[June 07, 2015] “I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense”1 … and so begins the U.S. military’s Code of Conduct that nearly every person knows of who lives in the United States. Any code of conduct is a… Read More »
[June 06, 2015] Today we pay our respect to those involved in the success of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-Day on June 06, 1944 … the date of the first landings. Allies came ashore at Normandy, France and began the war to evict and eventually destroy Nazi Germany. There were four crucial events that preceded the… Read More »
[June 05, 2015] Truly good leaders care about history and the “behind the scenes” stories of why a particular leader or unit succeed or failed in their mission. Those leaders are interested in learning valuable lessons; both good and bad. The 92nd Infantry Division experiment is a good example where the fusion of politics, racial identity, and military… Read More »
[June 04, 2015] We’ve all heard excuses from people who, for some reason, fail to meet their obligations; whether that is doing their job, performing a required task, finishing a project. Some people complain more than others … we know who they are and we know what they will say before they say it. Over my decades of… Read More »
[June 03, 2015] Last year I was speaking with a U.S. military Flag officer about his experiences traveling through so many airports. He told me his biggest issue was his artificial metal hip. It always got him extra screening despite having proper documentation, frequent flyer status, and identifiable as a U.S. Army general. Would it be too difficult… Read More »
[June 02, 2015] A number of years ago my daughter finished elementary school and was preparing to move into middle school. At a ceremony to mark the transition there was much pomp and circumstance and included handing out of various honors and awards to the students. After the ceremony I asked my 13-year old daughter what she thought… Read More »
[June 01, 2015] The U.S. military and veteran suicide rates have been both newsworthy and tragic as of late. The suicide rate among military personnel when compared to similar non-military groups has trended slightly above those who never served in the military. The same can be said for our veterans. While the causes of suicide are complex and… Read More »
[May 30, 2015] In baseball the advice always given to the batter is to “never take your eye off the ball.” This too is sound advice for leaders … and those most likely to achieve their mission are those that stay focused and on the right path. Yet with the world today we see many problems from terrorism… Read More »
[May 28, 2015] A few years ago I was caught off-guard by a question from an Army sergeant who asked me what I thought was the least important leadership characteristic. This was a questions that both surprised me and that I had difficulty answering. Of course, being a leader means balancing an array of traits that each adds… Read More »
[May 27, 2015] Nicolas Maduro (successor to Hugo Chavez), the Socialist President of Venezuela, is blaming “terrorists” for the country’s deteriorating economy, soaring crime rate, and thousands protesting in the streets.1 When leaders are insulated from the realities of what is happening around them – usually by well-meaning followers – combined with a strong ideological view of the… Read More »