It's easy to talk about managing people if you happen to be in
barracks, but what we have here is a gung-ho REMF who wants to get
out front. When I'm out in the field, 150 km from the nearest
friendly support and only five magazines to each man, I don't have
the luxury of being able to nanny anybody in my team. A flaming
arsehole with a Rambo complex is going to compromise my mission and
get my team killed, period. When you're on the sharp end of
national policy, having one's head screwed on right counts for a
helluva lot more than enthusiasm.
In my business, what Roger Courtney said to the Special Boat
Squadron applies: "You think you're tough? If so, get out - I want
f*ckers with brains".
