COL Wolf
Two WVU Alumni come together at the Army War College.
Picture Description:
On the left is Col Flohr a current resident of the Army War College and on the right is Col Wolf III, the Commander of the 55th Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) 281D(M) PA Army National Guard.
Testimonial of LTC Wolf
I am currently serving in the 21st year of an adventure filled and highly successful military career. My career has included 10 years of active duty and 11 years of National Guard service with duty around the world. I can say with the utmost of confidence that the skills, knowledge, leadership experience, and standards of excellence bestowed upon my during my time in the WVU Army ROTC program have contributed measurably to my success not only in the military, but also in my civilian career and life in general.
As a 4-year ROTC scholarship recipient and scholarship athlete in early 1981, I explored many options for my college career. Of the many campuses and ROTC departments that I visited across the county, I was most impressed by that which I found at WVU. From my first meeting with then CPT Hartig to discussions with the PMS and other ROTC staff, I immediately knew that it was the place from which to launch my military career.
During my tenure at WVU, I was provided all possible opportunities to learn and grow as an ROTC cadet. There were many very positive aspects of my ROTC experience, but I wish to highlight a few.
Focus on Academics – Evident from the beginning was the fact that overall academic success, not just in ROTC, was of paramount importance.
Lifestyle Balance – In one of my first sessions with my PMS, we discusses very frankly the need to strike an early balance between athletics (wrestling), regular academics, Army ROTC, and student life. The sage guidance to ensure that no one of the four consumed too much time to the detriment of the others set me on a course for success in all areas and set a standard for life balance for the rest of my career.
Leadership Opportunity – I had the opportunity to serve as the Cadet Battalion Commander during my senior year. In that leadership role and subordinate roles in previous years, the ROTC staff engrained in me the aspects of firm but fair leadership, the importance of tactical and technical competence, and the critical skills of teaching, coaching, and mentoring members of my Command. These skills, honed in the WVU ROTC program, have served me well in more than 10 years of Command time in my career. These same skills have served me well in positions of senior leadership in my civilian career.
Career Guidance - Throughout my time as a WVU ROTC Cadet, I received tremendously valuable career guidance from many officers and enlisted staff members. They represented not only positive aspects of their individual branch/MOS, but also were able to provide insight into all possible career fields and components of service. As part of that career decision making process, I was afforded the opportunity to attend both Air Assault School and the Cadet Flight Training program.
There were many at WVU who significantly influenced my learning and leadership development experience, but I wish to highlight and recognize the following for their immeasurable contribution to my career: LTC White, LTC Fisher, MAJ Hardin, MAJ Hartig, and CSM Kamai(sp?).
I departed WVU in August 1985 for Flight school at FT Rucker AL. Since that time, my active duty and National Guard career has been all that I could have possibly asked for. As a basic branch Aviation Officer, I qualified to fly more than different helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. I have served in the Aviation, Military Intelligence, and Infantry branches. I have Commanded at the Company, Battalion, and Task Force levels and have served in senior staff positions at Battalion, Brigade, Division, and Joint Headquarters. I am currently serving as the Acting J5/7 and Strategic Planning Officer for the PA National Guard and in May 2007 will assume Command of the 55th Brigade Combat Team (Heavy), 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized) PA Army National Guard. My duty during both active duty and National Guard has taken me around the world to see and experience many cultures and diverse and challenging missions and has given me the chance for 21 years to serve with many outstanding soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines.
For the past 11 years, I have served as a citizen soldier with senior command and staff National Guard assignments in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. I have also held positions of great responsibility in my civilian business career as a strategy and management consultant and business owner. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the resident Army War College in Carlisle PA, a rare opportunity for a National Guard Officer.
I attribute great credit to the leaders of the WVU ROTC program for my overall career success. Their ability to teach, coach, and mentor and to instill in me a sense of duty and service excellence has immeasurably influenced my performance in the 21 years since I departed WVU. My four years in the WVU Army ROTC program provided me with a tremendously positive base of leadership, tactical, and technical skills that set me on a course for success.
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