E101 - Personal Stories: The Pentagon!

In the run up to January 2011, I had fought hard to avoid going to the USA as the Chief of Defence Staff's Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs based in The Pentagon in Washington DC.  

I hadn't fought because I didn't fancy the job; the role was a high profile one and clearly looked as though it would be rewarding and fun.  The issue was that it was only just over 2 years since I had returned from Afghanistan, my wife and I had faced down a lot of personal dramas over that period and, to cap it all, we were right in the middle of building our new house in Sussex.

Nonetheless, having made my points, I had accepted my lot and was now focused on doing the best job I could whilst I was in Washington.  

I had absolutely no idea at that point that it would turn out to be one of the most rewarding postings of my entire career, with masses of operational activity to contend with, as well as the absolute privilege of working with some of the very best in the US military at that point in time.  

The personal bill was high though; I spent a lot of time flying to and from the UK for 36 hour visits to help my wife with the house build and I wouldn't wish that on anyone but, on the positive side, the house got built and we still love it to this day!

I very much hope you will pick up my enthusiasm and admiration for the US military that I worked with over this 9 month period - it was a truly amazing role and I absolutely loved it.  Do please let me know what you think!