Leadership: Because it matters!

I want to say “Thank You” on behalf of all of us for going to France and paying our respects to our fallen servicemen: General John Kelly (White House Chief of Staff) and General Joe Dunford (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).

 Today, as I visited a veteran’s assisted care facility, deliberately scheduling my visit on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, my thoughts were to make sure all the staff I encountered did not overlook the importance of this day – the 100th anniversary of the end of “The War to End all Wars,” - WWI - Armistice Day - Veteran’s Day. My thoughts were with our servicemen and women. A symbolic day, a solemn day, a day when we look to our leaders to reaffirm the magnitude of the sacrifices our service-members, their families, and America made. To recognize the closely held belief their sacrifices were not in vain and they mattered.

 Why? Because it “EXPLETIVE ” matters! And if you don’t get it, you should not be in any kind of leadership position.

 And then I read the news in France (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/10/trump-baltics-balkans-mixup-le-monde-belleau-cemetery-paris). My normally calm, thoughtful, positive, and reflective demeanor held (we call it “Military Bearing” in the services), where I suspect some others may have felt a fiber of displeasure. No, my blood didn’t boil for our patriots, lost sons and daughters, lost moms and dads, and lost veterans, or even our allies – who yes, need a kick in the pants, but who’s President’s and Prime Ministers braved the rain to step from their motorcades, wet their shoes, and pay their respects. My blood didn’t boil for General John Kelly or General Joe Dunford either… who despite the weather, represented America and our servicemen and paid our respects for us in person.

 I wonder if there’s a Vet out there reading this who may recall that occasion in your career when you encountered lea… leader… leadership (excuse me, I choked on my fork) that forced you to bite your tongue, swallow your pride, kick that ammo box and grab your foot in pain cursing. But, you did your duty, you supported your chain of command, and did what soldiers do.

 So today, Veteran’s Day, I encourage you to give a moral shout out to General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford who visited our servicemen on this wet French day on behalf of the people of the United States. Thank them for the discomfort and inconvenience of visiting them on this historically significant anniversary that sadly more and more fail to recognize. Thank them for their sacrifice of over a 90-minute “each way” motorcade drive to the American cemetery. Thank them for getting their shoes wet while paying their respects, just as those soldiers and marines got their boots wet in the horrific trenches of France 100 years ago, and never came home.

 Above all, I want you to consider thanking General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford for standing in the breach, biting their tongues, and doing their best, their duty, to keep the current winds of political folly from driving us off a cliff, as good soldiers do.

Both General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford, and many others like them, have a unique window into what current leadership believes is important, and who’s important, and what’s not worth their time, or comfort. Today, they are both faced with leadership they cannot publicly have an opinion on. They do their best to do their duty and bite their tongues. But, there are those of us that know. We know. We know what they are thinking on this day in France, and discussing privately among themselves. We know because we soldiers (meaning all the service branches) have an uncanny sense for what competent and caring leadership looks like.

 On this day, they are thinking the same thing as you and I. We Veteran’s all have our stories. Some, certainly more horrific than others. We’ve all endured hard times whether it be Boot Camp, frozen winter exercises, bivouacking in the mud, and pitching GP Mediums in freezing pouring down rain cursing the supply sergeant for forgetting the burners to the kettle heaters “AGAIN” (hey, the forecast called for good weather - right?). And, the days without sleep during all manner of operations and exercises. And, the ceremonial formations, like today in France, where even in inclement weather we all solemnly stood at attention on the parade field while the bugler played taps. We did this because we get it!

 So, today, General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford were our Sergeant Major’s, those wonderful Senior Non-commissioned Officers that can always be counted on to put “mission first and men always.” General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford did the same, just as a good Sergeant Major would leave the comfort of his/her cot in the middle of the night, and during inclement weather, to check on your sons and daughters in their wet muddy foxholes, and make sure they are okay and taken care of.

 No, today my blood does not boil because General John Kelly and General Joe Dunford's commander could not make it – Today, "they" displayed leadership – BECAUSE IT MATTERS!