Professional military education (PME) is a form of career training developed to enhance leadership and the ability of the member of the military in training to undertake military programming, planning, management, force, and budgeting development to the required sophistication level suitable to that enforcement (Kaurin, 2017). In that kind of education set up, preparation of leaders of great integrity, discipline, standards, and those who are ready to assume the next level of authority and devoted to serve and meet other peoples and lead is essential. Achieving this requires education on servant leadership. Servant leadership is a style of leadership where a leader primarily concentrates on growth, development, and well-being of their servants or subordinates and their societies, shares powers, and positions first the needs of other people and assists them to grow and advance to the level of excellence performance (Northouse, 2016). Servant leadership style is an equally significant style of leadership that needs to be considered and taught in professional military education.
Servant leadership is one of the most significant leadership models that need to be taught in PME as it provides appropriate guidance on how military officers should lead and observe their subordinates in action (Kaurin, 2017). Given the nature of the military profession, it constitutes different adverse challenges at some point that requires the intervention of a good leader to help and show a sense of care and togetherness with their juniors. In the military, the true principle of leadership often is not all about being the superior one. True leadership is about considering being a servant capable of meeting other people’s needs and being there for them whenever the need arises.
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Instituting and teaching servant leadership in professional military education enables the military trained personnel to be good leaders with instilled qualities and characteristics like not just giving orders without actively listening to the views of their juniors, showing empathy, awareness, healing, persuasion, foresight, stewardship, conceptualization, dedication to the growth and development of other people, and developing the community (Northouse, 2016). Additionally, the education of this leadership style enables leaders to reinforce their decision-making abilities and communication with a dedication to intently pay attention to others around them. Listening is one of the essential leadership skills required in any organizational environment (Northouse, 2016). Having this skill makes people around you feel free and see you as an approachable leader who they can share with any problem concerns or new ideas that might be worthy of any military operations. As a leader, it is impossible to assist others or subordinates if you don’t intently listen to understand. Listening and understanding them enables you to design appropriate ways of solving their challenges.
Leaders who exhibit leadership potential frequently earn the opportunity for promotion. The United States of America military often invests monumentally in leadership training and development of different military personnel as they play a key role in leading, coaching, caring for, and inspiring soldiers (Duvall, 2019). Typically, soldiers are developed in three distinct ways (Duvall, 2019). Firstly they undertake formal military training and education programs. Secondly, they get education, knowledge, and experience via on-the-job encounters through leadership development programs through mentorship and coaching. The third way is through personal development. Soldiers take the responsibility to improve their potential daily as they look for future promotions. Therefore,
Servant leadership can be a significant part of PME as it develops servant leaders who motivate fellow soldiers to grow while realizing their unique gifts and skills. They ensure that they do all that’s possible to facilitate the growth and development of an individual by positioning them in an environment that supports and allow them to flourish.
In conclusion, I believe servant leadership style should be incorporated and taught professional military education as it enables the development of good leaders who not only give commands but are available to care, grow, and bring out the best from their subordinates. Additionally, this type of leadership prepares leaders who can establish trust and effective relationships in military units facilitating commitment, discipline, and free will to undertake any duty given by the leader.
References
Duvall, J. (2019). ER: The US Military and Servant Leadership - An Examination of Whether the Two are Truly Compatible - Logistics Officer Association . Logistics Officer Association. https://atloa.org/er-the-us-military-and-servant-leadership-an-examination-of-whether-the-two-are-truly-compatible/
Kaurin, P. (2017, June 22). Professional Military Education: What Is It Good For? . Realcleardefense.com. https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/06/22/professional_military_education_what_is_it_good_for_111647.html
Northouse, P. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
