Personal Narrative 2: Intellectual Skills

Intellectual skills. In the Foreign Service, you will confront challenging situations that require identifying the problem, collecting relevant information, and formulating innovative solutions to resolve the problem. Describe a time when you responded innovatively to unanticipated circumstances to solve a problem. Include the following elements in your response: the situation, the steps you took to think through this situation, and how your actions addressed the situation. What were the results?

When I became a company commander for the Army in 2014, few professional development materials were available, and some offered "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era advice that would have caused legal problems.

Therefore, I drew on my experience as a newspaper editor to write an updated version that would be relevant to the contemporary needs of the service.

I contacted the publisher of the 1996 book to gauge their interest in a new book, and they agreed to work with me on a manuscript. While I was still in command, I began work on the outline and the first chapters.

I drew on my personal experiences in the position to explain the mechanics of being a commander – what disciplinary tools were available, how to manage unit funds, and how to plan unit training. I organized the chapters based on the various areas of responsibility, and submitted the text to the publisher in an iterative manner – one at a time, and revising each completed chapter based on feedback.

In January 2017, the book became available online and through the Army's official retail store. To date, the publisher has sold over 900 copies, and company grade officers are using it to become more professional in the execution of their jobs.