The Most Important Lesson

The most significant lesson I have learned as a leader is to take care of Soldiers. I believe that taking care of Soldiers is a leader’s primary job and that Soldiers will accomplish any mission if they feel their leader has their best interests in mind. Taking care of Soldiers is significant for multiple reasons. First, my experience has been, that Soldiers who feel that leaders take care of them have higher morale and are more successful than Soldiers who feel neglected by their leaders. Additionally, every leader should recognize that the Soldiers and junior Officers they lead will soon lead the Army of the future. These junior leaders are shaped by their experiences. Leaders who provide quality leadership by taking care of Soldiers serve as an example that will be replicated in future formations. Finally, I have learned that taking care of Soldiers is a more nuanced task than it first appears. Understanding just what taking care of Soldiers means in a given situation is crucial to success. Subordinates that feel their leader cares for them are more likely to accomplish the mission and more likely to be leaders of character in the future. Today’s leader must recognize this requirement while simultaneously understanding the intricacies of how to take care of subordinates.
I believe that the Army is primarily about people. Individual units are often defined by their capabilities. However, in conversations with leaders of all ranks, I hear repeatedly that Soldiers are what make organizations great. Soldiers who feel they are taken care of are more likely to accomplish the mission regardless of their specialty. Leaders must take care of subordinates in order to be successful in their mission whether deployed or at home.
I have always been cognizant of the significance my leadership has on shaping subordinate’s leadership styles, both in the near-term and over the course of their careers. In my brief career, I have had subordinates who went on to fill various roles throughout the Army. It was important for me to take care of them so they would recognize the significance leaders have on their units. If I was successful, these leaders will continue providing quality leadership in the future that places the needs of their Soldiers above their own. As significant as taking care of Soldier is, it is not a simple task.
Taking care of Soldiers is difficult to define. In certain situations, almost any action can be defended as taking care of Soldiers. Leaders must recognize what is truly taking care of Soldiers and be able to discern that from tasks and privileges that do not truly benefit subordinates. Often, releasing Soldiers early from duty is recognized within a unit as taking care of Soldiers. While releasing Soldiers early may sometimes legitimately be taking care of them, this is not the essence of what a good leader does to take care of his or her Soldiers. In fact, there is not a basic checklist of items that should be done. Instead, taking care of Soldiers is a concept. Leaders must internalize the task of protecting, shaping, and training their Soldiers. Taking care of Soldiers means preparing them to accomplish their mission in the toughest environment imaginable while simultaneously arming them with the tools they need to be successful. These tools include life skills, coping skills, military training, and a plethora of other requirements. Sometimes it means releasing them early and sometimes it means taking them to the field to work through the weekend on a challenging task. It is these nuances of taking care of Soldiers that are often neglected, but they should be considered by leaders at every level.
Leaders are tasked to accomplish missions. Subordinates that are well taken care of are more likely to accomplish these missions to standard and on time because they are motivated to contribute to the goals of the organization. These well led Soldiers are likely to continue to take care of their Soldiers throughout their career. Taking care of Soldiers requires that a leader invest time in determining what is truly important and what will aid Soldiers to be successful, both in the Army and in life.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

MAJ Victor Deekens
Student, ILE
Fort Belvoir, VA