Values: What drives you?
14 years ago, while on a mobilization away from my medical sales job I was relating a story to my Battalion Commander, LTC Deogracias. My civilian employer had just demoted me and was actively trying to fire me (which they did at a later date), for being gone from my civilian employment. LTC Deogracias said something I’ll never forget, “Civilians for the most part don’t have any integrity. It’s not their fault, they’ve never been taught that principle.” I took a moment to reflect on my short service at the time and discovered the differences on who I was then and who I am now. Mind you, I didn’t enlist in the Army Reserve until I was 39 years old. I know, midlife crisis, but I’ll get to that someday. As a 44-year-old First Lieutenant serving as an Executive Officer for a basic training company it was my responsibility to teach all of the new Soldiers the 7 Army principles. They are:
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·?????? Loyalty. Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other Soldiers. ...
·?????? Duty. Fulfill your obligations. ...
·?????? Respect. Treat people as they should be treated. ...
·?????? Selfless Service. Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own. ...
·?????? Honor. ...
·?????? Integrity. ...
·?????? Personal Courage.
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As a civilian I never gave thought to any of these principles. It was always, trying to do the right thing but cutting corners when I had to and ignoring them all together when it didn’t suit my purpose. Now, however I found myself repeating them so often and praising their worth to my new Soldiers that I realized I actually believed in them. ?Those 7 guide my daily life. I was rudderless in my civilian life and chose sometimes to make the easy wrong rather than the hard right. It’s hard not to when you have a quota to fill and other team members to please, but I assure you that following these principles, writing them down, repeating them daily will inculcate you to them.
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All Commanding Generals have their own rules. For instance, General Funk has these:
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1. Always secure yourself first
2. If you can't talk, you can't win
3. You can save your own life
4. Simplicity is the most important principle of war
5. Common sense is the most important principle of patrolling
6. Talking isn't fighting
7. Never fight a fair fight
8. Don't accept No from someone who can't say Yes
9. Trust but verify
10. Never be unreachable
11. Never waste good coffee
12. Never take anything for granted
13. Never go anywhere without a knife
14. Never pass up a chance to use a clean bathroom
15. A good idea only becomes great when it is shared
16. There is no such thing as a coincidence
17. When in charge, take charge
18. Good units do routine things routinely
19. Great units master the basics
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20. Clean up your own mess
21. PCC/PCI
22. Communication is established lower to higher
23. The higher up the flagpole you go the more your ass shows
24. Ten pats on the back for every one kick in the ass
25. The Army is a people business
26. Humans learn two ways: significant emotional experience and repetition
27. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance
28. Nobody cares how much you know until they know you care
29. Screamer - folks will turn the other way to avoid you. Unpredictable - your team will be confused. Calm and resolute - your Soldiers will look for the disappointment in your voice and seek to avoid it
30. Love the one you are with; whatever unit and job you have, it is the best in the Army. If not so, make it so.
31. Balance and moderation - don't confuse enthusiasm with capability
32. High standards, positive outlook, and excellence are contagious
33. You are a professional, a professional athlete warrior, in a profession of arms, carrying your national colors - be proud, train, and act like one
34. If you think you are important try ordering around someone else's dog
35. TOPS - Take Other People's Stuff
36. Don't let analysis cause paralysis
37. Training schedules are priorities of work tied to a timeline
38. Training is a journey not a destination
39. Leadership is a contact sport; it requires daily interaction
40. Leave the jersey in a better place than you found it
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That’s a lot to take in. I also prefer General Michael Garrett’s rules: (paraphrased)
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1.??? If you see a piece of trash on the ground, pick it up.
2.??? Communicate, Communicate, Communicate (You can’t ever communicate enough)
3.??? You must generally care for your Soldiers,” Garrett said. “They can smell a phony. I’m not saying you should be easy on your Soldiers. Be demanding, seek excellence in all things, enforce standards and train them hard, but care for them. This is what our nation expects, and this is what our Soldiers deserve
4.??? As leaders, you must have the discipline to follow and to enforce standards,
5.??? If you’re put in charge of people, don’t be an ass (my paraphrasing).
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We all hold immense responsibilities in our life. Do it right. Make a difference in this world. After you die I promise you no one is ever going to say, “Boy, that Ken was a great salesman.” Rather, I want them to say, “Ken had the highest level of integrity I’ve ever known”.
Retired 4 Star General. Led 72 Nation Coalition in War. Responsible for training 600,000 soldiers. Works with leaders to drive results in MUST-WIN situations. Executive Leadership, Keynote Speaker, Advisor, Board Member.
1 年Thanks for sharing Ken