Tim Gerend’s Post

Superpowers do not happen by luck alone. A Superpower becomes a Superpower because when opportunity presents itself, the right people, with the right mindset for their national interest are in the right place at the right time. When opportunity presented itself to the US after the global carnage of WWII the astute minds of the people in power grabbed it with both hands and then some more. Having declared Independence on the 4th July some 174 years previously, they drove their nation to become one of the most, if not the most, widely recognized superpowers, with unparalleled economic, military, and cultural influence across the globe. They drove economic strength, military power, political influence, geopolitical positioning, and a cultural influence that reached every corner of the world, creating foundations for the America of today - some seven decades on. Today marks 248 years of American Independence. #superpower #unitedstates #america #4thjuly #independence

What is a powerful way to preserve your family’s cultural heritage? 🎗️ The fabric of our nation is interwoven with the valor of those who've served. Military service carries with it a rich culture, an enduring spirit, and diverse narratives including a multitude of racial and ethnic backgrounds. As reflected in a 2022 Department of Defense demographic profile,  military demographic data tells us that 18.4 percent of our active-duty members self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 31.2 percent as part of a racial minority group and the rest as Caucasian. Cultural heritage is not just relics and artifacts; it encompasses the living memories and anecdotes of those who have donned the uniform. In recognition of their contributions and to enrich our collective history, we must take steps to preserve these diverse stories. Encourage dialogues, record interviews, and compile memories to celebrate and honor the multidimensional experiences of our veterans, especially those in your family. 🌟 Assist in the noble task of preserving your history. Start by documenting your family's military stories and contribute to a legacy that will inspire future leaders and citizens. #FamilyLegacy #VeteranStories #PreserveHistory

This post falls into the category of the "circle of life". Two of my Georgetown students' final papers ( China and Its Military) cited articles in publications written by two of my earliest Georgetown students, based on their final papers for this class! I am continually amazed at how many things in life and in our profession are interconnected!

Learn more about Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation at this link and see what a difference you can help us make for the children of our fallen military. Check out our post below with two current examples!

On this day in 1775, the American Revolution began with the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts between British and Colonial soldiers. Founding Forward’s mission is to inform the future leaders of our country of the history of the principles and events that led to our founding. Learn more about our #civic #education mission here: www.foundingforward.org. #history #FoundingForward

When you understand your WHY, your life gets easier.    I’m constantly asking myself: what is my mission, professionally and personally?   In the United States Marine Corps, my mission was simple and straightforward: put myself and my team in the best position and training so that they are set up for success when they go overseas. For many veterans, leaving the military means losing their purpose, and finding a cardinal direction for where to go is hard.    I was grateful to join the team at Echelon Front, where our mission is drilled into us at every turn – share the leadership lessons of Extreme Ownership to make an impact.    My kids are my WHY, too. As a father, I want to make sure my kids are set up and prepared for anything life throws their way. All the hard work I put in at work and in my fitness is to ensure I can always be there when they need me.    When you have a strong mission, it doesn’t matter what life throws at you. You find a way to work through challenges because you know why it matters. #leadershipmindset #missionoriented #fatherhood #marines #leaders

August 30th, learn more about Nimitz, Halsey & Spruce with Mark Squeglia

Memorial Day is fast approaching but what IS Memorial Day exactly? Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2024 will occur on Monday, May 27. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. That is the "official" definition. To me Memorial Day is my great grandfather, my grandfather, my aunts and Uncles, my cousins, my neighbors across the street, my college buddies, my coworkers, and my friends. They all served. They all did something I wasn't prepared to do. They all had various reasons for doing so and those reason aren't important. They literally signed up to put themselves in harm's way with the clear understanding that they may have to lay down their lives in some far-off country. Why? Because at their very core they believed in what it is to be American. They knew that freedom, by any definition, is not a given and it certainly isn't free. So this weekend while you grill out or attend a concert or whatever, please if only for a moment remember what Memorial Day is really all about. Our Freedoms depend on it. #thankyou #memorialday #memorialdayweekend #usa #love #america #memorial #mdw #like #memories #military #veterans #summer #family #redwhiteandblue #remember #freedom #happymemorialday #neverforget #honor #army #friends #sale #marines #navy #airforce #america #remember

At first glance, this might seem like a sobering post to start the new year, but the story is ultimately about how we reduce polarization this election cycle. 1/Over the holidays I started reading Andrew Meier's excellent book, Morgenthau,(https://lnkd.in/etnuakZ8). In its pages, I learned about the USS Turner, which 80 years (during World War II) sank off the coast of New York City due to an explosion that ripped through the ship. The #navy never determined the precise cause, but 136 members of the 300 person crew went down with the ship. 2/Reading this reminded me about New York City’s East Coast Memorial, which honors all those who gave their lives for the country in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean during World War 2. 3/The memorial is a solemn place, where 4 granite pillars list out the names of over 4,600 individuals lost at sea; and there is a West Coast memorial in #sanfrancisco that serves this purpose for the Pacific Ocean. 4/These memorials are reminders of a time when the entire nation mobilized and sacrificed for common purpose. 5/This year we will see again and again maps of the country that reduce places to red or blue. Polarization drives us all too often to flatten people and places into one of two partisan camps. The memorials and the story of the USS Turner are reminders, however, that all our people and places, all our histories and stories, are far more complex that can be captured by red or blue; and that ultimately, when the stakes are greatest, we are bound together by so much more than pulls us apart. #Navy #Army #NYC #polarization #military #elections #memorials