L&L Construction Group’s Post

If you missed this event live, you can watch the conversation unfold here: https://lnkd.in/gPyXRJwv Don't miss this insightful chat on resilience and the caregiving experience. #webinar

Embrace the Suck” by Brent Gleeson — a must-read for anyone who’s faced adversity, fought through the grind, or struggled to find purpose in challenge. Gleeson, a former Navy SEAL, delivers lessons that resonate deeply with veterans, first responders, and anyone in high-pressure roles. From combat to the front lines of life, he reminds us that growth comes when we lean into discomfort rather than avoid it. For my fellow Marines, law enforcement officers, and anyone who thrives under pressure: this book speaks to our mindset — the one that keeps us pushing forward when the rest of the world slows down. Gleeson doesn’t sugarcoat the path to success, and that’s what makes it powerful. Life will test you. Work, relationships, fitness, or personal growth — you’ll get knocked down. This book gives you a blueprint to stand back up, build resilience, and keep moving. Highly recommend this one if you’re ready to embrace the hard things and come out stronger on the other side. #EmbraceTheSuck #Leadership #Resilience #VeteranMindset #KeepPushing

To understand the rank of Fleet Admiral, one needs to consider the context of World War II. The United States was working alongside Allies who had higher ranks like Field Marshals and Fleet Admirals, which were superior to American ranks. To ensure American senior officers were not outranked, the United States established the ranks of Fleet Admiral and General of the Army, both five-star ranks. In total, nine men held these ranks. For the Navy, they were Nimitz, Halsey, King, and Leahy. In the Army, the five-star generals were Arnold, Eisenhower, Marshall, MacArthur, and Bradley.

The final book of The Stoker Trilogy, Acceptance, is now available everywhere. It tells the story of WW2 as experienced in Europe by British commandos, in the desert by the 8th Army, in the oceans by the Royal Navy, and at home by ordinary people living behind blackout curtains. A big book and a good read.

From the indomitable spirit of Brother Winston Churchill to the strategic genius of Brother Douglas MacArthur, 32°, many of our Brethren have lived our Masonic values through successful military careers. Learn more about the incredible valor and dedication of some of these men on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eZQRKGYE

Regarding the Admiral's (a fellow Ole Miss alum) post below i offer some food for thought .... https://lnkd.in/ec99FZ5k 1) As I have seen in the last fifty years American citizens confidence in their military continues to decline meanwhile retired Flag Officers have become more politicized -- perhaps a direct correlation? When i joined the Navy in 1970 many senior officers did not vote in presidential elections so that they would not demonstrate allegiance to one candidate or the other. My how times have changed .... 2) As the article referenced points out "When retired officers speak out it increases the public’s demand for politicization, and the military’s willingness to supply it. 3) Retired officer commentary also shapes demand for military politicization because of its effects on politicians’ incentives to seek out allies within the military. As they observe retired generals endorsing or critiquing an opponent or her policies, politicians may solicit their own retirees to provide testimonials of their leadership or the merits of their policy positions. 4) Politicians also face fewer inhibitions in violating the military’s nonpartisan status if they witness norm violations by their opponents. This is apparent with the competing lists of retired officer endorsees compiled by presidential campaigns. 5) Retired officers’ dissent, however, raises questions about the norm’s resilience and therefore whether the active-duty officers with whom a president interacts are indeed fully committed to it. The president might fear that a military leader will not just bias his advice, but perhaps actively work to promote a partisan agenda, by for example leaking vital information to the public, or courting allies to oppose the president in Congress. They may simply marginalize them as a result, degrading the consultation process essential to healthy civil-military relations. " If service members and their families should not political props perhaps then perhaps neither should be those who the average citizen perceives perceive to still represent the United States Military .... thoughts ....

Freedom is not free

Want to learn more about the Chief’s bell? Watch the video.

Ros Poplar, you raise some very interesting insights. We share in a strong belief that our Military, Intelligence Community, and Law Enforcement Agencies should be unbiased, apolitical organizations.  Rear Admiral Barnett is entitled to his opinion, and the two of us agree on this, “The world is getting more dangerous and more in need of level-headed, thoughtful, bold American leadership.” That said, our opinions differ in at least two major areas. First, my recollection of the past eight years is apparently much different than the Admiral’s. For four years we had no new wars, a secure border, a strong economy, energy independence (& more). For the past four years, we’ve had none of those things (& less). Secondly, if the Admiral is implying that Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz would provide the “level-headed, thoughtful, bold American leadership” that he mentioned, the historical facts support quite the opposite.   In the four years that Kamala Harris has been Vice President, we’ve had the disastrous Afghan withdrawal, record levels of illegal border crossings, the loss of U.S. energy independence, inflation, rising crime, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Hamas terror attack on Israel, thousands of Hezbollah missile attacks on Israel, Houthi attacks on allied vessels in international waters, Iranian proxy attacks against US forces and US maritime vessels, and more.  There is an unambiguous distinction in the results of the leadership of both Harris and Trump. I fear the dangers to our Nation have increased exponentially in the last four years.

Celebrating the Unity and Camaraderie of the Navy During my twenty four years serving in the Navy, my life was 💯 in the hands of black, brown, red, yellow, and white-toned people. We were friends, we were shipmates, we were Sailors, and we had each other’s six when the hammer slammed the anvil. We trained, we sweated, and we bled together. We came together from all parts of the country; we came together from all religions. We were a society unto ourselves. We worked as a team, a well-oiled machine. We fought for our brothers through thick and thin. We protected each other; that was what we did. The only color we saw was Navy Blue. Yes, there were some bad apples, but 99% of the sailors were amazing teammates who served the Navy with distinction. The camaraderie, selflessness, and unity we shared were unparalleled. It was an honor to serve alongside such incredible individuals. Our current national climate could learn from this example — the media could report without any biases — the politicians can make a difference in the communities they serve without a focus on their own pockets — the communities and the police agencies teaming up to stop crime, instead of conflict of social & racial views; removing aggressiveness to partner to build strong and safe communities. Leadership is a stalwart of the military that allows leaders to take care of those below as well as those above them to defend democracy. The kind of leadership that could boost and improve businesses, communities, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies. #NavyVeteran #Camaraderie #Unity #Service