Personal Essay: My Leadership Philosophy

Duty means being able to fulfill tasks as part of the team. Their work is building one task onto another. By the soldiers wearing the United States Army uniform shows their loyalty. The soldiers code for respect is, "Treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same." To the Army respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and completed their duty.

Understanding that some Military Occupations are tougher than others, yet our goal remains; to mold diverse Leaders by providing them the foundational standards as American Soldiers. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage, are the core values we live and breathe as American Soldiers. We must not forget or become laxed because these values are the backbone to the Army and are foundational truths to our success. As Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) we will reprioritize our conduct, in order for these values to resignate home within us. As Professional Soldiers, we must remember why we remain disciplined and faithful at all times, Therefore, despite what we feel, we must hold true to obedience, and at the right time our fruits will unveil.

Military bearing is the start in which every soldier practices either as enlisted or commissioned in order to have good discipline and ethics throughout a military career. Army regulations and soldiers should live by the creed that a military service member should conduct themselves on a daily basis, on and off duty . Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage are Army core values. To be a dependable Soldier you must show your NCO’s that you can be an adult with time management, meet deadlines, be in the right place at the right time, in the right uniform, and doing the right thing at the right time. Dependability is a major aspect of military bearing.

Specifically to the officer over a platoon or unit, who might not be in control, but is directly responsible for these troops. He/she has the responsibility of the daily processions of hi/her base; His fitness and his/her troop’s fitness level; a command climate where practices of integrity can be adhered to even when he/she is not present. He is responsible for the training of his/her company and to the organization for creating a culture based around the practices and policies in the ethos of the

TC 7-22.7 NCO Guide (2015) states that all Soldiers and leaders must master the fundamental warrior skills supporting tactical and technical competence to execute full-spectrum operations among diverse cultures, with joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational partners, at the level appropriate for each cohort and echelon. To be a lifelong partner of the total force there is a need to be a lifelong learner, a need for problem solving as a team to meet each

Odierno was quoted in Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1-0 as saying “[We will] foster continued commitment to the Army Profession, a noble and selfless calling founded on the bedrock of trust.”2 As the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Odierno calls to focus the foundation of trust that is a necessary priority in the career model of professional Soldiers. Trust is found within the ranks of the Army as an earned credit to individuals who have proven to live the Army values through their actions and give sound guidance fostered by experience. Trust is gained with the public through positive actions and a consistent record of accomplishment. ADRP 1-0 states that “The Army cannot simply declare itself to be a profession; the American people, not the Army, determine when the U.S. Army is serving them as a military profession.”3 With enduring trust in Soldier’s capabilities, the Army will continue to be seen as a profession and build upon what it means to be a professional

It was incumbent upon me to set the right examples for them to emulate. Giving them the tools and training to succeed while carrying out the commander’s intent was vital in the overall success of our assigned tasks. It cannot be overstated that NCOs are the backbone of the Army

Being a leader is one of the hardest duties out there, but Beowulf is able to handle it. As a leader, he experienced people looking up to him at all times. To become a good leader, you need some important characteristics. Beowulf teaches us that being a leader involves keeping the promises you make and being a good role model. The first step to becoming a good leader is to accomplish the goals you set.

Added to the supervision and oversight of their daily duties, I as a leader am there to help, guide and give that listening ear when needed in whatever capacity. Ensuring that they are aware of all the military and or personal options, and opportunities that are available to them are taken advantage of. Progressing in their careers and a clear path for their future is another aspect of my leadership philosophy that I hold first and foremost. No junior soldier that has passed through my path, whether they have been assigned to me or just work under the same command/unit has not gotten the three infamous questions that I have come to ask throughout my career: 1. What are your goals in life?

Being a TL is a great honor. It means that the Platoon Sergeant (PS) has proposed great trust in the person as a soldier and believes he can lead a team. In the MP core, a team consists of three soldiers, a TL, a gunner, and a driver. All three have important roles in accomplishing a mission but the TL is what shapes the team. Over the past couple of years SGT Wigginton has shaped me into a leader.

The United States Army is a profession that is built on trust. All military personnel, both Civilian and Soldiers, are tasked upholding the military professionalism of the Army. Professions develop members in their organizations over years in order to cultivate their expertise. A profession’s ethic shapes the values of the organization. These principals are the beliefs and rules the profession abides.