In 2017, I was selected to participate in a National Security Forum at the Air War College in Montgomery, as a representative for Montana's natural resource industries. Shortly after sending confirmation of my attendance, I received an email from an Army officer introducing himself. It was Lt. Col. Kevin Groth, and he had been assigned as my host for the week-long Forum. Kevin was completing his final week at Air War College ahead of pinning on as a full bird Colonel. It was the second time he'd been to Maxwell Air Force Base; previously he attended the Command and Staff College. On the final night of the Forum, a group event was planned at a Montgomery Biscuits baseball game. It was there, as Kevin later told me, that he thought to himself, "I need this girl in my life." We joked and carried on like we'd been friends forever.... and it's been that way ever since.