Steven Rogers posted on February 01, 2011 00:07
February 2011 Navy
By LCDR Steven Rogers
When discussing topics related to America’s leaders, most people focus on current day reports about the leaders who let us down, who compromise their oath of office, and who violate both legal and moral ethics. Very rarely does such a discussion focus on those individuals who provide good leadership for our government and military organizations.
It appears that many Americans are losing confidence in their leaders because, more often than not, when they turn on the radio, watch television, or read a newspaper, they are learning about another American leader being taken to task because he or she has violated his/her oath of office.
A good portion of the American public have resigned themselves to accept the fact that, no matter what some leaders promise after taking that sacred oath of office, somewhere down the road they will become a disappointment because of violations of ethical, moral, or legal standards. We know that there are thousands of men and women across our land who hold positions of leadership, and who lead with great distinction, especially the leaders of our armed forces. Leadership is serious business for serious people and deeds which even appear to compromise the sacred trust of the American people cannot be excused.
Some people argue that we, especially the military, are placing the “ethical or moral bar” too high for our leaders. As far as I am concerned, the “bar” on ethics, morality, integrity and other positive leadership principles can never be placed too high. The American people want credible leaders who will rise to the occasion. Every individual who holds a leadership position, be that position in a private or government office or a branch of the military, should demonstrate an ability to lead with the highest moral, ethical and legal standards. Nothing short of those characteristics should be accepted in any organization.
The American people yearn for leaders who will not compromise their beliefs and always make decisions based on facts, not emotions, and with the common good of the people in mind. They seek leaders who will eliminate leadership styles that encourage excuses for misdeeds and justifications for actions which are blatantly not in the best interest of the people they are leading or organizations they are serving.
I truly believe that the best leaders in the world are the men and women who serve in our United States military. Leaders in business, industry, and public offices have always used U.S. military leadership characteristics as examples of the best leadership principles in the world.
Let every officer and enlisted man in the U.S. military always keep in mind that we have a great heritage and reputation to protect and that it is our duty to think before we act and consider the consequences our decisions will have not only on ourselves, but also on the sacred institutions which we are called to serve.