Who was your role model?

2014-05-08T17:57:10-04:00

Who is that one person that you encountered in your career that you wanted be like? Do you have just one or were there many? I know for me I have had some awesome leaders but one stands out in my mind always! He is the one I strive to be like. He was my 1SG when I was a young Soldier and he retired as the regimental CSM for 3rd ACR. William Burns...... That man was motivating, and knew his stuff. He was hard, but he was fair. One could learn from him and he would take care of business. He ran our troop with an Iron fist but it left a great impression on me, as well as many others.

So who was that leader for you?

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 8 at 2014 6:03 PM

2014-05-08T18:03:11-04:00

Simply put, my father> Survived WWII, China, Burma, India Theater. Korean War. Vietnam War 1968-1969. Bronze Star for Valor, Multiple Good Conduct Medals, Vietnam Service Ribbon. Korean War Medal. Just to name a few. RIP Dad

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 7:08 PM

2014-05-08T19:08:47-04:00

A guy once said to me - "if you see someone doing what you want to do, do what they did". And that's what I've done. My greatest mentor however is my current boss/rater. I've never seen anyone so committed to the health/welfare of the warfighter as he is. It's inspirational. He starts with emails at 0400, and I'm happy to keep up.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 8 at 2014 7:12 PM

2014-05-08T19:12:29-04:00

COL Reed E Hudgins...

He just did everything with such style, and frankly he was brilliant. There wasn't any topic you could bring up that he hadn't written a doctoral thesis on ;)And his motivation was through the roof. He just made you WANT to be better.. I suppose paternal would be an appropriate word.. You just loved and respected him so much, you just wanted to succeed.

Response by SGT Jerrod Sieberg made May 9 at 2014 12:22 AM

2014-05-09T00:22:45-04:00

That would be my uncle CSM (ret.) Knickerbocker. I first met him when he was still a SFC deployed in Germany circa 1982, and then when I went into the Army and Armor training at Ft. Knox, he happened to be the post CSM. I learned a lot from him and was always a good sounding board later on in my career.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made May 9 at 2014 12:37 PM

2014-05-09T12:37:08-04:00

I also know CSM(R) Burns, SFC(P) Gilley. I absolutely concur with your sediments. I have had the privilege of being around some great leaders in my career. Each of them has steered my life both professionally and personally. CSM(R) Christopher Taylor, my SQDN CSM when I was a Platoon Sergeant in 3/4 CAV, said something all the time and it still resonates with me to this day. He said that "if you do the right thing all the time, you will never have to look over your shoulder." While that may sound cliché, those words are truth and I have tried to live by them everyday.

Response by 1SG Alan Bailey made May 9 at 2014 5:19 PM

2014-05-09T17:19:57-04:00

1SG (RET) Danny Belk, No matter what he is always there for me to talk to, he has tought me alot and to this day gives me advice when I need it. The way I do things today are from examples I got from him 10 years ago.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 12:16 PM

2014-05-10T12:16:15-04:00

The biggest role model in both my life and military career is my father, he is a retired Chief Petty Officer who was a submariner for his entire 25 yr career. He taught me when I was young what a good NCO is, what a good father is, and most importantly what a good man is. After him there was SGT Dereck Hayes in my first unit, taught me to be the subject matter expert in whatever the military has me doing, SGT Elizabeth Lalone (she is younger then me in both age and military experience) she took the time to help me with my career when i was ready to give up, and also CPL Spree from my first unit, i didn't admire him or look up to him but i did learn from him how not to be. And then there was my 1st SGT from the corps (cant remember his name) taught me to expect not perfection but what I know my troops are capable of and to reward and look out protect them when they perform as expected, makes them want to work for you

Response by LT Stephen Amiaga made May 10 at 2014 12:49 PM

2014-05-10T12:49:24-04:00

Easy. Captain H. Wyman Howard, Jr. (HWH2) USN, Ret. He wasn't my dad, but he treated me like a son. My first CO, my best CO, and #2 in a row of three NAVY CAPTAINS, all of whom I have the highest respect for. I repeat stuff he said all the time. Indelible marks made on my present and the future I'm living in to.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 10 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-05-10T19:51:59-04:00

I had lots of Military Role Models. SGT Jack K Nagel (Dad) MM2 Fred Wesling (Uncle) Seaman First Class William Nagel (Uncle) CWO Joe Bauer (Neighbor) Capt Carl Lewis (Neighbor. CWO Robert Payne First Divo, CTOCM Robert "Red" Adams and CTOCM Charlie Walters First SEAs. RADM Grace Hopper (Grandmother of the Computer Age) and Maggie Turner (First Female Black Capt US Navy from the Computer/Telecommunications field and my boss).

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 9 at 2014 4:03 PM

2014-06-09T16:03:39-04:00

This list is long and distinguished as I've had so many over the years so here are the highlights

CPT Harry Lawson and SGM Marc Larochelle, my ROTC mentors
SFC Benjamin Moultrie, my first PSG
CW4 Jim Shaw, my tech guru from my 10th MTN days
SGM Jim Russell & MSG Don Iafrate, my long time commo NCOs
BG Jim Keighley my senior for most of my career and the only RI National Guard officer to deploy to a combat zone and serve as a company, battalion and brigade commander.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 9 at 2014 4:26 PM

2014-06-09T16:26:19-04:00

I come from a military family on my father and mother sides of the family there were four (4) who really stuck out the most, there was my Great-Uncles one a decorated soldier in World War II, a cousin who was a war hero in the Korean War, and two Great-Uncles who retired as decorated war heroes in Viet Nam.