Standing Watch Against the Darkness

This morning, as I stood outside in the predawn darkness, I found myself reflecting on a military tradition rooted in survival: Roger’s Rules of Ranging. In training and combat, we would “stand to” before dawn—a precaution meant to counter the vulnerability of low light, a time when enemies might seek to take advantage and attack the encampment.

On paper, it makes sense. But in practice, especially when operating on Zulu time, the tradition often became absurd. When Zulu time dictated predawn watches far removed from the actual dawn in our location, the act lost its realism. Yet we stood watch anyway, thanks to the upper leadership’s blind adherence to tradition over need.

Still, the underlying sentiment of Roger’s Rules—being alert during times of vulnerability—is one worth applying far beyond the battlefield. Vulnerability doesn’t only come with the rising of the sun or the shifting of shadows. There are many types of darkness in life, and in today’s world, we are surrounded by one of the most insidious: the mental health crisis.

Suicide rates remain alarmingly high. Depression and anxiety are pervasive, yet often invisible. The enemy—the despair and isolation so many people face—is closing in on every side. And now is not the time for us to lose our focus, to falter in our vigilance.

Just as in combat, where the safety of the group depends on the watchfulness of every individual, our mental health crisis demands collective action. We must stand guard—not just for ourselves, but for those to our right and left, the people in our lives who might be silently struggling.

This is not a call to act as heroes or saviors; it’s a call to be present, to recognize that vulnerability is universal. To check in with a friend. To lend an ear without judgment. To reach out when the darkness feels overwhelming. And yes, to seek help when we need it ourselves.

The sentiment behind Roger’s Rules is one of readiness, not just for what’s expected but for the unforeseen. It’s about being awake and aware, understanding that the most dangerous threats often come in moments when we feel safe or distracted.

Today’s darkness is not an enemy we can defeat with weapons or tactics, but it is one we can face together—with compassion, courage, and the willingness to stay alert for those moments when someone else might be at their most vulnerable.

Let’s stand watch—not out of tradition, but out of necessity. Let’s be the light in each other’s darkness. The fight against despair and isolation demands nothing less. See you out there.