The walk back to the office seemed much shorter than it did going to the deli. Somehow, even the weather seemed nicer. She was already planning how she would handle the first staff meeting. She wasn’t going to be meek and shy. She needed to solidify her leadership position immediately.
“At ease and have a seat,” the Commanding Officer said to Miller after they shook hands.
“Thank you,” he said, taking his cover off and sitting down.
“I have some good news for you,” he said.
“Good news? What kind of good news?”
“First, you have been promoted to Captain effective immediately. Congratulation Captain Miller,” he said, sliding a box across his desk.
It contained a set of captain’s bars.
“I know you won’t get to wear them for some time but I wanted to present them to you,”
“Thank you. I’m a little caught off guard by this,” Miller said, looking at the bars.
“It’s well deserved. You are the one who figured out where the leak was and implemented a perfect plan to expose the culprit. The operation was brilliant, not only did we get our man; no one on the Strike–1 team came away with so much as a scratch. You were the first in and last out. Excellent work,” the commander said.
“Thank you.”
“Now for the second item. I am naming you Number Two of the team. That will be effective today as well. I have called a meeting at 1700 to make the announcement to the entire Strike–1 team,” he said, playing with the pen he was holding.
“Commander, I…”
“Yes, I know,” he interrupted, “You didn’t expect that either. Frankly, you are one of the finest members we have ever had. That is not an easy thing to say because we have had some outstanding team members on Strike-1. You have excellent leadership skills and the ability to see the big picture. I have had many good leaders under my command here, but few who could see more than the immediate objective. You are one of the few,” he told him.
“Thank you. I can’t think of a higher honor. I certainly appreciate this opportunity.”
“Do you know what your first challenge will be?”
“I believe I do. Being able to let Edwards, sorry, the current Number Two, save face and not become discouraged. Making sure he remains an effective part of the force,” the new Number Two replied.
“Exactly. He is already stinging from the previous botched rescue. It wasn’t his fault, but like any good leader, he is shouldering the blame. I intend to call him in after our meeting and tell him of my decision. Edwards is a good man and a good soldier. I think he will welcome the change. He has taken the loss of the men very hard and I don’t think he would be as effective if the time comes when he would possibly have to sacrifice other members for the accomplishment of the objective,” the commanding officer said.
“And if he decides to leave the team?”
“That is a decision only he can make. Neither you nor I can do much about that. It is a personal decision and we should not try to change his mind. Once a person makes a decision like that, trying to talk them out of it never works out. I hope he stays because he is a good man, but we will persevere if he decides to leave.”
“I agree. I, also, will talk to him before the full meeting,” Number Two said.
“That would be the right thing to do. I knew you would,” he said, laying down the pen.
“Commander, I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind?”
“Go ahead.”
“Our current Number Eight is a NCO. I would like to see that he is given a commission. He takes the same risks and performs the same duties. It doesn’t seem right that he is noncommissioned.”
“That can be arranged. I will put in the necessary paperwork and you can be the one to tell him when the promotion comes through.”
“Thank you.”
“What else?”
“Number Sixteen, Sanders, is a slacker sir. I mean, he is better than ninety percent of the soldiers in the regular military, but he is not pulling his weight as a Strike–1 member. I can’t afford to have someone who lags behind, doesn’t cover the other member’s backs and generally does not contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team,” Miller said.
He didn’t want to trash the reputation of the man but he had to consider the entire team now.
“Yes. You are not the first to say this. He’s outstanding when we are here doing exercises but it has been reported that in the field, under actual combat conditions, he is lacking,” the commander said, picking up the pen again and twirling it in his fingers, “What would you like done about it?”
“For the good of the team, I would like to have him sent back to his previous unit.”
“You don’t think talking to him and telling him he is on the bubble will help?” the commander asked.
“Not in the long run. He might pick it up for a time but I would not want to risk an operation or a team on his support. He is a great guy but I don’t want to risk my life or the lives of the men on him just being a nice guy. I need to know for sure that he will be there when we need him,” Miller said.
