The alert roster is a document which outlines a hierarchy of people, from the rank and file to the very top leader, including their contact information – the chain of command. It existed as part of a greater alert system to inform or alert every member of a military unit about critical information or generate an activity such as an immediate assembly for an important mission. It was created in the spirit of unit and individual military readiness or ‘fight tonight,’ anywhere in the world. Military units took great pride and went to great lengths to maintain a top-level of readiness, the alert roster being a critical element. Every unit I served with had an alert roster and practiced using it, early mornings and late evenings, more times than I can remember.
Today in a veteran organization I run, this alert roster is much less rigid, void of any rank or hierarchy – more of an ecosystem of interconnected and interacting veterans and non-veterans. Businesses, organized groups, and even individuals have some form of a network they can call on in a crisis. I submit there are people, both veteran and non-veteran who would answer the call for a person or family in need.
In my phone call with Michael, gathering situational awareness, I began to visualize this alert roster. Dan a friend and director of veteran affairs at the local university had connections into a local military affairs organization with people and a budget for this kind of assistance. Jack, a local HVAC business owner could help with the HVAC system. Others would indeed spring into action once we started communicating and learning more. And that is exactly what we did.
As I write, I don’t know the fate of Gary, but my full trust and confidence in the veteran network put my mind at ease some 2,400 miles from where he was. My brother and sister veterans and the wonderful people who love and support us in my Eastern Tennessee community answered the call that day and after that to ensure this man who served his country gets the care he deserves. I’m proud of how responsive everyone was. I’m comforted to know, because of who we are and because we are interconnected and interacting in my Eastern Tennessee community, I and my family are in good hands, and so many others are as well should crisis befall them. It was a holiday weekend, and I was some 2,400 miles away but none of that mattered. I and we found a way to come to the aid of a brother. In this encore life of ours, the alert roster may not be formal, printed, and distributed to all members as it was when we served, but it is alive and well just the same.
Make it Personal!
Rob
For more blogs by Rob Campbell: Blog — Rob Campbell Leadership
