A Veteran’s Thoughts
By Ski Ingram
January 2025
In a few days, the Biden nightmare will be over. Biden was elected in part because people believed the rhetoric about Trump being a criminal and wanting to be a ruler over the country. Biden told us that he would be the most transparent president in history. He also made the claim that “the adults were now in charge.” As we look back on the past four years, we see that neither of these promises were fulfilled.
It’s interesting to me that so many people were oblivious to what was going on, especially this last year when it was so evident that Biden’s mental acuity was in decline. It is interesting to me that we could all see Biden’s lack of leadership ability and yet it was ignored with many people saying, “that’s just Joe.” Why was Joe elected? It was because of TDS (Trump derangement syndrome)
I served as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and later as a commissioned Officer in the United States Army. I also learned 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. It seems as if our so-called civic leaders only care about getting re-elected.
While in the Army, I received two cards, one titled “Concept of Leadership” the other “Leadership Traits.” Throughout my life I have referred to these cards while studying how to be an effective leader. I am pleased to say that I still remember and do my best to obey them.
Listed below are the Army’s 12 leadership traits taught to every officer in the Army. As you read through them ask yourself who demonstrates each leadership trait, Biden, or Trump?
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.
Over the last four years I have lost trust in our government agencies to include the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA, and the CDC to name a few. I want to be able to trust those who are in positions of authority. Distrust breed’s 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 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 have appreciated the most are the ones who worked the hardest and developed loyalty in us all. I respected them because they exhibit most, if not all, of these leadership traits.
I want to live in a country where our leaders have the welfare of our citizens above those in other countries. 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, the citizens’ needs comes above theirs. Too 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 America 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.”
I believe that Donald J. Trump wants these same things for America. When he promotes MAGA he is saying that he will work hard to “Make America Great Again.” In the last few weeks America has gone from TDS (Trump derangement syndrome) to TE (the Trump Effect). This alone gives me hope in a brighter future for our country.
Ski Ingram is a life member of Lester Keate Post 90 of the American Legion in St. George, Utah. He now lives in Gilbert, Arizona. He is a combat veteran and is a life member of five different veteran’s organizations as well as the NRA. He can be reached at Ski@Skiingram.com or www.Skiingram.com
