by Ryan Cornell-d’Echert
“Are you getting what you want from what you do?” One of my colleagues asked that to his students and protégés; it’s a powerful question that has stuck with me. Because military service is an enormous commitment, it is important to ask why we chose to serve in the first place and why we continue to serve. Those reasons might change over time, or might need to change as we mature and progress through our careers and personal lives.
I grew up as a military dependent. The Army has been a constant presence in my life, which informed my decision to join. I first joined the military for three reasons: it was a family business, it was a way to pay for college, and it was an opportunity for adventure. I was excited to become an Army officer but did not join with a clear ending in mind.
As a brand new officer, I reported to my first unit with a romanticized vision of being in the “real Army.” Luckily, I was given a platoon to lead once I arrived. I had a lot of energy and ambitious ideas I wanted to implement. Unfortunately, my ideas were quickly crushed by reality.
My first unit was understrength and exhausted after a 15-month deployment. Between appointments, taskings, unit reset requirements, and discipline problems, I had relatively few Soldiers available to lead and train any given day. I was especially surprised by the amount of Soldier misconduct across the formation–my ROTC instruction did not prepare me for the extent that Soldiers can get into trouble!
I did not enjoy the long hours and extended field time during the ramp-up toward my first deployment. However, one thing that kept me motivated was forming new relationships and working with people. My first deployment showed you can go to the worst places in the world, but can have a good experience if you go with the right people. Unfortunately, my good experiences were soon outweighed by bad ones.
Frustrations mounted as one deployment turned into three, and I was exposed to some toxic leaders along the way. Many of my peers were so resentful that they left the Army, perhaps earlier than planned. After enduring multiple unpleasant leaders, back-to-back deployments, and a challenging experience in company command, I also considered separating from the military.
When making my decision, I considered practical factors–What would I do for income? What civilian job would I pursue?–and personal factors–What will happen to my sense of purpose? Where will I find a sense of belonging? I became enamored with separation after hearing success stories from all my friends who got out. I also grew increasingly dissatisfied with the same repetitive cycle of train-up, field time, and deployment.
I desperately needed a break after seven hard years in deployable units. That break came in the form of my first broadening assignment as a senior captain, where I served as a small group leader at the captain’s career course. The change of pace was extraordinary. I was thrilled to realize the Army has so much more to offer than just going to the field or deploying all the time. Teaching came naturally to me, and I found it immensely rewarding. The day my first class graduated, one of my students said, “You’ve found your calling.” That cemented my decision to stay. Later, I was recognized as Instructor of the Year, so I suppose I did something right.
Of course, I could not stay in school forever, and eventually returned to the operational Army. But I missed teaching and found myself talking about it constantly. One day, I realized I didn’t have to be in a classroom to teach. Opportunities are everywhere. Regardless of your unit structure or its mission and priorities, you can teach something and learn something every day.
I decided my “why” is to use my power for good. If you chafe under a counterproductive leader, take it as a lesson in what not to do. Then, create the change you want to see. Be the great boss you wished you’d had as a young, disgruntled service member. No matter what unit I’m assigned to or what project I’m working on, I’m getting what I want if I’m helping others lead and live better.
Your journey will make sense in hindsight. Our assignments do not always flow in a logical manner and can sometimes seem disjointed, but your experience in each of them will do something to prepare you for the next. Each assignment will give you a better understanding of what you want and what you’re getting.
I am grateful I decided to stay in the Army and continue making a difference. I’ve made great friends along the way. I’ve visited several countries I never would have otherwise, and I’ve never run out of stories to tell. Perhaps most importantly, the military helped me discover my passion for teaching.
Whatever your reasons for joining the military, be proud of the work you’ve done to get here. If you’re thinking about doing something else, don’t base your decision on one bad boss or one bad unit. It can be frustrating to move every few years, but the military rejuvenates us through change. The most rewarding assignment of your life might be right around the corner.
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Cornell-d’Echert is the Chief of Support Operations for the U.S. Military Observer Group (USMOG) in Washington, DC. His articles have been published in From the Green Notebook, Angry Staff Officer, The Field Grade Leader, and The Company Leader. He is excited and grateful to take command of the 71st Transportation Battalion in summer 2025.
