The Importance Of Serving As A Naval Officer

The privilege to command units afloat and ashore provided me with intimate exposure to the challenges experienced by our workforce and their families. Often accompanied by a myriad of ethical dilemmas, these challenges provided a wealth of experience and a better understanding of the impact a leader has on the workforce and their families. Similarly, my experience as the Boatswain’s Mate “A” School Assistant School Chief afforded me vital insight into the Coast Guard’s formal training system, Human Performance Technology and the development of future enlisted leaders. These experiences provided invaluable opportunities for me to interact with our workforce and understand their views, perform thorough assessments of complex situations, and provide accurate, sound, and practical counsel in order to achieve the best outcome for the unit and our Coast

Leadership development in the military is critical to its mission and objectives. Understanding and embracing leadership will foster an agile culture and facilitate attainment of strategic goals. People desire quality leadership to assist with achieving their goals, albeit personal or professional development. Having a clear vision and the motivation to perform at high-levels influences others to work synergistically together to achieve organizational goals. Insomuch, employees value being treated respectfully, fairly, and ethically. Leaders serve people best when they help them develop their own initiative and good judgment, enable them to grow, and help them become better contributors.

Since its formation during the early years of our nation the United States Navy has always stood out among other militaries, playing a vital role in the protection of our own country as well as the rest of the world. Founded upon the core values of honor, courage, and commitment the Navy has continued to uphold its men and women to exceptionally high moral, mental, and physical standards for nearly 240 years. It is my favorite branch of the military and becoming an officer in it has been a goal of mine for a long time.

I have known since eighth grade that I aim to serve my country as a Naval Officer. I grew up in military and patriotic surroundings, listening to my Grandfather, a World War II PT boat veteran, tell stories of his Navy days. What inspired me most about him was that he never stopped giving back to our country. He remained a significant part of the Disabled American Veterans fighting for rights of veterans until the day he died. My Grandfather was the one that introduced me to the Naval Academy.

Honor, Courage, and Commitment are the back bone to the U.S. Navy they infuse the Navy with a living life blood an unfaultable force. Honor to me is associated with pride not the seven deadly sins pride, but more like taking a personal ownership in all that you do so that you present your absolute best every time. As an officer this is the standard that should be strived for and extended upon; the taking of ownership not only of tasks, but the well being of your sailors as well. Courage to me has many forms it could be that sailor/soldier who gets a soft whisper in their ear that tells them to enlist so they can stand on the front lines to protect others, or the kid who takes his and others fears and takes a stand against the playground

There are several leaders that I have admired in my career over the years. One in particular that stood out was a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force who I served under. He was a very intelligent and vibrant leader who placed importance in military customs and core values. He was one whom I emulated in the military because of his task –motivated leadership style. He focused on the goals of the organization with the emphasis on service before self. The implications of his style of leadership lead me to believe that there was little to no relationships formed with lower ranking airmen. He was always able to get the job done because of the driven culture he represented. I learned a wealth of knowledge and information from this particular leader; I was able to create a balance by embracing his style of leadership and relating it with my style, transformational leadership. I believe it was successful, because of my efforts to focus in on the mission and create a balance in inspiring, influencing, and motivating Airmen across the globe.

It’s Your Ship, by Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff is good read on understanding the basics of what he calls grassroots leadership he developed while a Commander in the Navy. He takes the reader through the journey of having a cutting-edge ship handed over him, while finding his own leadership lacking his expectations. While defying conventional Navy leadership tactics, Abrashoff created “a crew of confident and inspired problem-solvers eager to take the initiative and responsibility for their actions.” He ultimately succeeded in turning the USS Benfold into the “best damn ship in the Navy” in a

Selfishness, overblown sense of worth, and indecisiveness are certain traits that seem to appear more frequently in today’s leadership due to an ineffectual advancement process. The Navy’s advancement process consist of a standardized test, Navy wide rating quotas, and evaluations which may or may not accurately reflect the person’s being. Certain aspects of these rolls and processes need to be changed to more accurately reflect those qualities that are required to be an effective leader in today’s Navy.

The United States Navy and strong leadership are synonymous. I have been raised in a family that emphasized leadership and integrity. These qualities are demonstrated through distinct and profound attitudes, behaviors, and core moral values. I want to be part of something that matters and gives me the opportunity to succeed while helping people. Being a Naval Officer offers the fulfillment I am looking for.

As Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert once stated, one of the U. S. Navy’s guiding principles is “People are the Navy’s foundation”. The United States Navy has long since recognized that command at sea is an honor and a unique privilege, one that demands confidence, self-reliance, sound judgment, and complete dedication to the wellbeing of shipmates. At every level of Naval operations, leadership, integrity and character have always been vitally important dimensions of who we are and what we do.

As I have progressed in my career, I have increasingly realized the need for, and importance of, effective leaders in an ever changing, modern, technical Navy. Obtaining a commission as a Limited Duty Officer is a goal that I have sought since entering the Navy. There would be no greater leadership challenge or personal honor than to serve my country in this capacity.

Leadership influences: Throughout my Coast Guard career there have been numerous influences guiding my leadership direction. These leadership influences include family, friends, good and bad Coast Guard leaders, and most importantly my own self reflections. One can read, listen, and study every leadership principle from the most intelligent academic professionals, however I believe the best leadership teacher for me has been trial and error. The key is being able to learn from your leadership mistakes and move forward. Life for me is the best teacher over any book ever written about leadership.

In 1962, Thomas Kuhn wrote The Structure of Scientific Revolution, and fathered, defined and popularized the concept of "paradigm shift" (p.10). Kuhn argues that scientific advancement is not evolutionary, but rather is a "series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions", and in those revolutions "one conceptual world view is replaced by another".(Kuhn, 1962)

Beginning in boot camp and continuing throughout my career, I’ve seen the Coast Guard promote the leadership model to be: “You” influencing “Others” to achieve a “Goal”. With all the different ways leadership can be defined, this simplistic model which has been permanently engrained in my thinking definition still rings true for me. As such, when defining my own personal definition of leadership, I align it to this same model. More specifically, while I support the fact that leadership involves influencing others to achieve a common end I propose that is not the whole story. Leaders must not be stagnant in their vision and must lend themselves to the possibility they may have to adjust their leadership styles depending on the goal. The best leaders are the ones that understand their own personality traits as well as those traits of the people they are trying to lead.

The Sailor who embodies leadership in all ways and I try to emulate is Master Chief Logistics Specialists Diego. He is a leader and an example even when nobody is looking. He holds all his Sailors accountable, regardless of paygrade and will not do what is popular, but he does what is right. There is no one that I respect more than him in our Naval Service. His devotion to duty the Navy and to his