I came across an article in Tom Rick’s Best Defense which is a section of Foreign Policy online magazine recently that I found very enlightening, not only for the non-nonsense manner in which it was written, but also because of the universal way in which the lessons learned can be applied to the training and the life of the Civilian Operator. Read the entire article HERE. The following list is parts I have taken from the article and applied to the training/life/culture of the Civilian Operator. I think you will see how striving to be the best Military Platoon leader parallels very well with trying to be the best Civilian Operator. I have copy/pasted directly from the article and then added my own comments which are italicized and bolded in red.
- You may not be the greatest, but you’re the most responsible — Taking RESPONSIBILITY for your own life, including the security and safety of your family is paramount. You may not be the most experienced in terms of tactics, time or doctrine, Your job is to take responsibility. You control your own consequences.
- “Should” is the most dangerous word, PERIOD!! — As a lieutenant when your PSG, XO, CO and especially your Soldiers ask you questions – no matter how important – you cannot respond with “It should be done already, sir.” Or, “We should be at this grid coordinate.” “Should” is what I like to call the famous last word of a FOOL..in the culture of the Responsible CO, there is no one to blame but yourself, Not the Govt., Not Society, Nobody. Look at the people who wave The “Victim” mentality flag and you will get the picture… It is up to YOU to set your course and see it through.
- Your parents probably did a better job prepping you for leadership than anyone –– If your parents taught you to get along with everybody as a kid, work in school, made you clean your room, be home by curfew and they trusted you, you’ll be alright. Being a good, honest person has gotten me much farther in my relationships in the Army than I ever expected. This goes back to what I have always believed that having STRONG PARENTAL GUIDANCE and DISCIPLINE will carry a person farther in life than one without it.
- Start ruck marching — Do it a lot, and do it often. Especially if you plan on branching infantry, no one really cares how much you can bench. Your Soldiers are going to care how far you can take them in the disgusting, soupy Georgia heat and humidity with Banana Spiders hanging in the vines in front of your face. Furthermore, bench pressing is not going to get you your “Go” at Ranger School anyway. The mountains of Dahlonega are unforgiving to body builders and top-heavy guys. This parallels structuring your workout routine to enhance your ability to FIGHT. ENDURANCE, rather than pure STRENGTH is a more realistic field skill. Think of the guy who 30 seconds into a fight becomes winded because of poor conditioning and gets his head bashed in, brute strength in that situation is moot because you cannot harness enough energy to wield it!
- Don’t focus on being a badass –– Learn when to be a hard-ass and when to be a human being. The CO in training and in life should always strive to put EGO aside and focus on SURVIVAL first and foremost. As Patrick Swayze said in Roadhouse “You will be nice until it is time TO NOT BE NICE.” Going around being Rambo all day will just get you into more hassles. Be smart, choose your battles. Remember: Deterrence, Avoidance and De-Escalation should be your mantra.
Stay Alert, Stay Armed and Stay Dangerous!