carl forsling Archives - Task & Purpose

By Carl Forsling May 22, 2020

Opinion

Memorial Day doesn’t need to be treated as a national military funeral

"Don’t be ashamed to have a good time this Memorial Day — that’s part of the gift that’s been bestowed...

By Carl Forsling Jan 23, 2020

Military Benefits

We need to talk about that study claiming that US troops are ‘overpaid’

[shortcode-Op-Ed-disclosure] A recent RAND study on military compensation has recently garnered some attention, with the main takeaway of many being...

By Carl Forsling Dec 3, 2019

Opinion

America’s senior military officers should retire from becoming America’s TV talking heads

Former military officers commenting on military matters have valuable perspectives. On anything outside of that, their opinion is worth no...

By Carl Forsling Oct 29, 2019

Analysis

No, hazing doesn’t teach discipline. It actually does the opposite

Hazing represents the opposite [of discipline]... it is the product of a lack of self-control and laziness.

By Carl Forsling Jul 24, 2019

Opinion

Veterans: It’s on you to bridge the civil-military divide

In the real world the number of jobs where run time and pull-ups are part of your performance evaluation is...

By Carl Forsling Feb 19, 2019

Humor

7 scenes from ‘Office Space’ that apply perfectly to the US military

A movie meant to mock the daily drudgery of office drones also captured the lives of everyone from admin clerks...

By Carl Forsling Dec 8, 2017

Opinion

The Army Needs To Grow A Pair Already And Say No To Beards

At the beginning of 2017, the U.S. Army changed regulations to allow Sikh soldiers to grow beards under a religious...

By Carl Forsling Aug 23, 2017

Leadership

The Military Has A Toxic Leadership Problem

Recently, the term “toxic leadership” has broken into mainstream culture. Where it used to mainly occupy wardrooms, ready rooms, and...

By Carl Forsling Aug 2, 2017

Humor

6 Types Of Majors You Meet In The Military

An O-4 is a strange military bird. Majors are no longer “one of the boys.” They’re middle management. They’re the...

By Carl Forsling Nov 11, 2016

Community

Here’s The One Thing That Veterans Know More Than Anyone Else

I’ve always said I’d never be that veteran with a back car window rendered opaque with military stickers, or the...

By Carl Forsling Nov 3, 2016

Leadership

‘Change For The Sake Of Change’ Seems To Be The Navy Secretary’s Motto

Ray Mabus is arguably the most famous secretary of the Navy since Theodore Roosevelt and the era of the Great...

By Carl Forsling Oct 19, 2016

Leadership

The ‘Up-Or-Out’ Promotion System Hurts The Military

Few subjects related to military careers cause as much contention as the up-or-out system for promotion. Under this policy, a...

By Carl Forsling Oct 5, 2016

Lifestyle

Americans Are To Blame For The Fractured State Of The Media

Thirty years ago, there was such a thing as “the media.” The daily paper was dropped on everyone’s doorstep in...

By Carl Forsling Sep 28, 2016

Entertainment

Why The Best War Movies Came Out Of The 1980s

I was flying one time when my copilot asked if he could do something that deviated from our unit SOP....

By Carl Forsling Sep 8, 2016

Community

All Military Service Deserves Equal Respect, Regardless Of MOS

Instead of giving each other the mutual respect they’ve earned, far too often, veterans put each other down. It sometimes...

By Carl Forsling Aug 11, 2016

Leadership

Safety Standdowns Aren’t Working

After several aviation mishaps in just a few weeks, the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for aviation, Lt. Gen. Jon Davis,...

By Carl Forsling Aug 3, 2016

Leadership

Here’s Why Leaders Should Avoid Calling Subordinates When They’re Off Duty

I got my first cell phone in my late 20s. I know that’s inconceivable to some of you who got...

By Carl Forsling Jul 26, 2016

Leadership

What Happens When Pilots Aren’t Allowed To Fly

Lately there have been many articles and reports about the services in general, and the Marine Corps in particular, reducing...

By Carl Forsling Jul 13, 2016

Community

Stop Ranting About Your Political Views At Work

A few years ago, before our current concert of political cacophony began, I worked with an officer who used the...

By Carl Forsling Jul 10, 2016

Leadership

5 Things ‘The Walking Dead’ Teaches Us About Leadership

“The Walking Dead” has entertained millions over the six seasons of television on AMC. Most of the selections from the...

By Carl Forsling Jun 28, 2016

Community

Should Cyber Warfare Have Its Own Branch?

In 1947, the U.S. defense establishment finally recognized that airpower was an environment distinct and separate from sea or air....

By Carl Forsling Jun 22, 2016

Community

Stop Dismissing Everything You Disagree With As ‘Politically Correct’

Political correctness. If you look at any number of comments sections, or a Trump speech, or listen to a lot...

By Carl Forsling Apr 22, 2016

Leadership

‘Game Of Thrones’ Is Full Of Lessons For The Military Community

“Game of Thrones” has captured the public’s consciousness for five years now. Whether through the novels or the HBO series,...

By Carl Forsling Apr 19, 2016

Transition

Your Time In Service Shouldn’t Be Your Glory Years

So, you’ve finally left the military. You’ve completed your service honorably, be that four years or 20. You’ve sacrificed plenty,...

By Carl Forsling Apr 5, 2016

Family & Relationships

The Military’s Problem With Marriage

Divorce — it’s no stranger to those in the military. At the same time, the military is a very tradition-minded...

carl forsling

News

Featured in carl forsling

Memorial Day doesn’t need to be treated as a national military funeral

We need to talk about that study claiming that US troops are ‘overpaid’

America’s senior military officers should retire from becoming America’s TV talking heads

No, hazing doesn’t teach discipline. It actually does the opposite

Veterans: It’s on you to bridge the civil-military divide

7 scenes from ‘Office Space’ that apply perfectly to the US military

The Army Needs To Grow A Pair Already And Say No To Beards

The Military Has A Toxic Leadership Problem

6 Types Of Majors You Meet In The Military

Here’s The One Thing That Veterans Know More Than Anyone Else

‘Change For The Sake Of Change’ Seems To Be The Navy Secretary’s Motto

The ‘Up-Or-Out’ Promotion System Hurts The Military

Americans Are To Blame For The Fractured State Of The Media

Why The Best War Movies Came Out Of The 1980s

All Military Service Deserves Equal Respect, Regardless Of MOS

Safety Standdowns Aren’t Working

Here’s Why Leaders Should Avoid Calling Subordinates When They’re Off Duty

What Happens When Pilots Aren’t Allowed To Fly

Stop Ranting About Your Political Views At Work

5 Things ‘The Walking Dead’ Teaches Us About Leadership

Should Cyber Warfare Have Its Own Branch?

Stop Dismissing Everything You Disagree With As ‘Politically Correct’

‘Game Of Thrones’ Is Full Of Lessons For The Military Community

Your Time In Service Shouldn’t Be Your Glory Years

The Military’s Problem With Marriage