Here's how to learn your entitlements as a leader

2016-03-18T15:41:11-04:00

So now you’re a leader. The big cheese ! Time to get ready for the perks to start flowing. IBM and Apple wouldn’t ignore your contributions, and neither should the Government- Right? After all, DoD owes you for many years of service. It is time to “Thank Us” for our service! So here is the secret that nobody lets you know- You are entitled to nothing and your Subordinates are entitled to everything. The minute you feel entitled, we offer two choices: 1) Change your attitude 2) Find another profession. What? That is harsh! Not really, our nation deserves leaders that are more concerned about their subordinates and organizations than themselves. If you feel entitled, which is common, reflect on the parents that allow our subordinates to serve. Those families entrust us to care for their sons and daughters. This is a no fail mission. Would you want your son or daughter serving for an entitled leader? No! Here at ProDev2Go, we believe that entitlement is counter to the good order of our organizations. Focus on others more than yourself and you will become an effective leader!

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Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Mar 18 at 2016 4:02 PM

2016-03-18T16:02:16-04:00

Very good, sir. This applies across the vast spectrum of people in authority. The American way of war has always (except for U.S. Grant) been to fight the enemies of the republic with the least expenditure of blood possible. The biggest problem of this has been well entrenched enemies in fortified areas (think the German west wall along the entire Rhine River), failure to provide an adequate military force in key areas during peace time (think of the Philippines in 1941), and entitled leaders who did not take the well fare of subordinates into consideration.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Mar 18 at 2016 4:16 PM

2016-03-18T16:16:41-04:00

Well said sir, the best leaders in my opinion our servant leaders. All of us at times need a heavy dose of self-evaluation and realism as we are all imperfect creatures.

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Mar 18 at 2016 5:15 PM

2016-03-18T17:15:21-04:00

This is a low tone attitude. Our Government thinks they are entitled to Denied us relief at the Local VA. making us warriors feel helplessly needy. Pay your bills on that paycheck when you get out. Know Sir you are miss informed. You are entitled to Very thing you can get. After all is that not what all our service has been about. Taking things away from others for their 100% use of our Government? You are selling yourself short.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 18 at 2016 7:42 PM

2016-03-18T19:42:56-04:00

The troops aren't entitled to anything either. We don't need an entitled bunch of whiners in the ranks. Treat them like warriors not children. You should take care of the people in your charge, letting them eat first, making sure they have good gear and access to things they need to be successful, looking out for their general welfare but not because the are entitled to it but because you value them and want to show respect for them and their service. We should drop the word entitled from the vernacular of the military. There should be respect not entitlement.

My son does serve today in the Marines. If I thought for a second he had a leadership structure that thought he was "entitled to everything" and needed to be made to feel special I would suggest he leave immediately. I did not entrust the Marine Corps to "care for" my son except in the sense that they were concerned about his general welfare. I entrusted them to instill the values of the Marine Corps in him. To develop skills and capabilities of a warrior and to teach him his job and make him proficient so in the event he went into battle he would be ready.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Mar 18 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-03-18T21:09:51-04:00

This is a good issue for sure and for purposes of this discussion I am not quite clear in my mind about the differences and/or similarities between such as 'entitlements', 'perks of rank and position' and 'privilege of rank'. The president of a company has an office on the 43d floor, I work in the mail room and stare at a concrete wall. the general has a 40 man hand-picked staff of boosters, I am a general's aide and shine his shoes. I would hate to work my way to general and end up sleeping in a double rack behind the day room to show I am no better than the common Pvt. Any insights or perspectives would be appreciated.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 18 at 2017 11:38 AM

2017-07-18T11:38:03-04:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member: Thank You, Colonel! One thought that comes to mind: "Pride goeth before a fall". Also, I learned, in the Army: that one can learn from the Private on up; and from the General on down.
Also, one needs to respect others: more than oneself.
-Most Sincerely, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: former Squad Leader