Leadership Philosophy
Our mission is to train Soldiers so we can fight and win our nation’s wars. The foundation of these main goals are founded in and formed by our attitude. We must strive to develop, maintain and present a strong positive attitude, as this is not only for our benefit, but for our peers and subordinates. Possessing a strong and positive mindset allows us to maintain mission and operational readiness so that we will be able to deploy and perform to our greatest ability. So we can perform these duties to the best of our ability, these are essential principles I expect us to uphold:
Standards, Discipline, and Professionalism
Standards are knowing and understanding the rules and their purposes for our organization. Discipline is abiding by these rules and policies without being told, and when no one else is looking. Professionalism is your conduct. We are professionals in our respective fields and we will always act accordingly. A rule to live by is that we only receive one first impression–there are no second chances to prove you are a professional, only that you know how to recover. The values that we uphold in our organization are the foundation of our lifestyles. They are not conscious decisions we must constantly make, they ought to be ingrained into our habits so that we always act according to our standards with discipline and professionalism. Exercising these principles is what will allow us to not only be good leaders, but good peers and followers so that we may support the unit as a whole with our every decision. If what you or others do does not appear right, it is your individual responsibility to correct or assist them or yourself.
Leadership
Every leader within the organization is expected to lead by example and enforce standards at all times. Leaders must know their soldiers on a personal, yet professional level so they can more adequately lead them. Knowing those you lead is an integral part of being a leader as it allows you to further understand what exactly motivates your soldiers; it helps you teach, develop, mentor, and operate with them. A leader must maintain proficiency in all aspects of their MOS: tactical and technical. Should anyone they lead have an issue or question, it is that leader’s responsibility to be a source of knowledge on their topic of expertise. With this knowledge, a leader should be able to provide sufficient information as to the purpose of something one of their subordinates is doing: be it before, during, or after–depending on the urgency of the task–every soldier ought to know exactly why they are performing their duty. Understanding why you are doing something is integral for a soldier to perform their necessary duties to their highest ability as they have been provided with a deeper purpose. Lastly, all leaders must maintain consistency. This was expressed regarding professionalism, however a subordinate should never have to guess how their leader will react, and they will not have to if their leader is consistent not only in their demeanor but also in their performance.
Mission & Training
The mission is always first, and the entire purpose of training is so we can ensure that the mission will be completed. We will train as we will fight. If we do not train to the standards we must meet in the field, we are simply wasting time, and time is our most valuable asset. When training, it is imperative that everything has a purpose: be it conditioning, cross training, leadership development, or MOS training, everything we do must serve a purpose towards the greater goal of fulfilling the mission.
Soldiers Family & Personal Life
Placing importance on the homelife of a soldier is critical. Unit readiness and performance is heavily tied to the family and homelife of every single soldier. Should any issues occur at home, that is all a soldier is going to think about, either consciously or unconsciously. It is a leader’s responsibility to ensure that their soldier’s personal needs are also met, should those needs not violate the integrity of the mission. Leaders ought to consistently keep their soldiers' families in mind when assigning tasks and duties, so that no soldier is separated from their family for an unreasonable or disproportionate amount of time when compared to others.
Safety, Maintenance, and Accountability
Our unit’s resources, namely equipment and soldiers, are not unlimited and we must act with necessary due caution in order to maintain our resources. Utilizing safety measures when operating any of our equipment is also critical so we may ensure the operational integrity of our equipment and prevent any injuries for our soldiers. Along with this, we must have 100% accountability of all equipment and personnel. This is especially crucial when in the field. An item may be broken, or a soldier might be injured, however it is the duty of leaders and all soldiers in this unit to maintain accountability of all sensitive items.
Planning & Follow Up
“Failure to plan on our part does not make it an emergency on their part”. This is a quote that not only our leaders, but all leaders should live by. It is your own responsibility to be prepared, others can only remind and encourage you to be; ultimately it is your own choice and responsibility. Those who do not plan ahead will surely fall behind, and in falling behind leaders will inevitably drag others down with them. Consistently planning and following up with all events is how leaders can maintain their credibility, ensuring that those they lead will respect their authority and decisions. Your credibility can be described as a crystal glass, once it is broken it is near impossible to put back together.
SHARP & EO
All soldiers within this unit have a dignity that cannot be exchanged, inflated, or destroyed. When everything is said and done we are a team that must rely on one another in order to fulfill our goals; regardless of rank, position, or seniority of any type. If a soldier cannot trust those around them, no matter the situation, the mission is in jeopardy of failing. No soldier shall be treated differently on the basis of anything out of their control or considered to be an integral part of their livelihood. Merit and character shall be the only two realms we may pass judgment on eachother with.