The Night I Became a Colonel, My Mother-in-Law Cut My Hair While I Slept—By Morning, I Was Done Obeying Them

I hated that feeling more than the pain.

Then I reminded myself of something I had repeated to young officers for years:

You are allowed to experience something terrible without allowing it to define your competence.

I adjusted my uniform.

Straightened my shoulders.

And walked out.

Lieutenant Colonel Harris, my deputy commander, met me outside the briefing room.

He stopped for half a second when he saw me.