Military Leadership In A Free Society

2018-07-02T10:39:17-04:00

If there is one common core belief in the United States, it is the spirit of freedom - the feeling that we are free to live, work, and go where and when we want. Wherever we go in the world, Americans stand out because of this innate feeling of freedom. But our military is, by statute, a totalitarian organization with a Uniform Code of Military Justice that has punishment for not following orders. When the Sergeant says, “Take that hill!” we can’t have the response, “Not now, I’m on Facebook.” How does a free society reconcile living and working in the military?

I had the honor and privilege to be commanding officer of the nuclear aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, leading 5,000 of our sons and daughters around the world and into combat. Aircraft carrier flight ops demand a unified crew with everyone doing their part the right way at the right time. It takes hundreds of people working together to launch a flight of 15 aircraft, with the first aircraft launching to the second scheduled. 15 aircraft catapult from 4 catapults in 7 minutes with the last airplane shooting off the bow just as an airplane slams to a stop in the arresting gear in the same spot that seconds before an airplane launched. And this repeats an hour later and without ever a scratch on the delicate skin of these hard working sailors. This Cyclic Ops on the flight deck was a thrill to me every time even after long months at sea.

How do we get there with everyone following orders to the letter without a single person deviating in the slightest so the whole flight deck “ballet” comes off like a finely tuned machine? I could talk about the lectures, training, drills and repetition, but the key is in the power of our free society to bring together individuals observing what they and their teammates do and how they are doing it. Then at the right place and time, question the orders - to air their ideas for improvements at every level. The bright new seaman who greases the catapult inventing a better, safer way to do it. A sailor seeing an injury risk and tells his Chief about his ideas of a safer approach. And, just as important, the Chief that wants to draw out and build upon the ideas from these bright young individuals.

The result is the “finely tuned machine” of individuals who have bought into the orders. They’re following their own orders - with the team’s efforts orchestrated by their Chiefs and Petty Officers. If the Chief is out, the Petty Officer takes over; if the Petty Officer is gone, the next person takes over. We in our free society do these incredibly complex tasks better than any totalitarian society could ever do. And the reason - we don’t have one leader – we have thousands of leaders working together. Perhaps not the direct or the easy way to the objective – but the best way.

*CAPT Dave Bryant is is a retired Navy Top Gun pilot and nuclear aircraft commanding officer and now with Boeing in the Seattle area. He's running as a Republican for the US Senate from the state of Washington.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 2 at 2018 10:59 AM

2018-07-02T10:59:18-04:00

CAPT David Bryant Even watching films of carrier aircraft launch operations leaves the impression of an intricate dance performance.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jul 2 at 2018 11:12 AM

2018-07-02T11:12:53-04:00

This was mentioned by German generals showing respect for the American soldier in WWII. Leadership at every level, combined with a freedom of mind, enabled innovations and out-of-the box improvisations (sticky bomb comes to mind).

Response by COL John McClellan made Jul 2 at 2018 11:32 AM

2018-07-02T11:32:31-04:00

Well said! At the end of your piece it says you are running for the US Senate. Do you think we have anything resembling what you described, in our political leadership right now? If not, how will you reconcile living/working in our government and work towards restoring the public's faith in our institutions and belief in the competence of those we elect? I hear all the time how "evil" or "screwed up" Washington is or "Washington politicians" are. But all our national elected representatives are... people. Fellow citizens. They are not = a city. They are, presumably, people of good character, intelligence, and good intentions when they set out to run and take office. What say you, Captain?

Response by PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM made Jul 2 at 2018 11:53 AM

2018-07-02T11:53:36-04:00

Sounds like a Skipper who knows his salt. Much like My Skipper on the USS Enterprise, one of the Finest men I ever served under, Admiral C. C. Smith. It was under his command we learned what every E3 really wants to tell his E6.
1. Tell me what you want me to do
2. Teach me how to do it.
3. Give me the tools I will need to do the job.
4. GET OUT OF MY WAY so I can work
5. Tell me how I did.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jul 2 at 2018 11:55 AM

2018-07-02T11:55:26-04:00

Doesn’t walk too softly, but the big stick holds true. However, our missile submarines......

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2018 12:43 PM

2018-07-02T12:43:50-04:00

All participants having the same goal, motivation to achieve this goal and willingness to sacrifice for this goal keeps the ballet in harmony. Three years, VF-41 on the USS Nimitz taught me this. Same goal, same effort, same feeling of achievement equals a successful mission.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jul 2 at 2018 1:04 PM

2018-07-02T13:04:31-04:00

I would say that while the military is totalitarian in some ways, ours is more free than most militaries. While it's true that missions must be accomplished and junior enlisted have almost zero say in the work, the US military allows subordinate leaders a significant degree of freedom in how to accomplish their mission. When you get a mission, you are told objectives and a timeline for their completion, but the subordinate leaders are given the opportunity to decide how to carry it out. This is an ability that other countries don't have. We expect a corporal to be able to plan a mission or tasking that other armies would demand a LT oversee. This freedom given to junior leaders allows for a flexibility that only the British military can emulate. It gives us an advantage in small unit tactics. As for large operations like that of an Aircraft Carrier, I have no idea how it can help other than the ability of subordinates to fill in for superiors.

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jul 2 at 2018 1:17 PM

2018-07-02T13:17:11-04:00

You hit the nail on the head. It was what you mentioned above that I loved so much about the military when I first joined and when I was deployed. Everybody doing their job, doing it well, and working together towards one goal. It's sad that when I was getting out I saw it starting to turn more towards the civilian world about being afraid of offending somebody and holding their hand caring more about their feelings than telling them how they screwed up and how to fix it and to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 2 at 2018 4:19 PM

2018-07-02T16:19:44-04:00

I really hope that the aircraft carriers are preparing for new threats and technology. They are major power projection platforms.

Response by TSgt David Desmarais made Jul 3 at 2018 10:11 AM

2018-07-03T10:11:44-04:00

Well said CAPT'n The only thing I would add is that a compelling, high impact, mission meshed with second to none set of core values helps drive everyone to be there best.

Response by 1LT Jacob Johnston made Jul 3 at 2018 6:50 PM

2018-07-03T18:50:39-04:00

When I went to OCS I wrote an essay about an “Army of one”. The Army is a team of individuals. If each individual succeeds the team will also succeed. If an individual fails the team will still be successful but it makes the rest of the team work harder. Many leaders, many individuals working for the common good.

Response by CPO Bernie Penkin made Jul 4 at 2018 9:51 AM

2018-07-04T09:51:32-04:00

Well written Captain. As a Washington resident, I will be casting my vote for you this November.

Response by SMSgt Tom Burns made Jul 4 at 2018 11:46 AM

2018-07-04T11:46:22-04:00

Excellent piece. Everyone must perform as a Team for a flawless mission.

Response by SPC Dwight Turner made Jul 4 at 2018 2:58 PM

2018-07-04T14:58:28-04:00

today our fathers or grandfathers served for us to being free those serving now my hats off to you !!!!!
i remember when serving we had cookout for troops what a rush having all them with us !!! advantages of being a cook eh ??
till this day i think back freedoms not free unless others have served and have freedom on there side
where else can you salute flag watch fireworks spread joy with others whom are still with you where else though can we do that ?? at times i think others should take time in having to done our jobs were all needed and most of all brothers and sisters in arms
right now i dont have alot left of family i will tell you having served 18yrs makes me realize how much i miss troops but most of all good times a cook will tell you " come on lets serve and and take time for prayer !!!! lets bow our heads give thanks from those whom served before us !!!!" hush settles when chaplain prays before we serve troops smile some wiping there eyes but another day having did another day
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY GANG !!!!!

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jul 5 at 2018 12:16 PM

2018-07-05T12:16:32-04:00

Leadership really hasn't changed, whether it be in the military or civil environment. You explain what has to be done and why. You give your good people their head and cull out those who lack the will, talent or spirit to perform their duties. You demonstrate your judgement and dedication to your people to gain their trust. You constantly monitor the situation to ensure your people have the material, training and morale support they need and then blame the outstanding results on everyone in the unit or organization.

Response by CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw made Jul 9 at 2018 2:29 AM

2018-07-09T02:29:49-04:00

Excellent!!!

Response by SP5 Michael Cates made Jul 25 at 2018 11:19 AM

2018-07-25T11:19:57-04:00

I am pulling for Cpt. Bryant!

Response by MSgt Jonathan Acosta made Aug 11 at 2018 8:48 PM

2018-08-11T20:48:35-04:00

Current rank retired, Msgt AFRES. Not all but a few officers too hard core no change in their attitude.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 17 at 2018 4:13 PM

2018-08-17T16:13:09-04:00

Empower each person to shut down the process to reduce unnecessary risks. Thank you for your service.

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made Aug 25 at 2018 11:00 AM

2018-08-25T11:00:01-04:00

Dave, Very good and true. Thanks. Sincerely, Larry

Military & Civilian Leadership --- A Guide for Presidents, Politicians, Educators, and Industry Leaders

August 23, 2018
(A Personal View)

I am hoping that our county’s government and civilian leaders will become the kind of leader that is described in the leadership article below, titled Leadership: A Personal Point of View. The article below titled Leadership: A Personal Point of View describes what is and what is not good leadership and it based on the leadership taught to all members of our armed forces. The following news-paper and magazine leadership article has been updated frequently and published in various other forms in over 23 magazines and newspapers and three books in the USA, Germany, and England over the past 30 years.

This leadership article has been used, under various titles by dozens of government and military organizations and schools, including: the US Military Academy at West Point, the Department of Homeland Security, The German War College, the Department of Homeland Security, the Association of the US Army’s (AUSA’s) ARMY, the Military Order of World Wars’ (MOWW’s), the US Army Engineer magazine, the US ARMY EUROPE (EURARMY), the NATIONAL GUARD magazine, the Berlin Observer Newspaper, and almost every US Army School, including the Engineer School, Aviation School, Field Artillery School, Air Defense Artillery School, Military Police School, the Chemical School, Adjutant General School, and other schools to teach leadership and stimulate discussion on leadership.

Leadership: A Personal Point of View has also been used by many civilian industry companies and organizations to teach leaders and employees leadership. Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC, Cobro Corporation of Saint Louis, MO; QinetiQ North America Inc. of Belcamp, MD; Westar Aerospace and Defense Group of Huntsville, AL, McAdams Technologies Inc. of Alexandria, VA; CLC Hospice LLC of Southeast, MO; and many others to stimulate thought on, “What is good leadership?”

Chapter 2 of the all five-star reviewed, non-fiction, and, according to the rave reviews, edge-of-your-seat reading, military history book, BLADES OF THUNDER (BOOK ONE) includes this popular article ---- an article described by many readers and leaders as “The Best Short Course in Leadership Ever Written!”. The base article below is Copyrighted to W. Larry Dandridge 2015.

Leadership: A Personal Point of View
Leadership is treating men and women equally without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, or custom. Leadership honors our country’s military men and women, including our Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIAs). Leadership is visiting your wounded and sick frequently. Leadership is knowing and living by the Constitution, the Code of Conduct, the Geneva Convention, and the basic human rights of all mankind. Leadership is duty, honor, and country.

Leadership is taking the point position when your flight, unit, or business is expecting contact with the enemy or competition with other businesses. Leadership is flying a crippled bomber to the ground when one of your wounded crew members cannot bail out. Leadership is keeping your young soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, and coast guardsmen (and employees) alive. Leadership is never leaving your wounded behind. Leadership is writing a dead trooper’s family or employee’s family a personal letter immediately after the battle or accident.

No compromise of the integrity of one’s word, deed, or signature is leadership. Setting high standards and seeing that they are met is leadership. Intelligence, dedication, creativity, and selflessness are leadership. Stamina, vigor, and commitment are leadership. Spontaneous, contagious enthusiasm is leadership. Initiative, self-improvement, research, and professionalism are leadership. Reading and studying the subjects important to your job and family are leadership.

Leadership is rewarding a soldier, sailor, airman, marine, coast guardsman, or civilian employee, with the appropriate recognition, immediately after exceptional service. Leadership is commanding and managing. Leadership is establishing and meeting, by priority, specific and legal objectives. Leadership is managing by exception, using job enlargement, and seeking job enrichment. Leadership knows that leading is more than just “follow me”, but also “follow my orders and directions”.

Believing in God, family, and country, in that order is leadership. Being humanistic is leadership. Trusting well trained troops and employees’ ideas and decisions is leadership. Knowing where the mission is at, when the troops (and civilian workers) and material are to be there, and how many troops and systems are needed to win is leadership. Blocking out periods of “private time” to accomplish creative work and recharge is leadership. Compromising for the good of the whole with sister departments and partner leaders on budgeting, planning, and executing is leadership.

Leadership is not glorifying war. Leadership is not doing “anything” just to get promoted or elected or reelected. Leadership is not winning the battle at all costs, nor is it losing a war to avoid causalities. Leadership is not found in the security of a well-fortified command bunker, nor is it found in a plush officers’ field mess or golf course.

A leader is assertive, but not aggressive. Leadership is neither ruthless nor mindless discipline, but it is the ability to do the right thing at the right time, by putting the whole before the parts. Leadership is not a good efficiency report, nor is it paper readiness. Leadership is not a court martial for every mistake nor is it leniency for serious violations. A leader is fair, predictable, and consistent.

Giving a superior sound professional advice, even when you know he or she does not want to hear it is leadership. After you have given your best advice, following all legal, moral, and ethical orders, even when you do not agree with them is leadership. Leading when you can; following when you should; and getting the hell out of the way when you have nothing to offer, is leadership. Learning the language, culture, and customs of a host country and partner country is leadership. Staying in top physical condition is leadership.

Leadership is a general who knows the friendly and enemy situation, knows the immediate action sequence for the M16 rifle, knows his driver’s first name and family, and can recite the Lord’s Prayer. Leadership is a private who knows that he or she is in the chain of command and may have to take over when senior in rank. Leadership knows that a water truck in the desert is worth more combat power that an extra armored cavalry regiment.

Leadership is not being right all the time, and it is certainly not being wrong most of the time. Leadership fixes problems---not blame. Leadership is adaptability, appearance, cooperation, and decisiveness. Leadership displays knowledge, manages resources efficiently, and plans beyond the immediate requirements of assigned duties. Leadership creates an organization of mutual respect. Leadership is building an organization and environment where it is not necessary to tell troops or employees what to do. Leadership knows that combat or tariffs without conscience is evil.

Not forgetting that the past is our heritage, the present is our challenge, and the future is our responsibility is leadership. Not being overweight, not smoking, saying no to drugs, and not drinking alcohol in excess is leadership. Delegating authority, commanding confidence and respect, and accepting full responsibility for your actions is leadership. Ingenuity, sociability, tact, and tenacity are leadership. Cross training is leadership.

A good leader knows why there are air, land, and sea forces; why there are cavalry, infantry, armor, artillery, aviation, amphibious, special operations, propositioned, recon, and logistical forces; and why combined arms and concentration of combat power are important. A leader knows about air, land, sea, and cyberspace battle and defense in depth, civil affairs, urban operations, counter insurgency techniques, the advantages our forces have at night, and how to use them. A wise leader knows that young soldiers spend most of their time worrying about and planning tactics, while older more experienced soldiers spend the majority of their time worrying about and planning logistics.

Leadership is not promoting or supporting racism, injustice, and extremist groups like Neo Nazis, white supremists, and anti-Semitics. Leadership is not dishonoring our nation’s heroes, like John McCain who, in great pain, severely wounded, and tortured, refused to be released from prison by the communists in North Vietnam, until all POWs were released. Leadership is not saying a US Judge with a Hispanic name and stellar record could not give someone who is a Caucasian a fair and impartial trial.

Leadership can be good or bad, centralized or decentralized, warm or cold, offensive or defensive, macro or micro, or expensive or free. Leadership can be Catholic or Protestant, Jewish or Moslem, Hindu or Mormon, Atheist or Agnostic. Leadership prevents over mobility of junior leaders and troops, by keeping them in their jobs long enough to really learn their jobs and common and collective tasks and to work as team members. Establishing and promoting worker and troop certification and team certification programs are leadership. Leadership provides their troops with plenty of clean water and hot food. Leadership keeps their troops as comfortable as possible, keeps them feed, keeps them clean, keeps them supplied, keeps them informed, and keeps them from becoming depressed and suicidal.

Good military and civilian leaders hope and pray for the best but plan for the worst. Leaders know about the need to wage “total war” to win. Good military and civilian leaders know the special advantage the defender has in cities, mountains, and jungles. Good leaders know how to “own the night” and take maximum advantage of all of the combat arms team, and is skilled in the use of snipers, attack helicopters, counter artillery, naval gun/missile fire, and close air support. Good leaders know not to keep troops weapons locked up and away from them, but rather train troops to live with a clean, safe, and serviceable weapon that they are an expert in.

Leadership is embodied in Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Pope John Paul II, Robert E. Lee, Mohammed, Jesus, Joan of Arc, John Paul Jones, Winston Churchill, Sister Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Mohammad, Nelson Mandela, and many other well-known figures. Also, leaders are Robert Lee Lightle, J.C. Dandridge, Sam Deloach, Bubba Segrest, Luther Bergen, Gene Booth, Dan Hickman, Wes Komulainen, Brian King, Frank Gordon, Dick Orrell, and thousands of other unknowns.

Leadership is not lying to, bullying, or attacking anyone who does not agree with you. Leadership is not watching one television network or reading one newspaper or magazine to get the news. Leadership does not abusively and unresponsively use twitter or other social media to put out national policy, personal feelings, and attacks on political and other rivals. Saying a lie or half-truth over and over again on social media and in public is not leadership, especially when done by national leaders. Threatening and interfering with our federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly is not leadership. Attacking an undermining our independent Federal Reserve System (FED) by twitter and public comments are not examples of good leadership.

Commitment to the team and a participatory form of leadership that draws on every troop’s and employee’s knowledge and skills, at every level is leadership. Encouraging and rewarding suggestions and complaints is leadership. Having an “open door” and “open mind” policy is leadership. Empowering troops, civil service employees, civilian employees, and support contractors with the tools, responsibility, authority, and “accountability” to get the tough jobs done is leadership. Making troops and employees multi-process, multi weapon, and multi-functional experts is good leadership. Good leaders practice servant leadership.

Leaders know that “the bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of low price”. Leaders allow talented soldiers and civilian employees long leashes for experimenting. Leaders find ways to satisfy the essential need of troops and civilians to be both part of a team and be recognized as individuals. Leaders know how to use “internal and external bench marking”, observations, and inspections to rate their organization’s readiness, products, services, and processes against those front runners in their specialty.

Leadership is not bashing the best medical system in the United States, the VA Medical System for political reasons. Good leaders know that currently there are only two or three, out of the 160 VA Medical Centers that have serious problems with service, customer satisfaction, and other aspects of their quality. Good leaders know there are really three major and quite separate major VA Departments:

1. Veterans’ Health Administration (Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and all other VA Hospitals) --- they (except for perhaps three hospitals) provide the best and most thorough health care in our great nation,
2. Veterans’ Benefits Administration (Service Connected Disabilities Claims), The VBA leads and directs the delivery of Compensation, Pension, Education, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Loan Guaranty, and Insurance benefits., This is the department with the most challenges for many years with a back log in claims, lost claims, errors, and other problems but they are improving. And
3. National Cemetery Administration, which has been well run.

Good leaders know that it is only the Service Connected Disabilities Processing Part of the VA and the recent political appointees, in the VA Headquarters, except for the VA Secretary himself, that have major problems and backlog. Good leaders know that the VA Medical System is represented by outstanding VA Medical Centers, like the Five-Star Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC, which has been rated in the top ten percent of all public and private hospitals for quality of care and customer satisfaction for many years now.

Good leadership is guiding. Leadership is legendary. Leadership is foresight. Leadership is absorbent, abstinent, and, unfortunately, at times it is abominable. Leadership is baccalaureate, balanced, basic, and too frequently backward and barbaric. Leadership has saved lives, killed, stopped wars, and started wars. Leadership has walked softly and carried a big stick, but it has also been loud and nonviolent.

Saying what you do (in clear concise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Plans, Processes, and Operations Orders, and doing what you say and following those standardized processes is leadership. Breaking down communication barriers between staffs, line units, support organizations, political parties, and sister units is leadership. Getting at least a black belt in Lean Six Sigma techniques is leadership.

Leadership is not bragging to and threatening troops and employees. Leadership is not disrespecting our allies and their leaders. Catering to and complementing our worse enemies, like Russia and North Korea are not examples of leadership. Not following the advice of your expert staff and assistants in the diplomacy and defense areas is not leadership.

Asking deep probing questions (the five-why technique), finding root causes, and developing sound counter measures to mistake proof processes is leadership. Changing problems into opportunities is leadership. Knowing that you can seldom wait until you have all of the answers is leadership. Repeatedly doing simple things that demonstrate sincerity is leadership.

Leadership is honesty, enthusiasm, loyalty, courage, and wisdom. Taking care of your soldiers’, civilians, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and marines and their dependents is leadership. Leadership includes being a good boss, good comrade and friend, father or mother, son or daughter, sister or brother, and husband or wife. Being a trustworthy ally and predictable trade partner is good leadership. Knowing that the profession of arms is much more than just a job is leadership.

Being an unquestionable friend to the environment is leadership. Basing decisions on facts is leadership. Promoting and rewarding continuous improvement and value are leadership. Being a champion of safety and quality is leadership. Staying focused on internal customers, external customers, the enemy, and competitors is leadership. Finding and eliminating the eight types of waste (waiting, overproduction, rework, motion, transportation, processing, inventory, and intellect) is leadership.

Performing preventive maintenance, knowing what cellular techniques involve, being skilled in set-up reduction, understanding mixed-model methods, and understanding rocks-in-the river problem solving and inventory management is leadership. Knowing how to level and balance work load, understanding that distance (to supplies, replacements, ammunition, fuel, etc.) is usually evil. Ensuring things are at worst “in-time”, and at best “just in time” is leadership.

Leadership is enthusiasm, optimism, helping, training, encouraging, understanding, motivating, disciplining, crying, laughing, standing firm, giving way, counseling, correcting, giving a second chance, and trying again and again. Leaders are tall, short, thin, heavy, male, female, black, brown, white, yellow, old, young, and naturalized and un-naturalized. Leaders are from the city and from the farm. Leadership works hard to close the gap between a soldier’s and civilian employee’s potential and their performance.

Leadership is not committing adultery and certainly does not use wealth and law suits to shut up his critics and women he has had affairs with. Leadership must be earned and not bought or coerced.
Knowing how to use teams, flow charts (value streams and process maps), simple yet powerful statistical methods, simplification, continuous improvement, responsive complaint and suggestion programs, and standardization to get the tough jobs done is leadership. Leadership makes quality easy to see, feel, smell, taste, and hear, by finding root causes, mistake proofing the process, and permanently fixing the problem. Leadership is clarifying processes, identifying the detailed steps of each process, eliminating all non-value-added activities, and making every troop and employee an expert at common tasks --- everyone should be an Infantryman first!

Leadership is caring, compassion, understanding, concentric, and leading by example. Leadership knows that treating all prisoners and detainees in accordance with the Geneva Convention and other appropriate protections is absolutely essential to having any kind of chance of getting the same humane and dignified treatment for our Prisoners of War (POWs) from our enemies.

Leaders look you in the eye, kick you in the ass, cover your flank, and take your place on the most dangerous mission. Knowing there is “a place for everything and everything in its place” is leadership. Leadership admits mistakes and learns from them. Going through the food line and eating last is leadership. Leaving the pickup zone (PZ) last on the last helicopter is leadership. Going up the hill first and “pulling your troops up behind you” is leadership. Sharing the pains of heat, dirt, cold, wet, insects, leaches, fleas, lice, and other harsh environmental conditions is leadership. Packing your own roll and digging your own hole is leadership.

Leadership comes from experience, but experience comes from making mistakes. A leader changes the odds and knows the risks. Leaders develop and reward teamwork. The tides, the channels, the seasons, the winds, the hazards, the weather, the enemy (or for industry the competition), the terrain, and the best forecast are all known by leaders. Leadership knows that the one most important word is “we” and the least most important word is “I”. Leadership knows there is no end to change, except failure. Leadership knows that if you treat every customer (and trooper) like your last or first, you would never have to worry about repeat business.

Leaders often make good grades in school and have numerous years of formal education and many important degrees. Less often however, they also have been known to fail Math, English, and other equally important subjects. Leaders make sure the enemy gives his life for his cause. Leadership ensures his troops always have the tactical advantage, best training, best equipment, and the highest morale, plenty of water, rest, and hot food. Leaders work hard at ensuring the workload is distributed equally among all troops and workers.

Leadership comes from family, friends, teachers, coaches, and pastors. Simple, easy-to-understand orders come from leaders. Complex tasks are changed into short and accurate plans through leadership. Leadership can be learned and taught, but it cannot be forgotten nor brought. Leadership can be seen, tasted, smelled, felt, and heard, and it can come from a blind person with no hands who cannot hear, speak, nor walk.

Leadership does his or her best to observe the ten commandments. As Tomas Paine said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way”. Finally, a leader is so in love with life that he or she is willing to die to ensure that others live, and our great nation will go on!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Larry Dandridge is a certified Business Process Reengineering Specialist, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, successful non-fiction and military history author. He is the CEO of Tigers, Vikings, and Vipers Publishing LLC. His latest all five-star reviewed, military-history, action-packed book, BLADES OF THUNDER (BOOK ONE) has raised over $60,000.00 for FISHER HOUSE CHARLESTON.

Response by PO3 Dennis Workman made Aug 26 at 2018 2:17 PM

2018-08-26T14:17:56-04:00

It reminds me of a scene from the old movie Away all Boats. The captain explaining to subordinates why the sailor who grinds the garbage is so valuable to the ship. He may not be military or sanitary, but he likes to grind garbage and is the only man who can be trusted to do it right.

Response by PO2 John Driskill made Aug 27 at 2018 7:58 PM

2018-08-27T19:58:26-04:00

Ships can be commanded by excellent officers or total jerks. When I was on the USS Lexington in the early 1970’s we had a skipper who everyone loved working for, who inspired everyone to do their best for the team. Then came Capt Carter AKA Charlie Tuna. He destroyed moral and made a whole series of career mistakes like running the ship on a sand bar when leaving the yards in Boston. One morning the crew was advised to tune into the ships tv station. There was the shortest change of command ceremony. Our beloved former skipper was becoming the skipper again for a second time. Capt Carter was off to The beach.

Response by SPC Mike Davis made Oct 8 at 2018 9:38 AM

2018-10-08T09:38:30-04:00

My wife and I enjoy watching the deck crew on You Tube. They are very good at their jobs and especially the director moving the planes into position. Very proud of each and every one.