The soldier profession is among the noblest of professions, attracting the best and brightest members of our society. Those individuals who have a sense of duty and the desire to serve a greater good, even if it may cost them their lives. Leadership in this profession is its pinnacle. One of the first goals of many Soldiers is to reach the entry level of this pinnacle and become a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO). With the leadership principles the Army uses to train its leaders, this goal is not only achievable, but can prepare them for a future of professionalism in all their endeavors both inside and outside the Army. That's why leadership and the military profession are the topic of this essay. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay This same teaching was able to produce some of the military's greatest leaders such as SGT Audie Murphy, MSG Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez, and COL David Hackworth who attributes his leadership skills as an officer to his time spent as a noncommissioned officer. While the Army may change how it teaches its leaders their attributes and skills, the basic principle remains the same; Make leadership your profession and master it. “Lead from the front” is one of the most common phrases associated with leadership in the military, but it should not be the definitive description of the leader. The Army leader should also be associated with terms such as empathy, self-preparedness and tact, to name just a few. The image of the army leader as a grizzled, disgruntled and insensitive person is outdated and inaccurate. Army leaders now, instead, assist their troops behind the scenes on issues such as suicide prevention, sexual harassment and assault. The leader must be ready to address all of today's complex issues that can affect the morale and safety of the troops. Society holds our soldier leaders to hold the highest moral standards and exemplify courage in the face of adversity. The Army leader should therefore feel obliged to live up to this image. Meeting these standards and this image begins with upholding a set of values that should be common in the leader's personal and professional life. This set of values begins for the Army leader long before he reaches a leadership position. Leaders should keep these values at the forefront of their minds throughout their careers. Values such as personal courage and duty are seen as the standard for a strong and confident military leader. While these values are still more than relative and appropriate, the leader is currently receiving more training to practice values such as empathy and professional management to adapt to the changing climate in today's Army. The most successful Army leader is the individual who can put all of these values into practice in their military leadership styles and personal life. When using these values, the leader not only maintains the appearance associated with the military leader, but can also more effectively guide Soldiers through the complex range of problems they face. It is imperative that all values taught to the Soldier leader are held in the highest regard if the leader truly wants to make leadership his or her profession. Since leadership as a profession is the professional goal of the leader, it is of utmost importance that the leader is always open to learning as a mode of development. The leader will be willing to take time off to dedicate to professional, educational development as well
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