Whose leadership style do you emulate more: LT Lynn "Buck" Compton or LT Richard Winters?

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:15:38 -0400

Out of these two types of leaders, who would you prefer as your boss?

What do you like and dislike about their leadership style?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 12:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:28:52 -0400

I would like to think that I emulate both. However, I believe that I am more like Buck Compton. He was definitely concerned with morale and welfare and I strive to do the same.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Sep 10 at 2014 12:45 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:45:54 -0400

I'm definitely more like LT Compton, fun, outgoing, and junior soldiers tend to get a bit too comfy with me. Sometimes I wish I was more like LT Winters, reserved and quiet although I don't like how his soldiers feel a little uneasy about him.
I'm trying to find that balance now.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Sep 10 at 2014 1:00 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:00:18 -0400

Little of both.

If "Band of Brothers" was even remotely realistic, Buck Compton had a very familiar style of leadership that worked well at the company level. Dick Winters had a more professional, yet still personable, style that served him better in his commands.

The common thread was that they both clearly demonstrated "Mission first, Men always."

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 1:13 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:13:50 -0400

Neither. Leadership is situational--that's the thing we don't teach well. Effective leaders adapt to the situation. For example, they may need to rely more on junior or senior advisers, they may need to listen more and talk less, they may also need to be more directive--depending on the situation and the mission. There is no one size fits all leadership style. Better to glean the best of what you like and remember the worst lest you repeat it. One article I wrote for the Army: "The Greatest Leader I NEVER Knew" might be worth reading.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 1:32 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:32:25 -0400

I aspire to be more like Dick Winters. He was a great leader. He was very tactical and analytical of the situation he found himself in. He wasn't afraid to lead and would often lead from the front. Even when faced with difficult situations he always took care of his men. After all of that he volunteered for more. Buck was also a great leader not on par with Winters.

Although Spears was pretty bad ass.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 1:50 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:50:10 -0400

I would figure you as more like SGT Randleman, "The Bull" SSG V. Michelle Woods

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Sep 10 at 2014 1:53 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:53:25 -0400

Well SSG V. Michelle Woods , I am more like Gen. Patton, JUN JIN (To the front) as was said in Korea, of course mines don't count.. lol

But I was actually wondering since your currently in the military which one do you emulate?

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 10 at 2014 1:55 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:55:53 -0400

Since Sergeant Major Basil Plumley is not one of the choices, I will choose Major Dick Winters. Mostly because I remember is cool, analytical style. Also, I don't remember LT Cpton well enough for him to have it made an impression.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 2:15 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:15:08 -0400

PS--we forgot to hand out Steps for Success during my talk at Ft Bragg. Let me know if you want a copy. Email me at [login to see] .

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 3:02 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:02:46 -0400

Neither. CPT Ronald Spiers. Get the job done. Get it done efficiently. Do what a soldier needs to do. Everything else is excess.

Response by MSgt Guillermo Ybarra III (HVAC Recruiter) made Sep 10 at 2014 3:37 PM

MSgt Guillermo Ybarra III (HVAC Recruiter) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:37:37 -0400

Compton I think.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Sep 10 at 2014 6:29 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:29:37 -0400

I just want everyone to know I appreciate your responses and I am using this as professional development. I apologize if I don't respond in a timely manner because I am currently in ALC however I am actively reading the answers each time we get a break from class.

LTC Paul Labrador thank you for pointing out the faults of these two leaders (LT Compton). The reason I asked is because, although they were both great leaders in their own way, they both also had faults that I can learn from.

Thanks yall :)

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 10 at 2014 6:53 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:53:03 -0400

See you made me do it. Changed your profile picture and I had to look.

I'm a mixture of both. as a Company grade I tended to be friendlier with the troops - always have and was just because it is my nature. As a senior CPT and field grade regulated to more staff oriented taskings my mentality gravitated towards more strategic thinking. Always had time to share a coffee and a joke with any SM at any level though.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 10:21 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:21:54 -0400

SSG Woods,

LT Winters all day long!

V/r

MSG Haro

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2014 11:05 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:05:47 -0400

For the most part I think I am like Winters; calm, reserved, analyticle and respectful. On occasion there is a little bit of Spiers that comes out when a job just has to get done. Might be an awkward mental ballance but it has worked well enough for me so far.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Dec 16 at 2014 6:47 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 06:47:31 -0500

Buck. If I know what the boss wants, it's easier to make it happen.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 7 at 2015 1:24 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 13:24:26 -0500

Dick Winters. The man, the myth the legend.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jan 7 at 2015 1:40 PM

MSG David Johnson — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 13:40:10 -0500

Ok, so I had to look up who the two were? Yes, I did see Band of Brothers, but if you try to emulate the leadership style of others you are doing favors to no one.
Your leadership style has to be your own and no one else's. Over my 25 years I've had great leadership, and I've had totally toxic leaders. Being threatened with a courts martial every time I did something my 2LT PL didn't like is very bad leadership. I watched and learned. How was the Frankenstein monster created? With parts of others, but in the end you would have to say that all those different parts were actually Frankenstein?
At one point in my career I was offered the chance to go to the SGT Morales board, I declined the offer because of all the time it would have taken me away from my team. In hindsight I kick myself a lot over that decision, but I was sent in front of many, and won, NCO of the month, NCO of the Quarter, and lost by 1/2 point in the separate battalions board. What did I learn from all those boards? That appearance, confidence, and knowing what you are talking about is key.
I brought all these qualities with me to every position I was posted, whether team level, squad, section, platoon sergeant, and platoon leader positions.
Every leader has their own leadership style and should be proud of that point, if you try to use someone else's style you are only failing your subordinates. Because leadership has to be flexible or something is going to break. Like CPT Sobel in the mini series, he was the type that was 'My way is the only way' is the only way and he would not bend.
There are good leaders in garrison, and there are good leaders in the field. It's a rare breed who are both, IMHO.
There will be those who disagree with the type of leadership I used, but for me it worked, not 100% of the time but you can't please everyone.
As for the original question, Winters.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Dec 2 at 2018 5:22 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 05:22:31 -0500

I actually think I once may have very briefly seen Maj Winters when my wife and I were on a trip to Hershey, PA, there was a 101st Airborne reunion meeting there, he was sitting at a table, kind of weird, I didn't know it was him at the time, just that it was a 101st reunion, from what I could see, weird, I know, however, later, I think I recognized him from the HBO videos, plus, he apparently lived right there with his family, as I'd learned later, he was tall, lean, with silver hair and metal rmmed glasses, wearing the same kind of dark shirt with a high collar, the group was there for a breakfast, I just happened to walk in at that moment, we'd been there to see the Hershey factory and amusement park, I had no idea I'd encounter them all, obviously...needless to say, I was obviously totally taken aback at the time, more so still when I realized who he was later, certainly....