#7--Everett Kozlowski

In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *What a combat engineer platoon does as part of a battalion landing team *What it was like joining BLT 1/8 *Building trust between Everett’s platoon and BLT 1/8 *Everett’s advice to platoon commanders looking to build trust between units *His platoon’s training plan for the 24th MEU workup *Responding to complaints from Marines about a high-tempo schedule *The platoon’s experiences on the 24th MEU prior to heading to HKIA *When the possibility of deploying to HKIA first came on Everett’s radar *His reaction and his Marines’ reactions to learning they would go to HKIA *Being labeled “the lead combat engineer for HKIA” *The tough decision to leave Marines behind on ship *The value of crossing training *The first few days on the ground at HKIA *Reactions to the news that the Taliban would cooperate with the Coalition *Working at Abbey, East, and North Gates *The last phase of the withdrawal *Creativity and problem-solving at HKIA *Radio communications during the NEO *Everett’s advice for lieutenants who may find themselves in situations like at HKIA *The training he received at Marine Corps Engineer School *Enemy contact at HKIA *Dismantling several of HKIA’s guard towers *Command and control at HKIA *Maneuver warfare concepts applied at HKIA *What Everett was doing the day of the Abbey Gate Bombing *Talking to his platoon about the Marine losses at HKIA *What Everett observed in his Marines after the NEO *Returning to Camp Lejeune *Everett’s advice on talking to people who have experienced a mission as harrowing as HKIA *The value of professional reading *The role and value of mental health checks and mental health services *The role of cell phones at HKIA *Cleaning up various parts of HKIA *The role of discipline *The most frustrating and rewarding aspects of the HKIA mission *Everett’s pride in the performance of his Marines *The most challenging decision he made at HKIA *Where Everett excelled as a commander and decision-maker and where he could have done better *The lessons he took away from HKIA, particularly as they apply to FD 2030 and the future Marine Corps *The role and value of decision games to train and educate Marines for missions like HKIA