Stefano Ritondale

And what was funny is I wasn't branch detail. So branch detail is like you have an MOS when you're a lieutenant, but then when you're a captain, your captain career course is a separate branch. It's like MI. And a lot of times, because the MI world, how it works is you have little lieutenants, not many lieutenants, and then captain, it grows the amount of captains in the MI.

And what was funny is I wasn't branch detail. So branch detail is like you have an MOS when you're a lieutenant, but then when you're a captain, your captain career course is a separate branch. It's like MI. And a lot of times, because the MI world, how it works is you have little lieutenants, not many lieutenants, and then captain, it grows the amount of captains in the MI.

And what was funny is I wasn't branch detail. So branch detail is like you have an MOS when you're a lieutenant, but then when you're a captain, your captain career course is a separate branch. It's like MI. And a lot of times, because the MI world, how it works is you have little lieutenants, not many lieutenants, and then captain, it grows the amount of captains in the MI.

So a lot of them are branch detail, similar to signal. So they sent me to the MP battalion and I was talking to my XO there who was there and I was kind of like interviewing for him. And I, you know, he said, okay, so your branch detail, your armor branch detail. I was like, no, sir, I'm not branch. I'm like pure armor. I'm a 19 alpha. And for him, he was like, I'm an MP.

So a lot of them are branch detail, similar to signal. So they sent me to the MP battalion and I was talking to my XO there who was there and I was kind of like interviewing for him. And I, you know, he said, okay, so your branch detail, your armor branch detail. I was like, no, sir, I'm not branch. I'm like pure armor. I'm a 19 alpha. And for him, he was like, I'm an MP.

So a lot of them are branch detail, similar to signal. So they sent me to the MP battalion and I was talking to my XO there who was there and I was kind of like interviewing for him. And I, you know, he said, okay, so your branch detail, your armor branch detail. I was like, no, sir, I'm not branch. I'm like pure armor. I'm a 19 alpha. And for him, he was like, I'm an MP.

I want to incorporate myself in combat, like with the combat arms. you're telling me that in my MTO and my list of people I'm gonna have in my bill is that I'm never authorized in 19 alpha. I'm like, so technically you would. And he's like, I'm keeping you. I want an armor officer in my staff. I think it's cool. It's great. And I did that for two years.

I want to incorporate myself in combat, like with the combat arms. you're telling me that in my MTO and my list of people I'm gonna have in my bill is that I'm never authorized in 19 alpha. I'm like, so technically you would. And he's like, I'm keeping you. I want an armor officer in my staff. I think it's cool. It's great. And I did that for two years.

I want to incorporate myself in combat, like with the combat arms. you're telling me that in my MTO and my list of people I'm gonna have in my bill is that I'm never authorized in 19 alpha. I'm like, so technically you would. And he's like, I'm keeping you. I want an armor officer in my staff. I think it's cool. It's great. And I did that for two years.

And in the position where I was doing that for two years, I did kind of a lot of overseas training missions, like, you know, one month here, one month here. And so one of the ones- J-sets, if you will, yeah. Yeah. And so what I did was went to Mexico under our North, Army North. It was a training mission about, I think it was four weeks. One of the best Army experience I've ever had.

And in the position where I was doing that for two years, I did kind of a lot of overseas training missions, like, you know, one month here, one month here. And so one of the ones- J-sets, if you will, yeah. Yeah. And so what I did was went to Mexico under our North, Army North. It was a training mission about, I think it was four weeks. One of the best Army experience I've ever had.

And in the position where I was doing that for two years, I did kind of a lot of overseas training missions, like, you know, one month here, one month here. And so one of the ones- J-sets, if you will, yeah. Yeah. And so what I did was went to Mexico under our North, Army North. It was a training mission about, I think it was four weeks. One of the best Army experience I've ever had.

I mean, you want to talk about- I think a lot of people who went to the Middle East, one of the things you kind of hear is kind of the lack of professionalism in the military. And you're kind of like pulling your hair and you're like, they just don't get it. You're talking about dealing with the local nationals or the local forces, yeah. Correct. Not with the Mexicans.

I mean, you want to talk about- I think a lot of people who went to the Middle East, one of the things you kind of hear is kind of the lack of professionalism in the military. And you're kind of like pulling your hair and you're like, they just don't get it. You're talking about dealing with the local nationals or the local forces, yeah. Correct. Not with the Mexicans.

I mean, you want to talk about- I think a lot of people who went to the Middle East, one of the things you kind of hear is kind of the lack of professionalism in the military. And you're kind of like pulling your hair and you're like, they just don't get it. You're talking about dealing with the local nationals or the local forces, yeah. Correct. Not with the Mexicans.

I mean, these guys were amazing. And even so, when I went, what we realized was, which was a brush of fresh air, because I did other missions with other countries where you realize they send always their officers to train with the Americans in like a classroom environment, you know, because they want that certificate. U.S. military gives them kind of that prestige.

I mean, these guys were amazing. And even so, when I went, what we realized was, which was a brush of fresh air, because I did other missions with other countries where you realize they send always their officers to train with the Americans in like a classroom environment, you know, because they want that certificate. U.S. military gives them kind of that prestige.

I mean, these guys were amazing. And even so, when I went, what we realized was, which was a brush of fresh air, because I did other missions with other countries where you realize they send always their officers to train with the Americans in like a classroom environment, you know, because they want that certificate. U.S. military gives them kind of that prestige.

The Mexicans, when we did it, they had one officer and I think it was like 30 NCOs. They sent you the E-5 Mafia. E-5, E-6, and so we were two officers and two NCOs for the Army side. They had one captain, like 30 NCOs, and I think like four soldiers being ready to get promoted. we had to completely change everything because we're like, wow, these guys get it.

The Mexicans, when we did it, they had one officer and I think it was like 30 NCOs. They sent you the E-5 Mafia. E-5, E-6, and so we were two officers and two NCOs for the Army side. They had one captain, like 30 NCOs, and I think like four soldiers being ready to get promoted. we had to completely change everything because we're like, wow, these guys get it.