A Veteran’s Thoughts
By Ski Ingram
July 2024
I worry about a lack of leadership in our government. As I look at those in Congress, the Senate, and even the Presidency I see a dearth of leadership and it’s scaring me to death. America is supposed be the leader of the free world and yet, through a lack of leadership, the world is on fire and on the brink of World War III. How have we lost so much prestige in the world in not so many years?
I have been reflecting on when I served as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and later as a commissioned Officer in the United States Army. I also thought back to when I was learning leadership as a young Boy Scout, a Boy Scout leader and while teaching adults how to be effective leaders of young men in the Scouting organization. Being an effective leader was my goal. Today, I’m not so sure that leadership is being taught anywhere. Do people today, especially our so-called civic leaders, think about being leaders or do they only think about getting re-elected every 2, 6, or 4 years?
I was going through a box of military memorabilia that I’ve had since serving in the Army. I found a help card dealing with the “Concept of Leadership.” I also found a card listing “Leadership Traits.” When I was a young officer in the United States Army, I worked hard to develop these traits. As I read through them, I was pleased that I haven’t forgotten most of them.
Listed below are the Army’s 12 leadership traits. As you read through them, I ask you to think about your local, state, and national leaders, especially those who are running for office this November.
BEARING: Creating a favorable impression in courage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.
COURAGE (PHYSICAL AND MORAL): A mental quality which recognizes fear and danger or criticism but enables the individual to meet danger or opposition with calmness and firmness.
DEPENDABILITY: The proper performance of duty with loyalty to seniors and subordinates.
ENDURANCE: Mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to stand pain, fatigue, distress, and hardship.
ENTHUSIASM: The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duties.
INITIATIVE: A quality of seeing what has to be done and commencing a course of action.
INTEGRITY: Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principle; the quality of absolute truthfulness and honesty.
JUDGEMENT: Weighing facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.
KNOWLEDGE: Acquired information including professional knowledge and an understanding of your subordinates.
LOYALTY: Faithfulness to country, the Army, your unit, your senior officers, and subordinates.
TACT: The ability to deal with others without creating offense.
UNSELFISNESS: The avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.
There are problems throughout the world, our nation and even our own community. What a difference it would make if our leaders lived by the Army’s leadership traits. I believe our lives would be better because of it.
I want to be able to trust those who are in positions of authority over me. Distrust breeds discontent. I want to be secure in my home, papers, and effects. I do not feel secure when our leaders are wishy-washy, dishonest or on vacation much of the time. As a long-time Scouter, I have often said that the world would be a better place in which to live if we all lived by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
The Scout Oath: On my honor, I will do my best; To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
The leaders I appreciated the most were the ones who worked the hardest and developed loyalty in us all. I respected them because they exhibited most, if not all, of the leadership traits listed above.
I want to live in a country where our leaders have the citizens welfare above others in the world. In the military there is an unwritten rule that the officers eat last. Meaning the enlisted men, come first. Wouldn’t be nice if Congress had that same unwritten rule. Many think and act as if they are our rulers, not servants of the people.
I want America to be respected on the world stage. I want America to be the leader of the free world. I want to be proud of my country. I want them to live up to the promises guaranteed in the preamble to our Constitution which states: “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
These are great promises that our elected officials should be striving for. Men and women died for these ideals. Men and women have sacrificed their time, treasure, and their reputations in order to make this country the freest, the safest, and the best place in the world to raise a family. The ball is in your court. Will you elect people who embrace these ideals or are you going to sit this November out because you do not understand the ramification of this election or are too uninterested to go vote? I am hoping that you are voting because you love America and all it has stood for these past 250 years.
