Who has been the most influential leader to you in your military career and why?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 00:36:47 -0500

If you wouldn’t mind sharing, I’d love to get to hear everyone’s perspective on this in order to gain insight on how to become a better “leader” myself.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 12:41 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 00:41:55 -0500

I think my first squad leader was the most influential, because of the simplistic way to show me and teach me the right way to do things as a young Soldier. That said, there have been countless leaders alone my career that have influenced me to be better and achieve new heights.

Response by 1SG Jason Rose made Dec 26 at 2018 1:19 AM

1SG Jason Rose — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 01:19:21 -0500

I have always read biographies of 1sg/CSMs during change of responsibilities to see what they have done over their careers. Many have set the example for us to follow. Be yourself when it comes to leadership. Learn how to discipline when needed and lend an ear as well when the situation calls for it. No one leadership style fits all situations. It will be up to you and the experience you gain to understand when to apply it. Lots of leadership books, regulations and inspiration out there. I enjoy reading pro athletes stories about how they got to be where they are at in their careers. Best of luck to you!

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 2:57 AM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 02:57:12 -0500

Actually I know it’s lame and not wha your looking for but my DS. He’s bad ass. But I’ve been 6 months in , and my platoon leader is dope. He’s hard. Smoked me for over an hour arriving in the unit but he’s “ motivational “. Deploying soon and under his direction I feel I made the right decision. Infantry!!!

Response by SGT David D. made Dec 26 at 2018 3:20 AM

SGT David D. — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 03:20:42 -0500

Sgt. Johnny Lashley,(I'm not sure of the spelling...it was 37 years ago) he was my first Squad Leader, and a Vietnam Vet. He was not a straight arrow, but he was a straight shooter. if you screwed up you would know it.
If you needed help, ON OR OFF DUTY, he was there for you, if he couldn't personally help you he would know who to reach out to.
CW3 Dennis Williams, my Maintenance Officer, also a Vietnam vet, for the exact same reasons that I stated for Sgt. Lashley
From both examples I learned,
Rule #1, TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE, and if possible keep it between you and the individual.
but you also have know when to get help, and bring others in.

When I arrived at my second duty station, 8th Tran Co. 11th Trans BN, 7th Trans Group, Ft. Story Va. in March of 1986. There was a married soldier ( E-3 or E-4 I can't remember ) living off post with his family, and he was conically late for formation, and had been counselled by he Squad leader, and he may have already been busted down in rank. ( Sorry, my memory isn't perfect ). By the way, this individual was in the same platoon, but in a different Squad.
Long story short one of the guys in my squad filled me in on what was going down. so I started asking questions,
Why was the guy late? his car was unreliable.
Why didn't he replace it? he didn't have the money or the credit to buy anything else.
What is wrong with his car?, it needed to be rebuilt.
Why don't we all get together go over to his house and rebuild the motor this weekend?...... I got crickets.
So, me and a bunch of guys ( All volunteers NOT voluntolds) from both my squad and the individual's squad spent the next weekend rebuilding that motor.......... He was never late to formation again.
As a bonus I EARNED the trust of my people, and passed on the same values I learned from Sgt. Lashley, and Mr Williams.

Trust and Respect are EARNED, you can try and demand it, but it will just not be the same.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 7:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 07:41:55 -0500

"Most" is a difficult question, though there are several throughout time that left their mark. These are just a few of my leaders from the past.

My Drill Sergeant SSG Clay at D 169 Engineer Company in 1996-7 set the right tone in the right way to motivate and turn me into a Soldier.

1SG Wolf from the 834th Engineer Company in the Iowa National Guard was my PSG enlisted and my 1SG as a Cadet platoon leader. He understood and effectively motivated different Soldiers in the way that they needed to be motivated. It was impressive to watch and even more impressive looking back and realizing that he used it on me.

CPT Stanton commander of the 4th MP Company 4ID before and during the invasion of Iraq. He did an outstanding job of setting the conditions for success at the platoon level by ensuring every opportunity to train was taken advantage of. His subservient approach to leadership was key to the units success I'm combat.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Dec 26 at 2018 8:05 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 08:05:56 -0500

There were many, but one who is already a Rallypoint member COL David Lee

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Dec 26 at 2018 10:03 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 10:03:03 -0500

My 1st Sgt from my old engineer unit, always there to help me, when i would volunteer in my time to do administration work, he would order a soldier to bring me to the reserve center, and he would have the one of admin staff sgt to take me to eat. Nicest 1st sgt and influence in many way.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Dec 26 at 2018 7:35 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 19:35:39 -0500

The two biggest influences on my career were the junior drill sergeant of my platoon during OSUT and a supervisor I had when I recruited. The former was a Haitian, that hated white people and was a grade a jerk, racist asshole. He taught me absolutely nothing during OSUT and showed me how an NCO was not supposed to act. The latter managed his people by threatening them with their job and intimidation. He taught me that there is more to managing people than threats and intimidation.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Dec 27 at 2018 12:59 AM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 00:59:32 -0500

1984 - BMC Anthony J. Warren. Awarded the Navy League Munro award for inspirational leadership in 1984 (USCG). Chief Warren adopted my boot camp company in support of my Company Commander while leading his own company. Crusty old salt that I greatly admired. In 1982 when I spent two weeks at Station Miami Beach as a 2/C cadet, I was warmly welcomed by BMC Warren. He was OinC of the station, assigned to clean up previous bad behaviors. He remembered me and gave me free run of what I needed to get done. He was being used as a trouble shooter to "fix" poor performing units. Chief Warren cleaned up a lot of units. He will always be my ideal Chief Petty Officer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 10:34 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:34:00 -0500

When I was enlisted, it was my supervisor. He's waiting on SGM academy dates, I'm waiting on dates to finish a course so that I can make Major. As an LT, it was the company 1SG. As a company commander, a pair of SFCs that one touched something it turned to gold and the other turned it to platinum. Say what you will, but I really worked for them. ;)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 12:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 12:30:54 -0500

My most influential have all been instructors. SSG Wood in my (at the time) BLC was an amazing example of leadership. Both of my Senior Instructors now at the Basic Military Police reclassification school are amazing as well. As instructors we dont have the classic set up of most companies, so their leadership can be challenging.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 3:06 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 15:06:36 -0500

One of my most influentially leader I've had is my current CSM. I've never met a CSM in my career until my current duty assignment who have been involved with the troops as much as my CSM. I can honestly say she truly cares for and take care of her troops. She will literally talk to the lower enlist one on one and ask what we need done as far as training, equipment, or anything work related and she makes things happen. She's also not opposed to mentoring individual troops either.

If the NCO creed was an actual person it will most definitely be her. She is for the troops 100%.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 6:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 18:08:25 -0500

One of mine was an Engineer Captain when I was a PFC. He wasn't even my leader or anywhere in my chain of command, but what I observed of him had a strong impact on me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2018 10:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:24:22 -0500

Here is my top 3 influential leaders I've had. 1. My DS back in Benning. I will never forget during combat simulation when I fell asleep in the prone, he threw a flash/bang directly in front of me and woke me up. He showed how easy you could get killed in combat. From that point on, I took everything seriously and took the skills he taught me and survived 27 months on the mean streets of Baghdad and Al-Anbar province.

2. My old infantry PSG (Ret CSM): I never seen an E-7 with so much power and influence in my whole 20 year career. This guy had soo much influence that when the whole entire FT Carson was off, we were the only platoon on a live fire range. The BC said he can do what he want..... Or the time when he told a new Soldier, hey if you screw up again, I will send you to Korea. The Soldier called his bluff. I be damn, less than a month later, this Soldier got orders to Korea. But this PSG was for the Soldiers. He took the time to listen to you and treated Soldiers fairly. He didn't believe in giving soldiers article 15's, but he would give you corrective training that fit the crime..........

3. My old 1SG (Ret CSM): After standing at parade rest for an hour in the middle of a snowstorm, the 1SG was lecturing us about how we as Soldiers especially NCO'S take everything that people say as a grain of salt or golden words and that we don't like to read. He basically said everything dealing with the Army is covered in black and white, just have to take the time to research regulations and read. How can you give Soldiers guidance if you as a NCO don't know where to look. He said if you know your regulations or know where to find the right answer, people can not touch you. That long cold speech stuck with me.

Response by MSG Stephen Oles made Dec 29 at 2019 3:29 PM

MSG Stephen Oles — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:29:22 -0500

While I was the senior logistics/operations MSG, at an ARCOM level, I worked with (not for) a major named James Helmly. He was a Soldiers soldier. As head of the Supply and Services section (DCSLOG), he was a “tell it like it is leader” and expected his NCO’s to do the same. He gave me a mission and let me run with it. He taught me that General’s and senior officer’s put their pants on just like the rest of us do, and when briefing them, tell them what they needed to know without a dog and pony show. He passed on his knowledge with the only recognition accepted was mission accomplishment. He taught me that the most important soldier was the PVT at the bottom of the food chain. This major rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and the well deserved position of commander, US Army Reserve. I am extremely proud and honored that his signature was on my NCOR’s.

Response by CSM Stuart Fuller made Jan 1 at 2020 7:50 PM

CSM Stuart Fuller — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 19:50:10 -0500

A junior LTC that went to be a Major General. Allowed me the flexibility to do my job succeed or fail

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2020 8:26 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:26:22 -0500

We had a LTC, nurse by trade. The man exemplified the army values and was a fair, considerate leader. He was down to earth and would talk with young soldiers in a very mentoring way. Very approachable. He was also prior enlisted and would join in doing menial work when his time allowed (like setting up tents).

My current 1SG has also showed me a lot of what it is to be an NCO. I consider him a mentor and have gone to him for guidance and advice on many occasions. I also see him as a fair leader and a realist - he doesn’t ask for bullshit and doesn’t give it either.

Response by Sgt Yevgeniy Malyasin made Sep 21 at 2022 9:32 PM

Sgt Yevgeniy Malyasin — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:32:04 -0400

Gunnery sergeant John Basilone.