I was only nine years old, but I can almost still feel the bitter cold and the excitement in the thin air while sitting in the stands in the Rocky Mountains. The rivalry between the two Service Academies was at an all time high as the coveted Commander in Chiefs trophy was still up for grabs. Although the battle ensuing on the field between the two foes was formidable, it was the battle upon what to do with my life that was of greater consequence. The outcome of the game is now forgotten but the impression that the young servicemembers left would forever be etched in the back of my mind. Despite my young age, I knew that I would answer the call to join these young men and women and the values that were instilled in me would allow me to join their ranks. At this game, I concluded that the values my parents taught me would play a vital role in my development as an officer, lead to important experiences and fulfill the Air Force mission while supporting our joint services. Growing up, my parents made it abundantly clear the importance of the values of service, education and leadership. Through his example as a firefighter, my father instilled in me the importance of duty and service to others. My mother, a preschool teacher, taught that education was the cornerstone to success. Combined, they were actively involved in school activities that my sister and I participated in, often as the presidents of the Parent Teacher Association, demonstrating the necessity to lead organizations. These values, covertly demonstrated throughout my life, made me want to surround myself with like minded people and I knew I could if I answered the call of the young cadets during that cold November football game. While in high school, I d... ... middle of paper ... ...difficult tactical flying available to be the most rewarding yet the most important experience that I have accomplished to date. As a young impressionable child sitting in the freezing stands of a football game high in the mountains, I began the dream of joining the ranks of the young cadets in my presence. I easily related to the values that these cadets exemplified and knew the standards that I would have to meet in order to become one of them. As I progressed through life, my parents positively influenced me through the values of service, education and leadership to achieve my goal of becoming a cadet and later as an officer in the Air Force. As an officer, I rose to the challenge of becoming a pilot, allowing me to fulfill the mission of global reach for the military by precisely placing crucial supplies to forward operating bases throughout Afghanistan.
The Army requires its members to adhere to prolonged training and learn specialized skills. From the moment a soldier transitions from the civilian sector into the Army, he is indoctrinated with training. Regardless of rank, the Army demands each soldier to be technically proficient and mentally competent in order to be qualified in a respective Military Occupation Specialty. As a soldier progresses in his military career, he is required to continue his education and training. Army leaders are expected and required to continue developing their skills through academic studies, operational experience, and institutional training. An opposing view argues that anyone can learn these skills; however, statistics show less than 0.5% of the population serves in the armed forces, indicating a soldier is a rare mix of intelligence and character.1 These lessons are necessary qualifications to achieve what General Martin Dempsey describes as “effectiveness rather than efficiency.”2 Much like the profession of medicine which must heal, the media which must provide truth, and law which must provide justice, the profession of arms must provide secur...
Being in the military I have came across a number of different leadership/management styles and tried to adopt some of those that I thought were effective. The values that we hold in the military are expected to be at a higher standard then our civilian counterpart. This is something that I do not take for granted and try to live by our core values. The core values in the Air Force are what guide our organization and something that I have tried to represent my whole Air Force career. “In May 1995, then-Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall, and then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Ronald Fogleman, established the Air Force Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.” If you as a manager can abide by these values while supervising your people, no matter how many that would be, then morally you can feel like you did your best as a manager.
While in the U.S Army I have encountered many leaders. When I reminisce on the past and try to remember all of the different leaders I have encountered, I realize they have all influenced my life in different ways. Although some of the leaders I have had made bad impressions, most have influenced my life positively. Throughout the years I have been in the U.S Army, one particular leader has helped me develop into the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) I am today. I am Staff Sergeant Eric Duty and I would not be the professional I am today without SGT Buchan’s leadership.
Every day of my life I have woken up to the sound of Reveille, and gone to bed listening to Taps. I have moved nine different times, know the feeling of having my dad deploy more than four times, and eating Thanksgiving dinner in a DEFAC is second-nature to me. Being an army child is a huge part of my life, however it does not define who I am; it has shaped how I view the world. Because of my life as a military child, I have determined that I am compelled to positively influence how others view life.
I’m a prior enlisted officer with many years in the service. My long Air Force career and current leadership characteristics have been molded by incidents in my life and career. These incidents include my grandfather’s influence, significant events in my Air Force career, and my contributions to Air Force and national intelligence objectives in my current job. These three things are the leading factors that have made me the leader I am today. Each of these things contributed to different traits like; dedication to hard work, honesty, goal setting, initiative, persistence, and many more.
I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to define and identify what an Army Legacy Leader means to me. A type of legacy a Military professional would like to leave behind and continue to inspire one’s life. As well as, the kind of legacy, I would like to leave behind. What makes a Military professional in the United States (US) Army a legacy leader? A Legacy Leader in the US Army can be anyone that achieves extraordinary awards such as receiving a Medal of Honor. A Legacy Leader can, also, be anyone who has the ability to endure exceptional pain to accomplish the mission. In my opinion, a Legacy Leader is a Military professional that can mentor, lead, motivate, train and provide a sense of wellbeing to their subordinates. As well as, encourage
Her years in the Air force takes her to many places across the world (something she had never imagined when she was graduating from high school) and through many experiences via which she learned many lessons. The author has compiled the best of these experiences in this book. She also
A month after graduating from high school in June of 1940, young Othal T. Parsons joined the army to "serve my country, beat the draft, and become a bigshot." He was lured by the Army recruiting posters clarioning "I WANT YOU." Parsons worked his way up through four different armored divisions as an enlisted man until he became Second Lieutenant Othal T. Parsons, Mortar Pla...
As our forefathers before us stated, ‘‘No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army (“The NCO Creed written by SFC Earle Brigham and Jimmie Jakes Sr”). These words to the Noncommissioned Officer should inspire us to the fullest with pride, honor, and integrity. The NCO creed should mean much more than just words whenever we attend an NCO’s school.
Earlier in March 2014 the senior leadership of the Air Force, to include the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, made a statement to all airmen. They stated that “being an Airman is more than a job, when we voluntarily raised our right hands and took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, we became members of the profession of arms”, they also said that along with our profession of arms we are given and accept a sacred trust given to us by the American people, that to be worthy of this trust we must “build our lives and shape our service on the foundation of our core values”, and that when Airmen fail to live up to our core values, the reputation of all who serve is tarnished” (letter to airman, Mar 2014). Recently, I was tasked to deliver a briefing for the J3 monthly training day. This tasking was a result of my negligence in updating a certain system that is vital to the J3 watch floor. My briefing, although filled with correct information and guidance, was also slaked with profanity and unprofessional gestures. Regardless of any circumstances that may have been the cause for these actions, the actions needed correction. Correction was given, which was responded to by more profanity and provoking actions. After I showed such disrespect to my non-commissioned officer in charge, he escorted me to my supervisor and my actions were made known to him. During this time I was still acting very contentious and disrespectful, making snide comments and standing with such contempt as if to say “are you done now”. This of course escalated into more serious action by my leadership which very well could have been avoided had I done my duty correctly in the first place. The...
As I have developed in my job, school, and as a person, I found that I enjoyed helping others and want to become a leader. This paper will further describe how my experiences and background have shaped the leader I am today.
Serving in the Army for the past fifteen years, as a Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, Cadet, and Commissioned Officer, I have gained a wealth of military leadership knowledge and experience. Since completing my undergraduate studies and earning my commission in the Army, I have held a variety of command and staff positions. I have led Soldiers in garrison, as well as on combat and operational deployments, each having its own unique challenges and rewards. Throughout the years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving on many great teams and with many outstanding Leaders.
As the bus entered the heavily guarded military instillation, I gazed upon the sign that read, "Be All that You Can Be." When the bus stopped, several angry Drill Instructors boarded and began introducing us to a very colorful vocabulary, usually reserved for drunken Sailors. They instructed us to gather our belongings, get off the bus and assemble in a circular formation. As I searched for the strength to get up, I found myself moving, while several Drill Instructors yelled at us for our clumsy attempt to dismount the bus and fall into formation. I wondered if I had made the right choice. However, I have come to realize that my military experiences have tremendously enhanced my self-worth. From those first eight weeks of Basic Training to the day I walked out with an honorable discharge, I gained an enormous amount of skill and confidence. I grew as a person, and I learned life skills: discipline, tenacity, leadership, and problem solving abilities, all of which will enhance my potential as a student.
Immediately after graduating high school I was not ready to attend college. I had little direction and was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. The majority of my concern stemmed from the cost of college tuition. My parents shared this concern and asked that I pursue other options. I had never considered the military until a close friend suggested the Coast Guard after laughing off my extravagant plan to become a lifeguard on the beaches of California at age eighteen. I was yearning to leave Ohio for California. Six months later, newly graduated from boot camp I left for the USCGC Sherman, a 378-ft high endurance cutter out of Alameda, Ca.