A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make decisions and the compassion to listen to others (General Douglas McArthur). My motivation to be a leader in the navy was borne of the need to be part of the team charged with the greatest responsibility; to protect the state and its interests. Like most people in the service, my choice to join the navy was mostly influenced by an acquaintance, my grandfather, who served in the Navy. My motivation was also from the movies I watched when I was young for instance “Short Gun” and “Under Siege.” What influenced me the most though was my admiration for order, discipline and a proper balance of aggressiveness and indulgence.
Being a Shipmen is not an easy task, let alone being a Leader, but I believe my experiences have equipped me with the necessary skills to command effectively. Most people join the Navy due to the fascination with obtaining a title and running the ship and other technology, forgetting their main job, to protect and hold the honor of the country. I am often inspired by other members of the force who give up their lives in total service for the nation. Although I too am fascinated by the great artillery the United States Navy possess, I am more interested in how they are used to provide peace and sustain independence and justice. I aspire to be able to sign or have my name besides all the other great names of noble men who fought for a good cause.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
A leader has to not only learn the technical skills to perfection, they must also motivate the rest of the team to follow through in their missions most of which are unbelievably daunting. They must possess both character and competence and teach their subordinates to be proper ambassadors of the country and the oath they took whether in safe or foreign waters. A leader, therefore, needs to be adequately motivated themselves at all times and lead by example. They have to learn how to effectively deal with aggressive confrontations within their assigned jurisdictions often without involving their superiors. These call for good interpersonal skills.
Contrary to what most people think, being a leader in the Navy calls for great people-skills. As President Dwight Eisenhower once said, you don’t lead others by hitting them on the head, that’s assault, not leadership. A leader should be able to decipher the needs and motives of his team in order to properly inspire them into action. I have a passion for the job and excellent character. I believe in a proper balance of aggressiveness and passion. Other than my motivation, therefore, I have the qualifications of a great leader. Interaction with people and understanding their untold stories bring unity to a team and ensures oneness in accomplishing missions. I am inspired when people are moved to accomplish tasks they otherwise could not. Being able to make leaders out of my subordinates would be my greatest pleasure.
There are specific leadership academies I would love to join that equip members of the army with skills that ensure they are able to lead effectively. For instance the Command Leadership School and the Senior Enlisted Academy. Apart from the formal training, I would also love to expand my knowledge base beyond what is provided. As a leader, I am also motivated by other leaders in the Navy that have served and some who are still serving. As I stated before, part of the reason why I joined the Navy was that of my grandfather. He served in the Navy in World War II, and stories about the Pacific war; how the leaders had to find solutions in the middle of intense combat all this while keeping the team inspired to action was moving. He always said that most of his best experiences were from the force and I hope to gain the same. Because of all these, I aim is to be a leader and be of service to my country.
