EP48 Never Leave a Fallen Comrade with LTC Rob Beale ’02, 2022 Nininger Award Winner, and COL James Enos ’00, 2021 Nininger Award Winner

WPAOG Podcast

This episode of the WPAOG podcast features a conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Robert (Rob) Beale, class of 2002. Beale is the 2022 WPAOG Alexander R. Nininger Award winner and currently serves at U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The WPAOG Nininger Award is presented annually to a graduate who is an exemplar of heroic action in battle and is funded by a generous endowment from E. Doug Kenna ’45 and his wife, Jean. The award is named in honor of Lieutenant Alexander R. “Sandy” Nininger Jr. ’41, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.

In this episode, Rob talks with 2021 Nininger Award Winner, Colonel James Enos, class of 2000, and shares how his experiences in programs at West Point, to include Margin of Excellence opportunities, helped prepare him for his valiant military career. He provides insight on what’s required to excel and navigate the trials and tribulations of 12 deployments. Rob also explains his take on the Warrior Ethos, the importance of relationships in supporting mental health, and why mentorship through the Long Gray Line has been principal to his personal success.

You can learn more about the Nininger Award and WPAOG’s programs at wpaog.org. Now please enjoy this interview with Nininger Award Winners, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Beale and Colonel James Enos.

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Key Quotes

"At my last job I was blessed to have multiple West Pointers as battalion commanders on the installation I was at. So, I was able to reach out to friends, to classmates, who, if we needed some assistance from something, they could do the same to us. So just having that network was super valuable as a battalion commander. You know, every West Point graduate I've gotten to work with, you know, you just know what's in their DNA. You know who they are." - LTC Rob Beale

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Episode Timestamps

(02:32) Attending West Point

(03:57) Mentorship at the academy

(05:26) Preparation for combat

(06:07) Transitioning from the academy

(08:37) Building and leveraging connections

(10:10) Defining Army career moments

(12:24) Experience providing mentorship

(15:21) Advice for aspiring leaders

(17:57) Maintaining traditions at West Point

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Links

LTC Rob Beale

COL James Enos’ LinkedIn

West Point Association of Graduates