The Last Patrol
There are several themes that emerge in this episode, as members of Easy Company occupy an observation post in the town of Haguenau. The central theme centers on the concept of tension. By tension, I mean the kind of tension that exist when two forces are pulling at the opposite ends of a rope. As the episode opens, you can observe the reaction of the battle weary soldiers to the return of Pvt. Webster, who is fresh from recovery at the hospital. There is also a kind of tension between the character of Lt. Jones and that of Capt. Winters. One is a naïve "by-the-book" officer, fresh from West Point Military Academy...the other a battle weary, experienced leader that has earned the respect of his soldiers. Still another, and more dramatic example is the tension that exists when Winters must decide between risking additional deaths of his soldiers, against following orders to carry out a senseless mission. These examples all demonstrate that:
Leaders must learn to be comfortable in the presence of tension
As you continue to advance on the path of leadership within the fire service, you will become exposed to increasing states of tension. This is especially true when making decisions regarding risk assessment. The decision by Winters to order his men to rest, and report that they had completed the second patrol with no prisoners, was a very risky decision. He weighed the risk of losing more soldiers, against what may have happened to him personally if his deception was discovered by his superiors. It was a bold decision, but ultimately one that protected his soldiers from unnecessary loss of life.
Discussion questions to consider...
- Did Capt. Winters make the "right" decision?
- How did Webster overcome the tension between himself and the other soldiers?
- How are the situations of tension in the episode similar to situations in the fire service?
- As a leader in the fire service, what are some situations where you find yourself in tension?
