Posted on Jan 16, 2018
SPC Dane DeGrace
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Edited 7 y ago
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Responses: 38
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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I think it was the other way around, I was brought up on the farm, so I was right at home out in the woods.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
7 y
SGT Tony Clifford - A large percentage of the guys that were city kids came from big cities from the Northeast.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
SMSgt Thor Merich
7 y
Took the words out of my mouth Cowboy. Well said.
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Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
>1 y
"Cowboy - Ditto - the same for me. Except my parents never owned the farms.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
>1 y
Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. - We own a small 13 acre farm, but rented another 87, 40 acres of hay baled twice a year, the rest put into corn and soybean, home farm was 25% pasture for the pigs, horses , and milk cows.
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SFC Robert Salmon
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Great question...but for me, I think it's almost reversed. I think being a country boy from Texas made me a better soldier. I already knew how to navigate by terrain association before I enlisted and the only weapon instruction I needed was specific to the platform. I could already shoot. I also grew up in a home where authority was respected (Egads Batman!) so I came in already capable of submitting to those in authority over me. I also spent time around real leaders, so I knew the difference between managing human assets, to leading soldiers. Yes, managing human capital is essential to a unit, but I found much more success leading "my guys" than I did managing SSN's. So, I think it's the opposite. Being an outdoorsy, country boy or redneck if you prefer, made me a better soldier.
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SPC Dane DeGrace
SPC Dane DeGrace
7 y
Thanks for your input. I have to agree with you on that one, I should have worded my question a little differently I suppose!
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CPT Stephanie Lincoln
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Yes it has! I even do 2 annual hikes a year with my old Battle Buddies. Spending all that time in the woods all those years made me appreciate the beauty and solace of nature.
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CPT Stephanie Lincoln
CPT Stephanie Lincoln
7 y
Oh you are so lucky! I ran a summer camp in Schenectady in the summer of 2015 and I hiked every chance I could in the Adirondacks! We took our campers on some single night hikes it was just amazing. I live in FL, so most of my major hikes have been down here. I have done many FL hikes but I don't even count those because we have zero elevation. I have hiked some sections of the AT (Georgia, TN, NC, VA). I also did Red Rock Canyon a couple of weeks ago (NV) and back in OCT I did the Art Loeb Trail (NC). Hiked in the Smokies around Cligmans Dome last Spring. One funny thing was when I was hiking Shenandoah 2 years ago alone, I ended up crossing paths with a Trail Guide/Maintainer out there and he was shocked that I was using a map and compass to navigate. I told him that was the only way I knew how to navigate thanks to the Army ;) From then on my trail name was "Army Girl".
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MAJ Corporate Buyer
MAJ (Join to see)
7 y
CPT Stephanie Lincoln - I saw that you worked at Fire Team Whiskey and got excited for a second thinking it was a military themed whiskey (sorta like Black Rifle Coffee)! Still looks like a really cool outfit though!
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SPC Dane DeGrace
SPC Dane DeGrace
7 y
CPT Stephanie Lincoln That's great! I'm not too far from Schenectady, small world!
MAJ (Join to see) I think you're onto something there! Might have to look into that, although there is already "Leadslingers"
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MAJ Corporate Buyer
MAJ (Join to see)
7 y
SPC Dane DeGrace - Never heard of Leadslingers but I'll check them out for sure. Even still, they could probably use some competition. I'll split everything with you 50/50. Well, 60/40.
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