Member of the Month April
Posted by Dragon on May 03 2012 11:33AM
Click Read More to check out this months Member of the Month interview, run by Dragon. Be sure to leave a comment congratulating our new member of the month!
Extended News
(21:33:15) Dragon: Congratulations Sgt. Darknight, you have been selected as the Brigade Member of the Month for April.
(21:33:43) Darknight: Thank You very much SSgt. Dragon, I am truly shocked and honored!
(21:34:28) Dragon: Could you tell a bit about the man behind the name and voice?
(21:36:35) Darknight: I'd be happy too, I'm a 36 year old active Infantry Officer in the Army, Father of two boys (one of which I think a lot of you have played with in CGN's..lol), and a husband to a wonderful wife of 15 years in two weeks. Oh..and we're expecting our third child this summer.
(21:37:33) Dragon: Congratulations Darknight. Do you know the whether it will be a boy or girl?
(21:38:26) Darknight: We actually just found out about two weeks ago that it will be a little girl:) So my wife is actually in full nursery recreation mode since everything we had was for boys..lol.
(21:38:51) Dragon: I imagine things around the house are fairly hectic then.
(21:39:34) Darknight: Just a little..lol:) But, I'd honestly rather have it like that, better to be busy than bored:)
(21:40:17) Dragon: As would I. How did you come across your username?
(21:42:27) Darknight: Well I've always been drawn to the dark-hero or anti-hero type character. Whether it was the actual Dark Knight type character in literature or the contemporary Bruce Wayne / Batman type character. I always found it much more intriguing and fitting my personality so it just kind of fit as I was choosing one.
(21:44:34) Dragon: I do believe that the name is rather fitting.
(21:44:42) Darknight: Well Thank You
(21:45:04) Dragon: What do you do when not on X-box Live or are spending time on the site?
(21:48:12) Darknight: Well to be honest there is really only two other main things -- I'm currently a Battalion Executive Officer so that takes up a lot of time as far as work goes, and the other thing is just spending time with family. Whether that's just working in the yard, taking the boys fishing or playing Football (American not European:), or just chilling out with them and playing a little HALO.
(21:50:15) Dragon: Sounds like a lot to juggle.
(21:51:18) Darknight: Well, it comes down to time management and just making sure you have your activities prioritized each day. If it wasn't for that I would be lost...lol!
(21:53:04) Dragon: Let's move onto the Brigade. What is a typical day for you?
(21:56:11) Darknight: Let's see -- I'm up at 0230 to get ready for work, I'll usually sign on at home and check the site for any new activity overnight, check for any enlistment threads, or PM's with questions and then I head off to work. Once at work I pretty much operate off my phone during the day so I check in about every 20 minutes or so, just making sure there is nothing to do. I usually check the Tango Forums prior to working out, and making sure there is nothing to update or issues to action on. Once I get home for the day in the evening, I will do up the Daily Round-Up and start writing up some notes for Practice. Tango executes practice between 9 and 10PM EST so after that I do one last check of the chatroom and message threads, and than it is off to bed.
(21:58:45) Dragon: Golly, that's one tight schedule.
(21:59:01) Darknight: There's always a lot going on:)
(22:00:35) Dragon: You don't seem to show any exhaustion from this. What's your secret?
(22:01:41) Darknight: LOL...a lot of coffee, diet soda, and working out:) If it wasn't for my morning work-outs I would be dragging all day!
(22:03:05) Dragon: What do you do for your work outs?
(22:05:35) Darknight: I vary it up -- right now I am on a 6 week strength cycle. It's based around Cross-Fit and the Seal-Fit Work-Outs. Kettle Bells, Olympic Lifts, Squats -- a lot of exercises to build explosiveness, and core muscle development. I will than cycle back onto an endurance cycle focused more on running and just maintaining my muscular strength. It works pretty well to avoid plateau's in your work-out.
(22:07:06) Dragon: Sounds like you could lift up a car and run a marathon doing that.
(22:07:35) Darknight: Not quite...lol...I ran a marathon once in College...never again..lol!
(22:07:47) Dragon: Dark days?
(22:08:47) Darknight: I discovered I didn't like running that far of a distance....but I had committed to a friend I would do it with him, so I gutted through it, but never again...lol!
(22:09:46) Dragon: How long have you been with the Brigade? I understand you have quite a unique record.
(22:13:57) Darknight: I enlisted on the 27th of December of this past year, so it has been just a bit over 4 months since I enlisted. Well it was an interesting month of April to be sure, I was not expecting it. I was truly honored, but it was a surprise on the promotions! Honestly -- I'm just honored to be here, serving with everyone here.
(22:14:43) Dragon: Glad to hear. Do you feel you have made any significant contributions to the Brigade during your time here so far?
(22:18:16) Darknight: Within the Brigade as a whole I would say working with Lt. Deuce, LCpl. Rugs, and LCpl. Aztec on the the Press Team with the Daily Round-Up. I have really enjoyed that. Also as part of the Foreign Relations Team bringing in new clans for clan matches and mixers -- that has been rewarding to see take shape. I would say the biggest and most important though is just trying to help out the new recruits, and make sure they are tracking on everything. I got very lucky and got taken under a great NCO's wing, I just want to repay that debt I guess.
(22:20:30) Dragon: I think that the repayment will come naturally as you continue to perform as well as you do. How far are you aiming to go within the Brigade? What would be your dream rank?
(22:23:06) Darknight: Well I'm here for the long haul that is for sure:) But, I'll serve in any capacity where I am needed for the good of the Brigade. I just want to make sure that the Brigade continues to grow, becomes stronger, and continues developing along this great path that we are on now.
(22:23:43) Dragon: What, would you say, has been the highlight of your Brigade career thus far?
(22:26:14) Darknight: My highlight is a very bittersweet one, because of the circumstances that surrounded it. But -- it has to be being promoted to Sgt. and taking over as XO of Tango. It was definitely not the ideal situation losing a great leader like SSgt. Cloud, but I just try to do him proud and do the best I can.
(22:26:48) Dragon: You shall and I have no doubt on that.
(22:27:10) Darknight: Well Thank You! I appreciate that!
(22:27:22) Dragon: Any shout outs you'd like to make?
(22:33:07) Darknight: Wow -- where do you start -- I think each and every person here I have shared a special memory with. Whether it was boot-camp, or spending extra time with me in the octagon improving my individual skills, or just the crazy CGN's on Friday and Saturday nights... Im not going to name everyone off, but just know how much I appreciate the Camraderie and your friendship. The one person who I will give a shout-out to is Lt. Lupus -- he has to deal with my questions everyday so he deserves that...lol..Thank you for your leadership in Tango Sir! And of course my sponsor, SSgt. Dragon, who really had to deal with a lot of questions from me:) Thank You!
(22:33:55) Dragon: You humble me with your kind words.
(22:34:05) Darknight: The honor was mine!
(22:34:29) Dragon: Is there any advice you'd like to give to the new or upcoming privates?
(22:36:34) Darknight: I would say lead by example. Take a job and even if it doesn't seem that important do the very best you can with it. Always set the example in your decorum for others to see and follow. And always -- be helpful -- take that extra second to help your buddy to your left or your right.
(22:37:07) Dragon: That is a fine example and one to be taken to the heart.
(22:37:23) Darknight: Thank You
(22:38:05) Dragon: Is there any comments you wish to make before we wrap things up?
(22:40:17) Darknight: I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who voted for me, I was completely not expecting it, but trust me your votes and your continual kind words are greatly appreciated and mean the world to me. I've said it a couple times, but I mean it, I am honored just to be counted amongst you. This is a special place, and I count myself lucky everyday to have found it, and that I am a part of it.
(22:41:09) Darknight: Hopefully here in a year, year and a half there will be another one of us here also...lol!:)
(22:42:00) Dragon: Thank for your time Sergeant; I look forward it.
(22:42:18) Darknight: The honor is mine SSgt. Dragon, thank you!