Military Leadership Analysis

Everyone recognizes a good leader when they come into contact with them; they carry themselves with a certain air of confidence that naturally inspires others to follow their lead. Defining exactly what these characteristics are can look many different ways, but a true leader will show that they care about the people that they are in charge of. Under this umbrella fall other characteristics such as enthusiasm, self-assurance, and tough, charismatic and being persistent to bring about the results they desire. Being from a military background, I have been blessed to serve under some phenomenal leaders during my military career, but one Captain stands out in my mind. His name was James Ridings and he was everything that a leader should embody. …show more content…
You can spot these individuals immediately because all their action revolve around making them look good instead of the focus being on the best interest of those under them. The military has traditions that may seem like a small thing to outsiders but for those serving they speak volumes. One such tradition is that ALL the lower ranking soldiers get to eat first, then the higher ranking NCO’s and finally the officers. This shows the troops that you have their best interest at heart. When I served with one particular 1SG and Commander that routinely went to the front of the line it was a major disappointment that they would put their welfare and comfort before those they were in charge of. Again this may sound like a small detail to a civilian, but it is blasphemy in the military. When I confronted the 1SG about this and numerous other example of his poor leadership style he became angry and combative. It was not a pleasant exchange and I paid a price but I had to do the right thing for my soldiers. Calling out a leader that you clash with is not a fun experience. It is human nature to deny and defend what they did wrong but at least you give them the opportunity to evaluate their action and hopefully change course in the future. Using tact to minimize the escalation of tensions are the best way to approach these situations, remember that your goal is the care of the people you are in charge of, not seeing who can win an

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