A Message To Garcia Essay
This article applies to me being an Army officer by explaining the importance of making a decision and planning an action without information about the subject. When given a task, an Army Officer is expected to complete the mission or task without guidance or any type of instructions. There will be times as an Officer that I will be given a mission and be expected to execute. The beginning of the article makes special emphasis on Rowans ability to begin the “mission” without knowledge of who Garcia is. Rowan never asked, “Where can I find Garcia, where do I begin my searching efforts, what if he is dead, or anything for that matter. Rowan proceeded to execute the mission without hesitation and formulated a plan of action to find Garcia. The article mentions that Rowan took the letter, sealed it up in an oil-skinned pouch, strapped it over his heart, and in four days landed by night off the coast at Cuba. Rowan was able to deliver his letter to Garcia within three weeks of initial instruction.
When asked to give a message to Garcia, he never questioned his orders. He never gave any grief or asked why he was given the assignment. Rowan simply stored the message safely and securely made his way to Cuba via boat from Jamaica and marched on.
The article does not go into specific detail as to how Rowan was able to accomplish the mission, but just enough information was provided to get the author's message across: To act promptly, concentrate your energy towards the mission, and to complete the mission by any means necessary.
Being an Army Officer requires me to be able to act on impulse when a mission is given.
Rowan was charged with delivering an important message to a Cuban general, and did not abandon his mission in the face of many obstacles. The author mentions that foolish inattention, dowdy indifferences, & half-hearted work seems to rule today’s society. He also mentions that people do not succeed unless they force or...