“The difference between a good officer and a poor one,” said Burke, “is about ten seconds.“ (Potter, 2005, p.73). Arleigh Albert ‘31-knot’ Burke (1901-1996) US Navy Admiral who took part in WW2 and Korea. Reference Potter, E. B. (2005) Admiral Arleigh Burke. Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press.
Having browsed a number of military and military-related forums regarding recruitment and selection, I noticed the same (two-part) question popping up: Do they assign you a role, or do you choose the role yourself? If you apply as an officer but don’t succeed (e.g. insufficient leadership skills) do they encourage you to apply again as… Read More
“Leadership is not a rank.” Unknown “Leadership is a choice, not a rank.” Simon Sinek (Management Theorist) Reference Sinek, S. (2014) Leadership is about making others feel safe: Simon Sinek at TED2014. Available from World Wide Web: http://blog.ted.com/leadership-is-about-making-others-feel-safe-simon-sinek-at-ted2014/. [Accessed: 03 January, 2015].
“You must be able to underwrite the honest mistakes of your subordinates if you wish to develop their initiative and experience.” “Warfare is mental, not physical.” General Bruce Cooper Clarke (-1988) US Army General who served in WW1, WW2 (awarded three Silver Stars) and the Korean War. Graduated from West Point as an engineer in… Read More
“…leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. [and] …leadership must be guided by the lights of learning and reason or else those who confuse rhetoric with reality and the plausible with the possible will gain the popular ascendancy with their seemingly swift and simple solutions to every world problem.” [sound familiar?] John F. Kennedy… Read More
“Take calculated risks. That is quite different than being rash.” George S. Patton (WWII US General, 1885-1945)
“Tactics is not whether you go left or right. Tactics is why you go left or right.” General Al Gray (29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1987-1991) He summarised the core of leadership – civilian or military, “If you come and join my Marines, I want you to know that your ‘number one’ job is… Read More
Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute 