Lesson #3 “Live your life like you are going to die tomorrow”

By: Kevin R. Flike

My teammate placed this hat on a stick to draw out Taliban fire.  Immediately after he exposed the hat, a member of the Taliban shot right through it.

I kept this picture of my wife and I in my grenade pouch.  When I pulled it out on the ridge line, I thought it was the last time I would see her.

Kevin R. Flike is currently a graduate student pursuing dual masters degrees from the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPA) with an expected graduation date of spring 2016. Prior to grad school Kevin served as a Special Forces Engineer assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group and deployed to the Philippines, Thailand and twice to Afghanistan. On September 25, 2011 during his second deployment to Afghanistan, he was shot in the lower abdomen and was medically retired due to his injuries.

(Proud mother Jennifer Sargent and her son Staff Sergeant Michael Sargent)

19th Special Forces Group Green Beret Awarded the Silver Star

By: Kevin R. Flike

Staff Sergeant Michael Sargent (cue the Sergeant Sargent jokes) was awarded the Silver Star last week for heroic actions in Afghanistan last year.  In addition to being an American badass, Mike is also one of my dearest friends.  Mike and I were fraternity brothers at Union College in Schenectady, NY, with me being two years ahead of him (I am like the older brother that Mike never wanted).  After graduation in 2008, Mike enlisted in the Army and two years later earned the Green Beret.  Mike and I were re-united when he was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group.  After I was wounded, Mike was always there for me.  No matter what was going on, if I needed something, he dropped everything to help me out.  I would not be where I am today if it was not for him.

After deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines and multiple SE Asian countries, Mike left active duty and joined the 19th Special Forces (National Guard) while pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Virginia – Darden School of Business.  After Mike’s first year of school, he un-selfishly put his education on hold to deploy with his company to Afghanistan in the summer of 2015.   The following text is the narrative to Mike’s Silver Star citation from that deployment.  

The Epitome of a Leader: Colonel (R) Richard Thomas

By: Kevin R. Flike

Former 1st Special Forces Group Commander Colonel (R) Richard Thomas is running for office in the state of Washington.  If I was still a WA resident, he would have my vote and this is why…

In the spring of 2012 I was a shell of the man I used to be. After six surgeries and thousands of hours of physical therapy I was not progressing as fast as I thought I would. I became bitter and cynical as I slowly realized that I was a different man. I had defined myself by my physical prowess, and now I could barely put my own clothes on. I knew my injuries would prevent me from continuing my service in the 1st Special Forces Group, so I started thinking of what I should do when my medical retirement was finally processed. I wanted to do something big, something that told people I was better than ever.   Mostly, I wanted people to stop feeling sorry for me. I decided I would apply to graduate schools like Harvard and MIT. A lot of people laughed at me when I told them this, however, everyone who knew me understood that I was serious – I just needed a little help.

One of my mentors, Master Sergeant Tom Williams put me in contact with Colonel (R) Richard Thomas after I told him my plans.

Praise for On Assimilation (A book by Leo Jenkins)

Purchase On Assimilation

By: Kevin R. Flike

After reading a few pages of Leo Jenkin’s On Assimilation I realized that we have a lot in common. We were both in the US Army Special Operations, spent time in lovely Kunduz, AFG, share an undying love for Jameson Irish Whiskey and both still had (still having) a difficult time transitioning from the military to the civilian world. I voraciously read my copy in two days while I highlighted shared experiences and filled the margins with copious amounts of notes. In a very direct and blunt manner, Leo illuminated thoughts and emotions I have been dealing with since I separated from the military almost three years ago.

The struggle to transition is real and the consequences of a failed transition are grave. In a society where fewer and fewer citizens serve in the military, veterans increasingly feel disconnected from the society for which they fought and bled. Twenty-two veterans a day are taking their own lives and thousands of veterans will roam the streets tonight instead of returning to the confines of a warm house. If the military civilian divide is to be bridged, our society needs to gain a greater knowledge of the sacrifice veterans make while they are deployed and the struggles they face during the transition back to civilian life.

Leo’s story is the same as so many other veterans;