conversation with him, but I was curious as to how they could help me here in Indianapolis. He was connected with GallantFew and knew Karl, so I felt comfortable talking to him.  As he started telling me the story of his transition, it became clear that he knew exactly what I was going through.  

By the time that we had finished our conversation, he had given me the task of composing an email, listing my short-term and long-term goals.  I said, "Roger That," and continued with my day.  I began making a list and I realized that I have no clue of my goals or what motivated me anymore.  This whole time, I had been lying to myself, thinking that I knew exactly what I wanted out of life.  Hour after hour went by, and finally the pieces to the puzzle started to fit.  During our follow up conversation the next day, we took the established goals and created objectives to get reach them.  It was hard to think that a year had gone by and I just now felt like I was heading in the right direction.

One of the biggest hurdles that I have maneuvered is personal expectations.  Coming from an environment of high expectations and transferring that mindset into a completely new world has been exhausting.  Over and over again, from one missed opportunity to the next, I have felt like I have failed my daughter.  I feel I have gained five years to my life in the past 12 months.  But, after this conversation, I realized that it is normal to feel this way.  Being able to hear the voice of experience from another party opened the door to the path that I was searching for.  I'm sure this path isn't always going to be paved, but it sure beats walking circles in a dark room.

Because of this resource, I have adjusted fire on my expectations. Two hours out of his weekend...that's all it took to open that door for me.  This is what GallantFew is doing to assist many Veterans;  It is creating resources.  I repeat, a warfighter needs two things, a mission and a battle buddy (goals and someone you can radio when you are taking fire).

In closing, I want to give you a task:  This week, ask yourself how you can be a resource to someone that's walking around in circles and needs that door opened... then act upon it.
           

RUNNING TO LIFE

         Hey everybody!  My name is Cory Smith and it has been a year since I have been out of the military.   Also, it has been a year that I have had the great opportunity of being involved with GallantFew.  When I got out of the military, I decided to run from Fort Benning, GA, to Indianapolis, IN, to help raise awareness about the difficulties that warfighters face when getting out.  The VA now says that 22 warfighters a day commit suicide.  And as veteran Mile Schlitz says, if this was a disease the government would be doing something to combat it.

         My main focus of writing a blog is to illustrate my story, along with the stories of other Veteran’s transitioning from the military into the civilian world.  My transition has been anything out of the ordinary.  It has been a year of trials, failures, and learning how to get back on my feet.  Or you can go ahead and call it my “crawl, walk, run” of transitioning (except, there were many times that I tripped and fell on my face).  Along the way, I have been introduced to individuals that carried me when I couldn’t pick myself up.  Most of these individuals I haven’t even met face to face.  These people are game-changers.  Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today…ALIVE!

          Since leaving the military, I am always being asked about progress being made.  No matter how many times I tried to explain myself, people just looked at me with a blank stare.  So, I had to think of a more simple way of putting it, and this is all I could think of:

Well, imagine if you were the visiting team to Yankee Stadium and it is the top of the ninth, and you are down by a couple runs.  Normally, there are nine players in the lineup, but your team just consists of you.  You have to not only be at the plate, but also be the base runners, and the manager giving signals.  Do you swing away, hold off for another pitch or should you try to advance the runners?  Now, imagine trying to swing a bat and run around the bases with a two year old girl strapped to your back.

You would think that a year later I should be coming to a conclusion of the transition side of my life and be running with the new life.  Sad to say, I thought the same.  And for that reason I have become my own worst enemy.  I guess, to really tell the story of my transition, I would have to start from the beginning.

           Back in September 2011, while assigned to 3/75 Rgr Rgt in Fort Benning, my marriage had come to the breaking point leading to separation.  My wife, at the time, decided that it was in best interest for her and my daughter to move back to the Indianapolis.  So, I helped pack up our possessions and drove the box truck home to Indy.  It didn't take long of sitting in an empty apartment, and sleepless nights for me to come to the decision that I had to get out of the military.  So, in an expedited fashion I entered the ACAP process (this is the Army’s pat on the back before they kick you out the door).

           ACAP was a joke.  It consisted of me filling out a few papers, meeting with a resume writing advisor that, obviously, didn’t care too much for her job.  Actually most of the people that had to sign my paperwork really didn’t care.  I can remember walking through the halls and cringing at posters saying, “What Have You Done for a Fort Benning Soldier Today?”  The only thing I felt that was being done was wasting my time and gas driving to and from multiple times a day.  ACAP did offer a few classes that weren’t mandatory, but I thought could be beneficial.  One of which was a briefing by a VA representative, who gave me so much information that I wouldn’t know where to begin.  Between all the information sessions, I was lost and no idea where the starting line was.  But, I didn’t really care.  The only starting line I was concerned about was the one that would get me off and running home to my daughter, and nothing was going to stop me.

This was the only photo I had of my daughter after she left, and it traveled with me  every day of my run.

New GallantFew Voice: Ranger Cory "Run Ranger Run" Smith

We are very pleased to announce that Ranger Veteran Cory Smith is going to be a regular guest blogger for The New American Veteran.  Cory's story of service and transition is inspiring and he's agreed to give us some insight - a personal look at the transition struggle of one New American Veteran.  Watch for posts from Cory every couple of week.  RLTW km

All-Source Analyst (C-IED); Charlottesville, VA; TS with SCI Eligibility

HOT - Novice All-Source Analyst (C-IED)

Location: Charlottesville, VA

Clearance: TS with SCI Eligibility

US Citizenship Required

Travel Requirements:

The Novice All-Source Analyst should be prepared to rotate OCONUS (one duty cycle overseas and two duty cycles in Charlottesville anticipated) as a member of an analytical team or to augment DoD agencies for a period of no longer than 180 days to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Novice All-Source Analysts to work as members of a team conducting comprehensive research on complex insurgent and terrorist networks, either independently or as part of a larger analytical effort, supporting the Counter-IED Targeting Program (CITP) at the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC).

Responsibilities Include but are not limited to:

·       Conduct all-source intelligence analysis to identify insurgent and IED networks, which include leaders, facilitators, financiers, cell members and bomb makers to identify potential targets for possible lethal and non-lethal action

·       Coordinate with other CITP teams, including WTI, the Direct Support SIGINT Element (DSSE) and NGA GEOINT support to product assessments and targeting products

·       Develop regional network assessments of IED and insurgent networks

·       Produce targeting support products for deployed forces

·       Prepare and present intelligence briefings and presentations

·       Evaluate information reporting and sources

·       Answer Requests for Information (RFI)

·       Develop Source Directed Requirements (SDR)

·       Populate & maintain CITP databases, production trackers and files

·       Upon successful pre-deployment evaluation, is capable of deploying to low-risk assignments in theaters of operation

Required Skills and Experience:

·       Minimum of 3 yrs of intelligence analysis and targeting experience

·       Knowledge of Intelligence Cycle, Collection Management Cycle, Targeting Cycle and intelligence analytic techniques including:

o   Trend & pattern analysis

o   Geospatial analysis

o   Link analysis

o   Network or social network analysis

·       Experience with data processing systems:  DCGS-A, CIDNE, SIPRNET and JWICS search engines

·       Working knowledge of i2 Analyst Notebook, AXIS Pro, WebTAS, ArcGIS and Google Earth

·       Proficient with basic computer applications and intelligence related automation

·       Possess strong research and writing and editing skills

·       Capable of operating alone in support of tactical forces

·       Requires former military occupational specialty (MOS) 18F, 180A, 31D, 311D, 35F, 350F, 35D, or DoD joint service equivalent, or civilian 0132, 1811

·       High School Diploma or GED

Desired Skills/Education:

• Experience as intelligence or targeting analyst in AFG desired

HOT - Journeyman All-Source Analyst (C-IED)

Location: Charlottesville, VA

Clearance: TS with SCI Eligibility

US Citizenship Required

Travel Requirements:

The Journeyman All-Source Analyst should be prepared to rotate OCONUS (one duty cycle overseas and two duty cycles in Charlottesville anticipated) as a member of an analytical team or to augment DoD agencies for a period of no longer than 180 days to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Journeyman All-Source Analysts to work as members of a team conducting comprehensive research on complex insurgent and terrorist networks, either independently or as part of a larger analytical effort, supporting the Counter-IED Targeting Program (CITP) at the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC).

Responsibilities Include but are not limited to:

·         Conduct all-source intelligence analysis to identify insurgent and IED networks, which include leaders, facilitators, financiers, cell members and bomb makers to identify potential targets for possible lethal and non-lethal action

·         Coordinate with other CITP teams, including WTI, the Direct Support SIGINT Element (DSSE) and NGA GEOINT support to product assessments and targeting products

·         Develop regional network assessments of IED and insurgent networks

·         Produce targeting support products for deployed forces

·         Prepare and present intelligence briefings and presentations

·         Evaluate information reporting and sources

·         Answer Requests for Information (RFI)

·         Develop Source Directed Requirements (SDR)

·         Populate & maintain CITP databases, production trackers and files

·         Produces intelligence assessments for formal production and release to the Intelligence Community (IC) and other consumers

·         Coordinates with other NGIC offices, IC organizations and theater intelligence resources to gather additional information and share analytic conclusions

·         Capable of deployment throughout theater of operation to conduct counterinsurgent and IED network analysis

Required Skills and Experience:

·         Minimum of 5 yrs of intelligence analysis and targeting experience; on a case-by-case basis a badge and credentialed Law Enforcement Officer with at least 5 yrs experience conducting investigation on an accredited Local/State/or Federal Law Enforcement Agency is Acceptable

·         Knowledge of Intelligence Cycle, Collection Management Cycle, Targeting Cycle and intelligence analytic techniques including:

o   Trend & pattern analysis

o   Geospatial analysis

o   Link analysis

o   Network or social network analysis

·         Experience with data processing systems:  DCGS-A, CIDNE, SIPRNET and JWICS search engines

·         Working knowledge of i2 Analyst Notebook, AXIS Pro, WebTAS, ArcGIS and Google Earth

·         Proficient with basic computer applications and intelligence related automation

·         Possess strong research and writing and editing skills

·         Capable of operating alone in support of tactical forces

·         Requires former military occupational specialty (MOS) 18F, 180A, 31D, 311D, 35F, 350F, 35D or DoD joint service equivalent, or civilian 0132, 1811

·         High School Diploma or GED

Desired Skills/Education:

• Experience as intelligence or targeting analyst in AFG desired

POC:

Steve Schmidt

DPM

Blackbird Technologies, Inc.

Clarksville, TN

sschmidt@blackbirdtech.com