Your Weekend Reading Assignment: Meet Your New Harding Fellow

Please welcome CPT Jared Peterson to The Harding Project!

“Hey SPC Petersen, I heard you’re good at writing. Can you help me with my packet for warrant officer school?” My platoon sergeant knew I had a bachelor’s degree in English and solicited my help for the warrant officer packet he was putting together. I had only been in the Army for a few months when I received this editorial tasking—the first of many to come. This rapidly snowballed into an assignment as the platoon RTO, with my unofficial position being the platoon office editor. I helped edit awards, OPORDs, and anything else that wasn’t going to write itself. Throughout my ten years of service, writing and editing have remained consistent tasks at every unit I have served in.

When I declared English as my major at Christendom College, in all earnest transparency, my not-so-secret motivation was because my then-girlfriend, now wife, was majoring in English too. While I initially signed up for English classes to spend as much time with my soulmate as possible, those courses swiftly impressed upon me the importance of writing. This metamorphosized into a fervor for analyzing, writing, and researching works from classical to modern literature. Little did I know that my English degree would prove to be so beneficial in my professional career today.

As a way of introduction: I’m CPT Jared Petersen. I’m a prior enlisted Infantry Officer and am wrapping up my second company command in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Writing and reading are two of my biggest passions (hence my Harding fellowship application) and am an avid endurance athlete (ultra-marathons, skate-skiing, and cycling). None of that matters more to me than being a husband to my wife, Jennifer, and a father to my four children.

Photo courtesy of CPT Jared Petersen.

In embarking upon this fellowship, I’m looking forward to supporting writers of all ranks as they share their experiences, ideas, and knowledge for the benefit of the Infantry Branch. While the good idea fairy is prevalent at every unit, unfortunately, the writing fairy doesn’t exist. Good articles don’t self-edit and it’s not going to write itself. At the end of the day, impactful written content comes from professionals in uniform. Similarly, publishing and editing flourishes under the attention of dedicated writers like you and me. Promoting platforms such as Line of Departure, The Harding Project, and the Infantry Journal will be instrumental in harnessing the power of professional writing and discourse in the military.

I am honored and privileged to be a part of this initial cohort of Harding Fellows. Whether the project is a warrant officer packet or a historic archive, written communication has the potential for immense impact. The first step is to commit to writing professional content. This commitment will then permeate throughout the force, and in turn, contribute to the reinvigoration of professional writing in the Army. I’m excited to play a role in this renaissance of Army professional writing as a Harding Fellow. Without a doubt, this is my ultimate Army dream job: combining my personal and professional passions.