I have learned many things throughout my stay in the military that have shaped my personality. The army provided training and mentorship programs that subjected me to different situations and experiences that helped me enhance my character leading to growth as a person and as a leader. My military experience was transformative, and I was able to grow and become a better version of myself. I have become a strong person capable of navigating through high stake situations, managing individuals in formations, and working in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world (Department of the Army, 2019) . My experience in the army was transformative. I was able to gain critical knowledge and developed core skills and competencies that have helped me become a better person and a better combat leader.
Embracing Change
Accepting change is important because it helps people enjoy new experiences, develop new skills, and gain knowledge. My experiences in the army helped me learn the importance of embracing change. Before joining the military, I never used to welcome change in my life. I always approached novel situations with a skeptical mindset. I never used to embrace change wholeheartedly, whether it was simple life changes such as relocating to other regions or shifting houses. Drastic changes in my life affected me significantly. Joining the military presented an unprecedented experience that affected my performance. I required time to adjust and settle in the army. I always feared change because of the uncertainties associated with new beginnings and new developments. I did not like to be in situations where I did not know or have control over the prevailing circumstances. My experiences in the army filled me with enthusiasm to face change with optimism and expectation. I was able to learn that not every change is disruptive. I now believe that every change presents me with an opportunity to learn and grow as a leader. Additionally, change presents me with novel opportunities to increase my capabilities (Galvin & Saldler, 2020) . I was able to alter my perception of change, and I am now able to embrace change as a means to better myself.
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Training and Development
The different training and mentorship programs exposed me to different situations, which helped me increase my experience and grow as a person and a leader. Military training enabled me to develop discipline. This was essential in helping me prioritize the efficiency and competency of unplanned and planned military operations. Additionally, the training helped me to improve my time management skills. I was able to learn the importance of completing tasks within the stipulated timeframe. The mentorship programs in the army helped me learn a great deal about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. The ability to collaborate with others has proved to be invaluable in completing operations successfully. The effective training and development programs offered in the military have helped me develop teamwork skills, leadership skills, discipline, and a strong character that will help me cope with the numerous uncertainties that I will encounter in the dynamic environments (Kirchner & Akdere, 2017) . These programs helped me to embrace change and face uncertainties with optimism and belief. This experience has been transformational because it is central to my growth an d development as a person and as a leader.
Use of Technology in Communication
Communication is integral because it facilitates the transmission of critical information from one military unit to another. Effective communication is vital in successful operations. I learned this when our unit was sent to a humanitarian aid camp in Kosovo to help refugees. We were ill-prepared for the mission because we were recalled while on leave. There was poor communication throughout the operation, and as a consequence, the operation was not successful. Additionally, most soldiers were reluctant to embrace their military standards and values during the assignment. The lack of adequate preparation and the confusion that stemed from a lack of proper communication meant that our unit did not fully understand the task we were to perform at the humanitarian aid camp. The soldiers forgot that the military profession is required to exercise land combat under civilian authority and protect the nation's constitution (Department of the Army, 2016) . We were required to distribute aid equally among the refugees. However, because of poor communication, we did not know the exact number of refugees in the camp and ended up giving some of refugees more portions than others. As a consequence, some refugees missed critical aid. This experience helped me to learn the importance of effective communication. I was also able to learn that the army requires unique expert practices of honorable services, trust, Espirit de Corps, stewardship, and military expertise (Department of the Army, 2014) . Upholding these attributes will ensure that I deliver quality services to my country.
Technology is important in the development of novel communication tools that can be employed in the military. I plan to employ novel technology to help me communicate with my team easily and effectively. Reflecting on my journey after joining the military, I now understand that communication is an integral part of embracing change. I will look to incorporate the latest technology in setting up novel communication channels in order to improve communication with others within the military. The use of mobile phones manufactured by Android brands and Apple offers everything that the military would require in their future tactical communication architecture; reliability, versatility, simplicity, and mobility (Thompson, 2018) . I believe that it is also vital to offer Army commanders with different communication channels that can facilitate easy communication with troops. By employing novel communication technology, I will be able to build and maintain relationships with troops. Effective communication is an important attribute of any military leader. Embracing new technology will help me enhance my communication skills, which will ultimately help me run my unit effectively during military operations.
Asking Questions
Embracing change with an open mind has been essential in helping me adjust to new situations swiftly. Notwithstanding, asking questions has also been critical to my growth and development. By asking questions, I have been able to remain ahead of new modifications, which has made me more productive. Asking questions will help me to seek clarity on issues that are vague or unclear. Additionally, asking questions will help me uncover challenges that affect me and look for better solutions to address these issues (Cheverie, 2017) . I also believe that asking questions would help face new encounters with optimism. For instance, one of the factors that plagued our operations in the humanitarian aid camp in Kosovo was the lack of proper communication. I believe that asking conclusive questions would have helped highlight critical issues such as the number of refugees in the camp. This would have helped us to distribute aid equally among all the refugees. When questions are answered, people tend to gain clarity over an issue. This clarity has led to optimism and belief, which can be beneficial when embracing change. Clarity also helps to boost morale, which would lead to improved performance. I learned that seeking clarity on vague matters by asking questions is essential, especially during military operations, because it helps shed light on what is required.
Lessons from the Military
The U.S. Army is critical because it exists to serve U.S. citizens, defend the country, protect the country's interest, and fulfill nationwide military responsibilities. My military experience has helped me gain profound respect and admiration for military men and women who devote themselves to serving the United States. While serving the refugees at the humanitarian aid camp in Kosovo, I learned that there is a close association between the Army profession and Army expertise. The latter should constitute model professions and offer a framework for providing ethical and honorable military services to the United States. Our unit should have responded to the request to return to the refugee camp with honor and valor. I believe that our unit should have used our core competencies to make sure that the operation was a success. This outlook can demonstrate that military expertise is critical; in the broader military profession (Department of the Army, 2014) . I consequently believe that it is important to ensure we have military expertise and maintain the highest form of professionalism when dispensing critical roles and responsibilities that protect the national interests.
Conclusion
My military experience has been central to growth and development as a person and as a leader. I took the training and mentorship programs that helped develop core competencies that include teamwork skills, leadership skills, discipline, and a strong character. My experience in the army also helped me to learn the importance of embracing change. I now look at changes as opportunities to gain knowledge and develop knowledge. I was also able to learn about the importance of using technology to facilitate effective communication. While in the army, I learned that we should approach change with an open mind and ask questions to gain clarity on critical issues that affect operations within the military. Overall, my military experience was transformative, and I feel that I have grown into a better leader.
References
Cheverie, J. (2017, February 13). Why Asking Good Questions Can Help You Be a Better Leader . Retrieved from EDUCAUSE: https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2017/2/why-asking-good-questions-can-help-you-be-a-better-leader
Department of the Army. (2014). Human Resource Support. Field Manual , 1-10.
Department of the Army. (2016). U.S. Army: Talent Management Strategy Force 2025 and Beyond.
Department of the Army. (2019). ADP 1: The Army. Army Doctrine Publication , 1.
Galvin, T. P., & Saldler, K. M. (2020). Leading Change in Military Organizations: Primer for Senior Leaders. Naval War College Review , 73(3), 13.
Kirchner, M., & Akdere, M. (2017). Military Leadership Development Strategies: Implications for Training in Non-Military Organizations. Industrial and Commercial Training , 357-364.
Thompson, L. (2018, September 7). As U.S. Army Rethinks How Soldiers Will Communicate In Future Combat, Harsh Realities Loom . Retrieved from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/09/07/as-u-s-army-rethinks-how-soldiers-will-communicate-in-future-combat-harsh-realities-loom/#160e6060342a
