From the Green Notebook

Lead with the best version of yourself.

Scribbles

We all know that people do more than take meeting notes in their green notebooks. They also use their notebooks as outlets for their creativity. And we want to provide a space for you to share yours. We are launching a new page within the site specifically designed to feature creative content from short stories, to poetry, to artwork, to music. Explore your creative side and unlock new ways to think about the profession by expressing yourself through alternative means and mediums. If you can get it in a digital format, we can publish it on our site; please contact or submit your work to our Editor-in-Chief, Dan Vigeant at dan@fromthegreennotebook.com.

General George S. Patton

General George S. Patton

Phony: A Short Story

Phony: A Short Story

Editorial note – This blog post is part of our Scribbles series. If interested in submitting creative content, view our guidelines here or contact Cassie Crosby at cassie@fromthegreennotebook.com.

By Daniel Sukman

“James”

“Please come in, James. I am surprised to see you this afternoon. It’s unusual for officers to use my open-door policy. In fact, it’s unusual for anyone to use it.”

“Thank you, sir.” I replied. However, it didn’t surprise me that nobody had ever approached Colonel Stark to have a conversation. For the past six months, after he had assumed command of the brigade, Colonel Stark instilled fear among his subordinates. It wasn’t his physical presence. In fact, Colonel Stark was a bit on the diminutive side, standing only about 5 foot 6 inches and weighing perhaps 140 pounds soaking wet. What kept people away from Colonel Stark was how he treated his fellow human beings.

“So, what is it that you want?” Colonel Stark said, as he sat behind his desk, his eyes still looking at his computer.”

Alesta: Prologue

Alesta: Prologue

By Michael Burke

“Where the hell is he, and why did I listen to him?,” she murmured under her breath.

  She shouldn’t have let him stay behind. But she always listened to him, she couldn’t help herself.  He was always right in these situations, and always knew what to do. It  didn’t matter though. She was pissed. She knew he was alive, she could still feel him. She never could explain it, she just knew. And right now, in this moment, she knew he was running. 

“Come on babe, hurry up.” 

Through her headset, she could sense the pilot’s urgency, repeatedly telling her they could not wait. “He will be here, I know it. He’s coming, just a few more minutes,” she frantically declared over their obvious frustration and disbelief. 

Then she heard, “Just another minute, my love.”

Conquer This

Conquer This

Editorial note – This blog post is part of our Scribbles series. If interested in submitting creative content, view our guidelines here or contact Cassie Crosby at cassie@fromthegreennotebook.com.

By Phil Mitten

“A soldier will fight long and hard for a piece of coloured ribbon.” – Napoleon

My sodden combat assault boots pound the tarmac one by one like the sound of a war drum as I double through a seemingly airless, hazy country lane in the five-miles between me and the finish line back at the Commando Training Centre. I grimace with each step as the buildup of lactic acid in my muscles burns as I move forward. My soul yearns for me to break into a walk and allow my heart and lungs to catch up. I despair at the impossibly thin air as I draw it in, hopelessly trying to satisfy my body’s crushing demand for oxygen.

Prepare for War

Editorial note – This blog post is part of our Scribbles series. If interested in submitting creative content, view our guidelines here or contact Cassie Crosby at cassie@fromthegreennotebook.com.

Image by Pat Dowden, pdsketches@yahoo.com

By Ryan Crosby

As a new 2nd Lieutenant, you’ve got a lot of questions. You come out of school and your Basic Course and you’re green as hell. Then you’re at this huge infantry Division with a storied history, and everyone just got back from The Invasion, and you’re eating chow next to combat arms gods. There’s a PFC with a CIB, and at the Class A inspection, the 2nd Squad leader has a Silver Star. They saw the real thing, and you’re trying to figure out how to put your new rucksack together. You know you’re all Going Back at the end of this year. It seems like you cannot prepare enough. You have no idea where to begin, really. 

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