As a senior cadet at a military college, I was tasked as cadet officer of the day -- my charge was to run the guard detail responsible for manning numerous gates and entrances to the campus. After guard mount, the first order of business was calling the commandant of cadets to report that the guard was in place for the night and anything else of importance. The commandant, retired Army Col. Tony Lackey, was a grizzled former Special Forces soldier who commanded the utmost respect on campus among both cadets and faculty.