Special Guest: CW4 (Ret.) Dave Morphis (Ep. 77)

Rising Tide Leadership Podcast

Summary

In this episode of the Rising Tide Leadership Podcast, host Mo interviews his friend Dave, a retired Chief Warrant Officer from the United States Army. They reminisce about their time in the Army and discuss the role of a Chief Warrant Officer. Dave shares his journey from enlisting in the Army Reserves to becoming a Warrant Officer specializing in food service. He explains the unique position of Warrant Officers as specialists in their chosen fields, advising commanders and keeping them out of trouble. Dave also shares a funny story about a deployment where soldiers were fed nothing but chili dogs for several meals.

Overall, the conversation provides insights into the life and responsibilities of a Chief Warrant Officer in the Army. David Morphis shares his experiences working as a logistics officer in Northern Iraq and the challenges of being away from his family during his wife's labor. He emphasizes the importance of finding value in everyone and learning from their experiences. He also discusses the influence of his father and wife in shaping him as a person of influence.

David recommends the books '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' by Jordan Peterson and 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens. He encourages listeners to strive to be better and uplift those around them.

Takeaways

• A Chief Warrant Officer in the Army is to be a specialist in a chosen field and advise commanders.
• Warrant Officers manage specific areas, such as food service, and ensure the commander's decisions align with regulations and best practices.
• Army deployments can last for extended periods, with soldiers spending months in a foreign country before returning to the United States.
• The Army Reserves have a different mobilization process than the active duty Army, with reservists going to a mobilization site before deployment.
• Deployments can involve challenging and dangerous situations, but soldiers find ways to cope and maintain communication with their families.
• Humor and camaraderie play a significant role in soldiers' experiences, even in difficult situations like being fed only chili dogs for multiple meals. Find value in everyone and learn from their experiences.
• The influence of family members, such as fathers and spouses, can shape a person's character.
• Read books like '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' and 'David Copperfield' to gain wisdom and inspiration.
• Strive to be better and uplift those around you.

Sound Bites

• "An entire training organization of 2,000-3,000 soldiers was fed only chili dogs for about four meals."
• "It was the best deployment I ever had, mainly because of those four months working with the special forces."
• "We all have those staples of influence and shifting influences."
• "You can overcome just about all obstacles. You just have to stick with something."
• "There's a lot of wisdom in organizing yourself before you try to organize others."

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Books Mentioned in the Show

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, by Jordan Peterson

David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens

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