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(U) Leaders Really Do Make a Difference
FROM: Charles H. Berlin III
SID Chief of Staff
Run Date: 08/26/2003
(U) Management and leadership, leadership and
management. Same thing right? Well, no,
management ensures we are doing things right,
leadership ensures we are doing the right thing. More importantly,
leadership takes us through uncertainty and charts a path where
none exists. If not for leadership, we would merely be expertly
doing what we did before. Aside from being boring, this is no way
to tackle an uncertain future.
(U//FOUO) A few years ago, I was the G-2 of the 4th Infantry
Division at Ft. Carson, Colorado. We got the call to deploy a
battalion-sized element (about 500 men) to Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, to set up an internment camp for Haitian refugees. As
staffers, we were required to develop a plan of action for the
Commanding General to approve. On the appointed day we briefed
our plan to send our combat engineer battalion (suitably
augmented with medics and cooks). The engineers were the logical
choice since they had equipment and expertise in construction. The
General wagged his head and said we would send one of our
infantry battalions instead!
(U//FOUO) The staff, confused, asked why. The General said he
selected the best-led unit in the division rather than the "logical"
staff choice. He explained that the mission was going to be hard on
the troops and was full of uncertainty. He wanted to bet on
leadership rather than technical expertise. Boy, was he right. We
went to Cuba and built the camp (on the golf course - which was
the only open area - a true heartbreak for the golfers) and it was
indeed a tough mission. When the refugees arrived in the
oppressive summer heat, they were very angry that they had not
been transported to the United States and began to take their
anger out on the infantrymen of the 4th Division. Leadership made
a difference as the leaders and commanders showed by example
the values of the American citizen and the dedication of the men to
the refugees' welfare. Leading by example, the Americans pitched
in with the emerging refugee leadership to physically improve the
camp.
(U) The rank and file on both sides saw the establishment of the
standards of conduct in this tough situation and joined the team. It
was a remarkable turnaround from near riot conditions to
cooperative working relationships. Both sets of leaders
demonstrated the important function of communicating values and
expectations. Leading by example didn't hurt. Leadership made
the difference.
(U) Leaders keep hope alive. I observed a Haitian doctor minister
to the sick and infirm and constantly tell them all that things would
be all right. This effort has a self-fulfilling prophecy characteristic.
It is the most important gift a leader bestows on his people when
things are uncertain or desperate: the gift of hope.
SERIES:
(U) Charles Berlin
Discusses Leadership
1. Leadership: Your
View of People
2. Leaders Really Do
Make a Difference
3. What Does a Leader
Do?
4. Are Leaders Made or
Born?
(U) Our future has a lot of uncertainty. Leadership will always make
a difference.
(U) What value-added does leadership have day to day? What is
the role of the leader in a technical mission? What is all this
Generation X and Y stuff?
(U) Next part: Valued-Added Leadership in a Technical World
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108