Double Time: A Reflection on my 20th year in the US Army Infantry
Today marks my 20th year in the Army. September 11, 2001 was my senior year of high school. Shortly after that day, I made the decision to enlist in the Army. A couple days before my oath of enlistment on March 11, 2002, my father requested a formal meeting to discuss my career trajectory. He invited me to his office at the church he pastored at the time.
I can remember walking into his office. He asked me to sit across his desk in the chair. His first words were not initially welcoming, “Well Mr. Cedric I’d like to talk about the Army job you are planning to choose”. The phrase “Mr. Cedric” automatically had me defensive. Anytime my father was upset with something I did or said, he’d typically start a rebuttal by referring to me as “Mr. Cedric”, to this day, the phrase still has me look around the room to see if he is there.
My dad knew that I had chosen to be an Infantryman. This was not ideal to my parents. Out of the six boys in my family, four of us have served in the military. That did not ease their anxiety of their youngest child enlisting. The beginning of the Global War on Terror broadcasted on the news was not helping my case as I attempted to justify why I thought being an Airborne Infantryman was a sensible next step to be made by an 17-year-old.
My father pulled out a sheet of paper that he must of printed off before the meeting and began to very slowly read the job description of an Airborne Infantryman. I can’t remember all of what he said, but I remember him stating “ You….want to load up in an airplane…… jump out of an airplane……. and then fight…….. Is that correct, Mr. Cedric?”. Yes, dad, that’s correct. “Okay son, I just had to hear you say it”.
That was it. He just wanted to know that I at least had a baseline understanding of what I was doing. In reality, I really had no idea what I was doing. Being a 17-year-old kid, I am not sure how I would fully know what it meant to do what I was signing up to become. If I would have known everything, I would probably would not have signed up, and would have deeply regretted not doing the job that I have come to love.
Being an Infantryman for the past 20 years has been one of the greatest investments in myself, my family, and my community. It is the only job that I’ve ever had, that I would do for free. It’s not about the places you visit, even though that’s been great. It’s truly about the people that I have met along the way. Being in the Infantry allows you to meet some of the most amazing people from every strata of society. I’ve been in trenches with people of every race, religion, gender, and cultural identity. Being in the United States Army Infantry has helped me to face my fears, acknowledge my limitations, and rely on the strengths of my team, like no other work environment that I’ve experienced. It has been the crucible, experience, and honor of a lifetime. And I’m so grateful that I’m not done. Yet.
Being in the Infantry is where I learned about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Being in the Infantry is where I learned about leadership development and succession planning. Being in the Infantry is where I first committed to becoming a clinical psychologist after suffering tremendous loss of fellow soldiers during a deployment in 2004. Being an Infantryman in the Army has been the greatest source of learning and education that I have ever received. Each adventure in the Army has been formational; from the initial in-processing at Fort Benning, GA, to the final stages of Ranger School in the swamps of Florida, to the streets of Southwest Baghdad, and currently in the classrooms of West Point as an Army Reservist. All of these experiences have been challenging, yet worthwhile.
In the army one of the first things, you learn is how to march. When marching together, at times, sometimes unexpectedly, there is an additional order that is given. This order is “DOUBLE TIME”. Double time is the Army’s way to start a run. The order is given by the leader of the formation. It is then repeated by the formation to acknowledge the receipt of the order, and then the formation moves in unison starting on the left foot.
I’m not sure how much longer I will continue to “DOUBLE TIME” with the US Army Infantry, but as long as I am here, I’m honored to be in formation with some of the best and brightest that our country has to offer.
Dr. Cedric Williams is a licensed Clinical + Consulting Psychologist, Assistant Professor, & CEO of Legacy Consulting & Research Group. His work and research interests are in the domains of Multicultural Competence, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership. Dr. Williams provides executive assessment, coaching, and consulting services for individuals, teams, and organizations.. In addition, to his work as a psychologist, Dr. Williams has served in the military for 20 years as an enlisted Infantryman and Infantry Officer. His current US Army Reserve duty has him serving as an Assistant Professor in the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Dr. Cedric Williams
Founder + CEO
Legacy Consulting & Research Group LLC
