Dispatch from Afghanistan: Leading the platoon

Photo courtesy of Donald Wagner Wagner's platoon in Afghanistan

1st Lt. Donald Wagner is a 1997 Penn State journalism graduate. The former assistant editor of Penn State sports magazine Blue White Illustrated, he is currently serving in Afghanistan with the 1-506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, based out of Fort Campbell, Ky. Wagner is sharing his experiences on the ground in Afghanistan in a series of dispatches for Penn State Newswire and Penn State Live. In his fifth installment, Wagner discusses the pride and joys of leading an infantry platoon.

For the first installment, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/34170.

For the second installment, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/34295.

For the third installment, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/34495.

For the fourth installment, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/34700.

There may be no greater job in the Army for an officer than that of infantry platoon leader.

It is one of the few times in your career that you are actually with soldiers leading them. It is just you and the 35-plus men whose lives have been put in your hands. It is also one of the only times in their Army careers an officer has the chance to get to personally know every single solider under their command.

On average, most platoon leaders serve anywhere from six months to a year in the position. I was fortunate to get nearly 16 months as a platoon leader, the last four being over here. I bring this up because as I have transitioned to my new battalion staff job in the last month, I find myself wishing I had a few more months as a platoon leader.

Now I see soldiers just coming off patrol walking around our Forward Operating Base (FOB) and their uniforms are dirty and they haven’t shaved in a day or two and I’m jealous. My clean uniform and freshly shaven face only serve to remind me that I’m no longer one of them.

The two platoons I had the honor of leading were composed of soldiers from all walks of life and backgrounds. They ranged in ages from 18 to 38 and were Caucasian, Hispanic, African American and Asian, among others. Some were former athletic all stars, others former academic all stars. Most important, however, is that they were all someone’s son or father.

I have always tried to keep that in mind. Knowing a family somewhere has entrusted the Army, and more specifically you, with the life of their loved one is something no leader should ever forget.

Leadership is about the men under your care. If they trust you they will follow you and do what you ask. That is why my number one priority is always to make sure my men know that nothing comes before their welfare.

I always tried to place the needs of my men above my own. That meant they always ate before me. If there was a line to use the phones and I had soldiers behind me, I made sure they went ahead of me. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for my guys.

I always wondered if I did a good enough job getting to know my guys. My last night with the platoon that question was answered. As I sat outside talking to some friends in the dark, the majority of my platoon snuck up and dumped baby powder on me.

As strange as it may sound, those are the kind of things I am going to miss.

BEAVER STADIUM MEMORIES
I was looking at a gameday picture of Beaver Stadium recently while on the phone with my wife and I commented to her how much I miss the atmosphere. I’ve been to almost all the stadiums in the Big Ten and I can honestly say that none of them combine the surroundings and atmosphere of Happy Valley on a home weekend. Here’s guessing this weekend will only reinforce my theory.

PICK ‘EM
We should finally see how good this team really is. Juice Williams could cause problems for the Lions’ untested corners and thin defensive line and the fumbles are a concern. Still, PSU should be good enough to overcome all that.
PSU 35, Illinois 21.