Appearance
question:You are a 40-year-old Captain in the Army. What are you doing today?
answer:Another day, another mission to prepare for. I'm currently at our forward operating base, going over intel reports and finalizing plans for an upcoming operation. We've had reports of insurgent activity in a nearby village, and our unit has been tasked with conducting a sweep and securing the area. I'm meeting with my team leaders in about an hour to go over the operation order and assign tasks. We'll be moving out at dawn tomorrow, so we need to make sure everyone knows their role and is ready to roll. I'm also coordinating with our air support team to get some cover for our convoy, just in case things get hairy. It's going to be a long day, but I'm confident in my team's abilities. We've been training for this for months, and I know we can get the job done. Still, I always get a little anxious before a big op. You never know what's going to happen, and you've got to be ready for anything.
question:What can you reveal about your leadership style?
answer:Leadership style is something that's evolved over the years for me. I've had my fair share of mentors and role models, and I've learned from my experiences – both good and bad. I'd say my approach is pretty straightforward: lead by example, empower your team, and make tough decisions when necessary. I believe in giving my team leaders the autonomy to make their own decisions and take ownership of their tasks. I trust them to do their jobs, and I expect them to trust me to make the right calls. We've got a good dynamic, and I think that's key to our success. I'm not one for micromanaging, but I do like to stay informed. I make it a point to get out on the ground, talk to my soldiers, and see firsthand what's going on. It's amazing what you can learn when you take the time to listen to your people. When things get tough, I try to stay calm and think on my feet. I've been in some tight spots before, and I've learned to rely on my training and experience to get us out of them. I expect the same from my team – we've got to be able to adapt and overcome. Ultimately, I believe in putting my people first. I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe and get the job done. If that means putting myself in harm's way, so be it. That's just part of the job.
question:You do what it takes to keep your people safe. You are a Captain who has had 20 years in the army. You lead an elite team, 30 men and women who form a disparate but close unit. What do you look for when you put your team together?
answer:Building a team like mine isn't just about filling slots with qualified personnel. It's about finding the right mix of skills, experience, and personalities. I've been fortunate enough to have had a say in selecting most of my team members, and I look for people who are not only experts in their field but also possess a certain... let's call it spark. First and foremost, I want people who are passionate about their work. Whether it's a medic, a sniper, or a comms expert, I need individuals who are dedicated to their craft and always looking to improve. I also look for people who are flexible and adaptable – in our line of work, you've got to be able to think on your feet and adjust to changing situations quickly. But it's not just about technical skills. I want people who can work well together, who can trust each other with their lives. That's why I look for individuals with strong communication skills, people who can articulate their thoughts clearly and work through problems as a team. And let's be honest, a good sense of humor doesn't hurt either – when you're in the midst of a firefight or stuck in a muddy ditch for hours, you need people who can keep things light and maintain morale. I also try to balance out the team's skillset. I've got a mix of veterans like myself and younger, more energetic soldiers who bring a fresh perspective. I've got people from different branches, different specialties, and even a few civilians who've joined our ranks. It's a diverse group, but it works. Lastly, I look for people who share my sense of purpose. We're not just a team, we're a family. We've been through hell and back together, and we've come out stronger because of it. I want people who understand that, who are willing to put the team first and make sacrifices when necessary. It's not always easy to find people who fit that mold, but when you do, it's like finding a puzzle piece that clicks into place. My team is my greatest asset, and I'd do anything to protect and support them.
question:Saudi authorities have beheaded a murderer and crucified his body after he killed and raped a Pakistani national. The kingdom's interior ministry announced the execution, stating that the man had murdered and sodomised another male. Both actions are punishable by death. 'The Yemeni citizen Mohammed Rashad Khairi Hussain killed a Pakistani, Pashteh Sayed Khan, after he committed sodomy with him,' said a statement carried by state news agency SPA. Beheading: The Yemeni citizen was beheaded and crucified for his crimes (Stock Image) Hussain was also convicted of robbery and carrying out a series of attacks. The execution, in the southern city of Jizan, was followed by crucifixion, a punishment used by the ultra-conservative country for serious crimes. Saudi Arabia have been criticised in the international community for their harsh punishments, including executions by beheading and firing squad. There have been 28 people beheaded in Saudi Arabia this year. Death by beheading has always been a source of tension between Saudi Arabia (capital Riyadh pictured) and the international community . Human rights campaigners protest against beheadings in Saudi Arabia after eight Bangladeshi men were executed for an alleged murder . In 2012, they executed 76 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures, while the US-based Human Rights Watch put the number at 69. The oil-rich kingdom follows a strict implementation of Islamic law, or . Shariah, under which people convicted of murder, rape or armed robbery . can be executed, usually by sword. The announcement comes after Amnesty International released the final words of a man sentenced to death by firing squad. He was allegedly forced to confess after the authorities threatened to torture his mother. Seven juveniles were arrested and convicted for armed robbery and sentenced to death in the Southern city of Abha after their appeals to the king were rejected. One of the robbers was interviewed by the human rights charity before his death. Families of the robbers had pleaded to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for clemency but the executions were carried out as planned . He said: 'I have nine hours left until I die. We found this out through friends and relatives who saw the market square being prepared for the execution. 'There are now seven spots in the square for seven people to be shot. It's going to be in public, in the market, in the city of Abha. 'We don't know what we are supposed to have done wrong. 'We were forced to make confessions. We were mistreated by the investigators - they took our clothes and it was winter. They tortured us by suspending us from chains on the wall. 'They also used psychological torture such as threatening they would bring in our mothers and torture them in front of us. 'I didn't kill anyone - we were tried for robbery and we were forced to confess. I hope the execution will be stopped. 'I wish for it to be stopped and for a fair trial and for a reinvestigation. The trial was totally unjust.' One of the men told The Associated Press . last month he was only 15 when he was arrested as part of a ring that . stole jewelry in 2004 and 2005.It was also reported that they had no access to lawyers. The south has been marginalized and . suffered discrimination by the powerful central Saudi region where the . capital, Riyadh, and holy shrines of Mecca and Medina are located. It was reported on March 13 that the execution went ahead despite appeals from human rights charities. There was also an international outcry, including from human rights groups, after a Sri Lankan maid, Rizana Nafeek, was beheaded in public by sword last month. Miss Nafeek was sentenced to death aged 17 in 2007 after her Saudi employer accused her of strangling his four-month-old baby two years earlier after a dispute with the child's mother. A government spokesman said Riyadh: ‘deplores the statements made... about the execution of a Sri Lankan maid who had plotted and killed an infant by suffocating him to death one week after she arrived in the kingdom.' The case soured the kingdom's diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka, which on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Saudi Arabia in protest. The UN's main human rights body on Friday expressed ‘deep dismay’ at the beheading, while the European Union said it had asked Saudi authorities to commute the death penalty. Riyadh, however, rejected the statements as ‘external interference’ in its domestic affairs. The spokesman said: Saudi Arabia ‘respects... all rules and laws and protects the rights of its people and residents, and completely rejects any intervention in its affairs and judicial verdicts, whatever the excuse.'
answer:Saudi authorities have executed and crucified a Yemeni man, Mohammed Rashad Khairi Hussain, for the murder and rape of a Pakistani national, Pashteh Sayed Khan, in the southern city of Jizan. Hussain was also convicted of robbery and multiple attacks. The execution, carried out by beheading and followed by crucifixion, is part of Saudi Arabia's strict adherence to Islamic law, which mandates capital punishment for serious crimes. This year, 28 people have been beheaded in the kingdom, drawing international criticism for its harsh penal system. The execution comes amid ongoing controversy over Saudi Arabia's use of capital punishment. In a related case, Amnesty International released the final statements of a man sentenced to death by firing squad, alleging he was forced to confess under torture. Seven juveniles, arrested for armed robbery, were also executed despite appeals for clemency and claims of mistreatment. The international community, including human rights groups and the UN, has expressed deep concern over these executions, particularly the beheading of Sri Lankan maid Rizana Nafeek, which strained diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka. Saudi Arabia, however, maintains that its judicial processes are just and rejects any external interference in its affairs.