Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Character in a military leader is evident through numerous indicators, especially how you treat subordinates. How seriously do you consider the needs of those whom you lead?
A young combat arms officer needs to attend Ranger School. Completion of this leadership school can enhance career opportunities in significant ways. This course is very challenging, and the passing rate usually runs at about fifty percent.
However, the greater difficulty for those desiring to attend this course is not the course itself, but permission by the commander to be absent from the unit for about two months. Often, leaders grant conditional permission to attend, only to find that there is never a “good” time for the warrior to be gone. The official denial to attend Ranger School is justified for “operational” reasons.
Sometimes this reason is valid, but all too often, leaders are simply too selfish. They are more concerned with their performance on a training exercise or maintenance inspection than they are with a subordinate’s future.
Whose need are you trying to meet?
The content of this Devotional comes from “Daily Strength for the Battle (You, God’s Word, 5 Minutes): Volume 6 Developing the Leader in You” (2020) and is copyrighted by Scott and Judy McChrystal. Used with permission.
