Jan 27, 2020
Episode 52 show notes
Have you ever known anyone who’s been passed over for promotion? Maybe it’s your name that wasn’t on the promotion list.
Today you’re going to hear from COL Stu McRae, USA (Ret). When the 1997 promotion list was due to be officially released, a friend called him to say,
“Stu, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’m sorry, but your name isn’t on the list.”
It was a lynchpin moment for Stu, as he began examining what it meant to be a successful officer in the eyes of God, where he was placing his identity and self-worth, and why was he wanting to be the best at his job—what were his motives?
Stu McRae was raised in Montana where he was part of a multi-racial family, born to parents who loved God and humbly lived a life reflecting His love for others. In addition to Stu and his oldest sister who was born to his parents, his mother and father adopted 11 other children (mostly Native American). This played a significant role in teaching Stu about the love and acceptance of God.
In 1987, Stu was commissioned as a lieutenant in Military Intelligence and branch transferred to Aviation in 1990. Stu went on to command the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion, which was a fixed-wing aviation battalion, and then was the rear detachment commander for the 3rd Infantry Division in 2010. After graduating from the U.S. Army War College in 2011, Stu was selected to command the garrison of Fort Rucker, Alabama. He retired from the Army as a colonel in 2017 and now resides in Wyoming where he works developing business opportunities for Kennon Products, as well as continuing to fly airplanes as a contractor in Afghanistan.
// What we talked about
“A young officer works long hours characterized by daily, rigid discipline… ever-expecting that his branch of service will recognize his dedicated labors and reward them with promotion to the next rank. He lives and breathes his service culture, often putting the military before self and family. After all, isn’t that what is expected of a successful officer?”
From the article “So You’ve Been Passed Over”
“My whole identity was so wrapped up in the Army that it dictated how I felt about myself. If I did something well or was commended, I felt good about myself; if I was not commended or worse, was reprimanded, I was devastated.”
“From the start of my career to now, God has steadily changed my desires to be more in line with His by eliminating unnecessary baggage. As we willingly submit to His authority, He is faithful to refine us and help us to find our complete fulfillment in Him.”
John Bevere: The Bait of Satan
“One, if you go through and come out the other end and everything seems to be rosy again, the changes that you have put in place because God has worked you through things, just know that you are going to be tested on that! Two, God does want to bless you. Three, our identity in Christ is what will get us through the challenges, no matter what that challenge is.”