The Mission Comes First

 I spent 25 years working for the Department of the Navy in various positions from local bases to Headquarters of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command.  I can affirm that the Colonel, Kurt Schlichter is correct in his assessment that The Pentagon Must Go On the Offensive to Defeat Politicized Officers. Insubordination, and that is what this is, cannot be tolerated.

We simply cannot have a functioning military that tolerates individuals putting their own personal prerogatives ahead of the mission – and that’s exactly what this political posturing is. It brings to mind a story of my continuing dispute with my command sergeant major when I commanded a cavalry squadron. We rarely disagreed on anything; my CSM was that guy whose picture is scowling back at you, judging you, when you look up the definition of a noncommissioned officer. But every chow time in the field, we had a confrontation. One of us would note that the last of the soldiers had eaten, and then the argument would begin.

“Sir, time for you to grab chow.”

“After you, Sergeant Major.”

“After you, Colonel.”

It was the same dispute, every meal. Both of us wanted to eat last. That’s because leaders eat last. That’s because leaders put themselves after their troops. It was a point of pride.

Now, I led this way not because I was some super-duper, awesome exceptional officer. Every senior leader I knew did this, or at least every senior leader who lasted – there’s always a tail-end of the Bell Curve. If I were seen as putting myself before my soldiers or my mission, my peers would have done me in, never mind my commanders. We all understood our role. I was trained by real leaders, so doing something different never occurred to me. It’s not about you. Putting your politics first is a betrayal. That’s what babbling about politics to undermine your bosses’ boss is.

I recommend you read the whole article. Once upon a time, most Americans had family members who had served, and all understood the military. Unfortunately, today that is no longer the case. So, I especially recommend it to those not familiar with the military. In the military, it is not about you, or me, it is always about the mission. It doesn't mean you have to give up your personality. But the mission always comes first. Always.