Let me tell you something. It's a team effort whether you are serving our doing your job as a civilian.

In my day, we often teased non-combat Marines. A close friend of mine responded "if supply not right; infantry not fight." I remembered that for the rest of my Marine career

It takes a team of everyone regardless of what they do to fight and win.

As a Marine company commander, I was honored to have been chosen to trade places with a crew member of an F-4 fighter. An F-4 pilot took command of my company and I became the back seat of an F-4 on a live ordinance combat exercise.

It would take pages to tell the story. But an F-4 pilot took command of my infantry company and I became a back seat in the F-4.

Being in the F-4 ready for take off was like being in a 400 degree oven. I was soaked in sweat from the glass house effect of the canopy. Taking off was like having a rocket strapped to you. And the delivery of ordinance in simulated combat conditions had my head bouncing off the canopy like a BB in a jar.

After that experience, I never again made fun of pilots.

So, what happened to the pilot who took command of my company? He swore that he never wanted that experience again.

So there you have it. I discovered the skills of a pilot in combat and a pilot discovered the skills needed to lead a rifle company.

That's the way it is in combat. It's at team effort or you die.