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Description
It was a rather cold, wet day. I was working on getting my Schutzenschner badge. Kellog, Brown and Root had the food contract for the Army base I was at. Naturally, they are much more concerned with making profits rather than serving good food. My meal was a freezing cold box that contained a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple past its prime, two cookies hard as rocks, a tiny bag of generic chips and a can of generic fruit juice that tasted more like aluminum moreso than whatever fruit.

A Sergeant Major of the German Army (Bundeswehr) saw my meal, and in disbelief asked me if that was actually my meal. (Ist diese Nahrung?) I nodded and replied "Yea." (Leider) He blinked a few times and jerked his head as a 'suggestion' for me to follow him. He brought me to the German area, and opened a few containers, after handing me a plate. He ordered me to eat up and not to be shy about seconds. It was simple stuff. A soup with some veggies mostly being thick broth, potatoes, peas. Huge wursts, akin to sausages. And lots of fresh bread. More importantly, the food was warm and I was freezing.

I wasn't one of his soldiers. I wasn't even in his military, more than once his Army had faught against mine. He was concerned about all the soldiers, and took measures to look after all of them. It was the mark of a good leader.

I indeed ate up the warm food and had seconds, mainly to show how much I enjoyed the first. I did qualify, and I keep my Schutzenschner award on my wall along with a letter from a German officer. It's a constant reminder to me of what leadership is about.

Description
It was a rather cold, wet day. I was working on getting my Schutzenschner badge. Kellog, Brown and Root had the food contract for the Army base I was at. Naturally, they are much more concerned with making profits rather than serving good food. My meal was a freezing cold box that contained a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple past its prime, two cookies hard as rocks, a tiny bag of generic chips and a can of generic fruit juice that tasted more like aluminum moreso than whatever fruit.

A Sergeant Major of the German Army (Bundeswehr) saw my meal, and in disbelief asked me if that was actually my meal. (Ist diese Nahrung?) I nodded and replied "Yea." (Leider) He blinked a few times and jerked his head as a 'suggestion' for me to follow him. He brought me to the German area, and opened a few containers, after handing me a plate. He ordered me to eat up and not to be shy about seconds. It was simple stuff. A soup with some veggies mostly being thick broth, potatoes, peas. Huge wursts, akin to sausages. And lots of fresh bread. More importantly, the food was warm and I was freezing.

I wasn't one of his soldiers. I wasn't even in his military, more than once his Army had faught against mine. He was concerned about all the soldiers, and took measures to look after all of them. It was the mark of a good leader.

I indeed ate up the warm food and had seconds, mainly to show how much I enjoyed the first. I did qualify, and I keep my Schutzenschner award on my wall along with a letter from a German officer. It's a constant reminder to me of what leadership is about.