[December 3, 2022] In the decades of military service, I was often asked by Soldiers, How do I become a man? If you lead men in combat, fighting under the most arduous and dangerous conditions, that question is the last thing a typical person would expect. I will give an outline of my responses.
The first time a very young combat soldier asked me that question, I was perplexed and taken aback because this man, as young as he was, was doing the work of a real man. He was putting his life on the line for his country and teammates. And the war in Iraq was real; the battles often meant the loss of life or debilitating injury. How do I become a man? It should have been self-evident.
I think the question, How do I become a man? is not a good question because it is too broad, and any simple answer would be an inadequate response. I tried to take the question head-on anyway.
A key part of my answer was to advise them to look at what other “real men” do that give their lives significance and meaning. And income was not a good marker for that. I believed then and now that any answer would be based upon their relationship with responsibility in their lives.
Responsibility means having several things that will bear upon what our society considers and believes to be a real man. One is having an intimate partner (a wife) and working on improving that relationship. That improvement has to be with you; become the best partner you can be, and do not put the onus on your partner.
Another item a real man would have is a measure of being good at something. If the answer is “no,” it’s time to start practicing your craft. In the case of soldiers, I advised them to be the best soldier they could be. And pick one thing to be good at, as a soldier. My thought was the best tactic to start is by not spreading themselves too thin. Practice being the best machine gunner, mechanic, or top medic. Get good at it.
Choosing one thing to be exceptionally good at simultaneously allows that soldier to practice many skills that will make them good at many other things. Be that machine gunner, and the best anyone has ever seen. We might think this position is a low level of achievement, but it’s not. Go the extra mile, show up on time or early, volunteer to do extra work, show an interest in learning other soldier tasks, and get along with your teammates, the NCOs, and others in your unit.
Then you learn what it’s like to be the best at something and imagine you’re trying to be the best man you can be, which is your ultimate goal. Branch out from being the best machine gunner to properly running the machine gun crew. That forces you to be a good teammate and pass your skills to someone else on your team. Focus on your team and have a vision that your teammates will be the best gun team in your unit. That’s a great start.
And consider having a family and using those improved skills of responsibility to pull your family together. Improve your relationship with your father, mother, brother or sister. Can you pull your whole family together? Now that is a true achievement. Educate yourself. Regulate your temptations, such as drug and alcohol use. Consider civic responsibility. Go to church (and your beliefs about religion don’t matter). Fix things. Be productive in what you do.
Productivity requires aim, a proper orientation, a focus on being responsible, and discipline. Plus, a willingness to work, make sacrifices (the hallmark of maturity in the service to a higher goal) and take proper care of yourself (physical, mental, and spiritual health). Be as productive as possible for the most people as possible.
This behavior will orient you solidly in the world. That is the meaning of life; responsibility. And that is what I tried to tell those soldiers, who also showed me great humility, dedication to duty, comradeship, courage, commitment, and a willingness to go anywhere, do anything, and be anything to help their soldier buddies.
I’m proud to be part of their lives.
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Gen. Satterfield nailed it with this article.
The perineal question that young men must ask themselves. Gen. Satterfield has done a good job of laying out the real answer. Great job, keep up the great work you’ve done, Gen. S. 🇨🇦
If you read this article and got a lot from it, then say so hear in the forums. This is how we learn more and get a deeper understanding of the world. Make yourself known by making a comment, and try to make it worthy.
Right willie, always!
Excellent!!!!!
An eternal quest for men. I’m happy that Gen. Satterfield is giving us his thoughts on the topic.
Be a man and don’t pussyfoot around about it. 😎
Just another ‘make you think’ post from General Satterfield. This is why I’m a long time reader and you should too
Hey folks, be sure to get a copy of the General’s latest book. You will appreciate what you did.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
And, leave him a review on Amazon, an honest review. I know he reads them all.
Pick something and try to be the best at it. Good answer. That is obviously only a start. Learn to be a winner. Then learn what it is like to be a winner.
This is the beginning and yet in school we do not teach that anymore. We teach boys that they are toxic and worthless, and boys have a tendency to say ‘screw it, I’ll just do my own thing” because they don’t want to put up with a bunch of crap from a woke teacher. They will drop out and do their own thing. And that is what is happening with the feminization of the US military too and why, I think, Gen. Satterfield recommends to young people to avoid the US military.
Right Otto, schools now teach boys how to be girls. Not the basics like reading, writing, and arithmetic. The school systems have gone totally woke and that is teaching kids to be weak and victims.
Yeah, great writing and thinking.
Yeah. And this is just the beginning. ✔️
From the depths of Gen. Satterfield’s mind (ha ha ha), comes another attempt to answer a question that we all have asked since the beginning of time. The answer revolves around adopting all the responsibility you can possibly bear and always tell the truth (that is how you don’t corrupt yourself).
Another super article answering what is one of the most crucial questions we need to try to answer. 👀
Yep, that is it. Cheers from down under.
“How to I become a man?” Great question, I believe, many young men and boys would like to know the answer. And for those who don’t believe the question is valid, then they are not seeing the real problem with men and how so many of our political elites want to demonize young boys and men, a real crime on humanity but they can’t see it for their own ignorance and evil in their own hearts.
Gen. Satterfield, I hope you are better. A couple of days ago you told us about being in the Emergency Room of a hospital. Stay well. We don’t want anything to happen to you.
Finally, it’s the weekend and raining where I live, of course, how much else is a surprise. This will give me a reason or two to actually catchup on my reading and looking over Gen. Satterfield’s blog and complete his book, “55 rules for a good life”. I hope that he writes another book like this one. Hard to say enough good things about it. Best book I’ve ever read that attempts to get you to help yourself, help your family and your community. If you don’t have a copy, go to Amazon and get your copy, you will not regret that decision.
As always, Max, great comment and I concur with you about the book “55 Rules for a Good Life.” Best book out there. 👍
Right, and Christmas is upon us. Get several copies and give it away to good friends and family. Maybe they will start along the path to being a better man or woman. In this book the General is answering the qeustion on ‘how to become a man.’
Thanks Max and mainer. 😊😊😊😊😊
“Responsibility means having several things that will bear upon what our society considers and believes to be a real man. One is having an intimate partner (a wife) and working on improving that relationship. ” – Gen. Doug Satterfield and a great answer.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/the-importance-of-family/
Ask today’s young man if he wants to be a man and he will give you an answer that will shock the world. No, he wants to be a woman.
Yuck!
Exactly. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸