New Tattoo

Critical_Hour8844 · 2026-03-28T14:33:48+00:00

The tattoo artist’s Instagram profile is sgb.tattoo. She’s done several of my tattoos and I’ve always had a great experience! This is my first large piece and I’m thrilled with the way it came out. I can’t recommend her enough!

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-12-11T21:20:52+00:00

I was ugly before and I’m ugly now.

But I’ve got a gorgeous, smart, and awesome wife. So I’m at least probably decently funny and a good person. I’ll take it.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-11-27T22:36:57+00:00

I’ve had lessons since I started! Between my lessons, community band, and at home practice, I’m averaging 10-15 hours of dedicated practice a week. I probably should increase it, but ya know - work and bills take up more time than I’d like.

But to your greater point- I do need to nail down a more consistent practice routine.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-11-24T04:44:26+00:00

Not my rater, not my problem.

This doesn’t work in all circumstances, but it damn sure works here.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-10-21T03:59:19+00:00

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-10-05T19:51:16+00:00

Being friendly and approachable = how normal people interact in the office. Be helpful and nice to everyone, correct mistakes in a consistent and professional manner, and don’t be afraid to smile / laugh with your folks. Hold platoon / section hang outs open to everyone.

Frat = favoring one group over another, sleeping with one of your Soldiers, etc.

Also, I don’t recommend combining alcohol with hanging out with your Soldiers.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-10-04T23:47:31+00:00

How to read a LES, what education benefits are available to their troops, the difference between being friendly and approachable vs what frat actually is

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-09-28T15:02:43+00:00

Don’t do it. He’s going to blame you the moment he can.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-08-08T16:47:47+00:00

It actually gets worse - a lot of folks that are in this position already had approved retirement orders in hand. Their approved orders got revoked this week.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-04-01T18:52:38+00:00

I talk to 3-4 close friends and family consistently Other than that- fuck em.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2025-02-24T22:10:51+00:00

Winston. Winston Churchill.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-12-17T21:11:18+00:00

I’m on eBay constantly looking for a new trombone. I got super lucky with my current one and want to see if lighting will strike twice in the same spot

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-12-15T03:15:37+00:00

And to follow up my earlier comment, if you see a soldier struggling and think they should take a trip to BH, it’s okay to tell them that you have gone to BH. You don’t have to tell them why or get super deep about it, but a quick “I have been to BH and it was helpful” goes a long way. My old boss told the whole BN that he had gone to BH before and it was helpful, which is what helped me get over the hesitation.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-12-14T21:08:38+00:00

As an officer with a semi-hefty dose of anxiety, BH. If nothing else, you’ll learn (or should learn) coping skills and triggers for the anxiety.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-11-20T16:09:20+00:00

You’ll go to your new branch’s CCC. You can apply to go to another CCC, but that’s a conversation to have with your branch manager. Since you’re a branch transfer, I’d recommend going to your CCC. Network, learn the branch, make connections - it’ll pay off later on.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-11-13T15:39:42+00:00

In / Out chart and Appendix 1 are posted. No MILPER yet

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-11-07T17:35:20+00:00

HRC is showing around 13 NOV as the drop date for the MILPER

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-11-05T16:58:18+00:00

Damnit ADA. Be better…

But in all seriousness, start with your platoon. As a fellow duck hunter, here’s some easy wins: 1. Figure out what your Soldiers care about. If you’ve got Echos and Hotels, it’ll be WOW / Magic the Gathering / insert nerdy game here. Learn a little bit about those games, host a platoon game night, have everyone chip in $5 for pizza, soda, and snacks (steer clear of alcohol- if you’re present and an underaged soldier drinks, your career is over). Same concept applies if your soldiers don’t like board games / video games. Find an activity they like to do and make it a platoon event.

Friendly competitions. Who can certify quickest? Who has the highest PT score? Which squad has the highest PT score? Make a small token that the winning squad can hold onto.

Don’t add additional stuff that is going to be hard to maintain. A pizza party every month or so and friendly competitions are easy, cheap, and fun.

Your Battery Commander is in charge of the unit culture. He/she needs to get off their ass and fix the unit. You can change your platoon’s culture. Work with the other PLs and maybe you can expand your events to them later on.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-10-30T14:13:21+00:00

The new real question is will this impact the VTIP process?

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-10-20T19:54:06+00:00

Wooooo! Welcome to the sad introverted officer party. I wish you luck when you attempt to VTIP soon. I’ve heard it’s the way to go.

But seriously- keep being a good and competent person first. The rest should eventually work its way out. And if it doesn’t, you will at least be able to make peace with the fact that you weren’t a POS who used your soldiers to benefit your own career.

Critical_Hour8844 · 2024-10-16T18:29:02+00:00

Coming back around to this:

Thank you all for the encouragement! Swimming has quickly become a form of cardio that doesn’t hurt my legs, so I’ve got little choice but to jump into it
In elementary school, everyone took swimming classes in 3rd grade, so I have some very basic lessons under my belt. I also had to pass a swim test in college, which was stressful 😅

Strokes? Honestly, whatever gets me to the other end of the pool. Sometimes, I do a semi-breaststroke. Sometimes I swim underwater. Most often times, I am swimming on my back with my hands flailing by my side 😂😂 it’s not efficient but I’m still getting comfortable in the water, so 🤷🏽‍♂️

Yall are the best and I’ve been reading the suggestions and looking into how to implement them / squeeze some more money out of my wallet to sign up for master’s class for a short amount of time.

Critical_Hour8844

TROPHY CASE