Commander Zoolander?

Apparently my new company thinks I resemble Zoolander. This was hung on the wall as my command photo. Maybe it's their way of reminding me not to take myself too seriously. I'll take it as a sign they like me.

On a more serious note, one of the duties of a Commander is to handle emergency messages for my Soldiers. The American Red Cross voluntarily acts as the conduit for these messages, most often sent at the request of a doctor or family member to the service member. Once we receive a Red Cross message, we evaluate the severity of the situation and ask the Soldier to come to my office. I almost always ask the Chaplain to be present, in case there are emotional or spiritual issues the Soldier needs assistance with. As the Commander, it's my job to be the bearer of bad news. Yesterday a Sergeant's wife had a miscarriage so he is now headed home for two weeks to help her cope with the loss. The military does their best to get a Soldier home within 48-72 hours of the emergency, pretty amazing when you consider the isolation of this country. Yet, certain events do not qualify, such as the death of grandparents. In a way I wish I could put life on hold for the remainder of this year. Instead, I pray that God protects those we've left at home.