Mike Kirkpatrick

Husband, Dad of 4, Old Cavalryman.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@RCKaserman @CynicalPublius Yes, but not “command” - Congress specifically defines “combatant command (command authority)” and vests it in Combatant Cdrs. It does not vest “command authority” in the SecDef. That distinction appears intentional rather than accidental.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@MiddleEastGuy @CynicalPublius I don’t think §162 supports the conclusion that the Secretary of Defense is a commander, either legally or doctrinally. The SecDef is in the chain of command, but is not a commander. The Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control; Combatant CDRs exercise CMD authority.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@RCKaserman @CynicalPublius Can you cite where it designates the Secretary as a “commander”? You describe the removal of Commanding General for the Army and redesignating as CSA. I only read Commanders designated in the Combatant Command verbiage.

[Modern War Institute @WarInstitute]

US logistics systems are designed, in detail, for tactical excellence. But on the modern battlefield, their design features are likely to leave them incapable of supporting maneuver units. Here's why. https://t.co/ofjcX5uvMt

[Modern War Institute @WarInstitute]

Designing Judgment: Leadership under Uncertainty on the Modern Battlefield https://t.co/sl0OIEEwvQ

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@CaptainCons Prius drivers

[Baseball’s Greatest Moments @BBGreatMoments]

Doc Gooden’s Lord Charles curveball 😳

[Special Ops Magazine @specialopsmag]

Please help me honor US Army Delta Force Sergeant Major Christopher A. Nelms.

Chris was a legend among warriors. Combat Diver, Ranger tab, Master Parachutist, multiple Silver Stars, Soldier’s Medal, 6 Bronze Stars (one with “V”), and a Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V.”

He joined the Army in 1990, served in Infantry and National Guard SF, and later CAG (Delta Force), deploying countless times. He even competed in the Best Ranger Competition.

In 2013, he earned his first Silver Star on an assault mission to capture a high value target in Afghanistan. While still in country, Nelms also received his Soldier's Medal after rushing into a burning building on Camp Marmal when he learned two soldiers were still asleep inside the structure. Nelms found them and brought them out to safety.

On June 27, 2018, Nelms participated in military free fall training in North Carolina. During one jump, his parachute failed to deploy completely. He died 4 days later from the injuries sustained in the fall. He was 46 years old.

Retired operators remember him as one of the very best they ever served with.

Not forgotten.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@rArmyReddit @usawtfm @SecArmy @TheIOGuy Technically “not cancelled” but definitely reduced, truncated, curtailed, scaled back… 🙄

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@KTB_500 …and here we are 6 months later letting 1/3ID do LTP “virtually” because we choose to not fully fund our CTC programs… 🤦‍♂️

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

Bringing this back up from FIVE years ago… China is watching us not training at the tactical edge…

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@16thSMA Let’s get back to training (for War). Showing up to a CTC at crew level qualification/proficiency is not acceptable. Our adversaries are watching - China has 6 CTCs, one for ea. military region (5) and a “NTC”. CH BDEs “fight” their way to the CTC from their garrison.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@SecArmy @USArmy Boss, check in on your CTCs - they are not alright. No training/resourcing/funding/execution oversight - since FORSCOM transformed. FORSCOM CG used to check in @ every CTC - personally. T2COM does care about CTCs, is HQDA G3 DOT asleep… unaware? #EmperorNoClothes

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

THIS!

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@KTB_500 Most extended I’ve seen at The NTC was a 2/25ID - RSOI @ SCLA, Urban fight at SCLA, 1x BN and BDE TAC Out of Sector MSN @ China Lake, TAC RM into Goldstone (contested one on FICA), then LD IVO Pioneer (W to E). We (BH) were extended throughout as well - was tough (but we had RCS)

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@brockpierson Get a hole punch and make it double sided

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@BradDuplessis @AverageSizeAndy I think my FSC CDR, 1SG, XO, 1x PL and PSG were PF coded in 10th MTN.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@OrionBelt10 @infantrydort You likely collected observations on an organization, not the individual. I’m confident none of your observations or any final AAR products, EXSUMs etc included the NAMES of the commander or command team. Those observations never left Bldg 990 or FICA.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

Make a couple replies to some posts and watch your LinkedIn profile views pop off. I can send you my DD214, ORB, Characterization of Service, Bio, Resume or offer a Reference or facilitate an Introduction - I got you homie.

[Mike Kirkpatrick @KirkpatrickMike]

@OrionBelt10 @infantrydort There are no metrics collected, analyzed, documented, or disseminated on a commander’s effectiveness at a CTC. Zero! In fact at JRTC it is a “contract” between Ops Group and the RTU that “what happens in the box, stays in the box.” Sure, there is talk, but no receipts.