Remembering Our Heroes – Memorial Day 2012

Throughout our Nation’s history, ordinary men and women have left the safe bounds of their normal lives to set out to do extraordinary deeds.  These sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers departed their families and the comforts of home to join something greater than themselves, in a noble tradition of patriotism and pride for the purpose of fighting to protect our way of life.

While most are being handed a burger or hot dog off the grill to enjoy on this solemn holiday, somewhere there is a family being handed a folded American flag being told, “On behalf of a grateful nation…”  While many in this Country are celebrating the homecoming of their college friends and family after a long year of study, there will be no homecoming for some who have fought and died in our Country’s battles.  They sacrificed their own homecoming so that others would still have theirs.  These are true heroes, and we owe them much more than one day of solemn remembrance and reverence.

On this Memorial Day, one of our Nation’s most solemn and revered holidays, we all pause to reflect upon the principles that have made our Nation great.  We pause to remember the true cost of freedom and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  The brave men and women we honor today selflessly gave of themselves to defend a way of life that we all cherish: NEVER FORGET!

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U.S. Department of Defense – Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day Message, As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta

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Air Force leaders issue Memorial Day message

Our Soldiers Show Courage Without Limit

Tribute to the Troops (May 2012)

Memorial Day 2012: A Compendium

Memorial Day: Take Pause…The Fallen Deserve At Least That

Memorial Day 2012

Decoration Day

Decoration Day

 

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest

On this Field of the Grounded Arms,

Where foes no more molest,

Nor sentry’s shot alarms!

 

Ye have slept on the ground before,

And started to your feet

At the cannon’s sudden roar,

Or the drum’s redoubling beat.

 

But in this camp of Death

No sound your slumber breaks;

Here is no fevered breath,

No wound that bleeds and aches.

 

All is repose and peace,

Untrampled lies the sod;

The shouts of battle cease,

It is the Truce of God!

 

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!

The thoughts of men shall be

As sentinels to keep

Your rest from danger free.

 

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

 

   – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 

Source -

 

A Memorial Day Poem by Longfellow, From The Atlantic, June 1882 (theatlantic.com)

The Rise To The Top Can Be A Slippery Slope

The Herndon Monument is a 21-feet tall obelisk-shaped monument erected in 1860 on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy (the “Yard”) to honor Commander William Lewis Herndon; a naval officer, explorer, and merchant captain.  Herndon went down with the mail steamer S.S. Central America in a storm off South Carolina in 1857, after making a gallant effort to save the ship and the lives of those aboard.  After realizing his forthcoming fate, Herndon left the quarterdeck long enough to don his full dress uniform, in which he returned to his post to meet a seaman’s death.  The quote on the monument’s inscription says, “Forgetful of self, in his death he added a new glory to the annals of the sea.” 

The Herndon Monument is the site of the famous “plebes-no-more” ceremony; The plebe recognition ceremony known as the Herndon Climb.  A tradition that started in 1940, the Herndon Climb marks the official end of the plebe (first year students at the academy) year, and is an event where each participant works together to climb the monument to replace a plebe “dixie-cup hat” with a combination cover; the upper-class midshipman hat.  The Midshipman who replaces the dixie cup hat is traditionally given a pair of Admiral’s shoulder boards.  Although it has never been proven to be true, legend says that he or she will be the first of his or her class to make Flag Rank; the rank of admiral.

That sounds simple enough: be the first midshipman to climb to the top, retrieve the Plebian Sailor’s hat, and replace it with an officer’s hat.  But, there is one very interesting twist.  These midshipmen must climb the monument with about 50 pounds of lard spread around the entire monument.  This is not a sole effort.  Midshipmen do not take turns attempting to do this.  They do this working together as a team.  It is a human wall climb that embodies the leadership traits of discipline, teamwork, selflessness, courage, determination and perseverance.  The event symbolizes the values and beliefs that the Naval Academy instills in its students.  This spectacle is meant to inspire the participants to perform selfless acts with tenacity in the face of adversity; adversity and challenges that they will have to endure and overcome as a naval officer in today’s (and tomorrow’s) Naval force.  A sort of right of passage, these midshipmen are one step closer to becoming an officer in the World’s greatest Navy and Marine Corps.

Yesterday was the Herndon Climb at the United States Naval Academy.  It took Midshipman 4th Class Andrew Craig, 19, of Tulsa, Okla., a little over two hours and 10 minutes to complete the task, with a little help from his shipmates.  The Naval Academy Parent Network‘s website describes the challenge this way:

Bodies turn red with beads of sweat dripping down the tower of people.  Agony shows on the faces of those at the bottom of the pyramid as they support upon their shoulders three or four tiers of muscular bodies.  As the crowd yells in anticipation, the class gets excited and “They’re gonna make it” is heard all around.  Crash.  The bodies collapse like dominoes.  Their greasy skin, stained with dirt, lard and sun make it extremely difficult to sustain any balance for a long period of time.*

I wanted to share with you the history and significance of this event, as it is not merely a spectacle of college lunacy, but an event tied directly to the ideals of strong leadership and teamwork that an officer in the United States Navy and Marine Corps embodies.  Below, please watch the two videos that illustrate the sights, sounds and emotion of this exciting, suspenseful and time-honored tradition.

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Sources and Related Articles -

Commander William Lewis Herndon (1813 – 1857) – http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=7213 - Accessed 23 May 2012 – The Historical Marker Database - http://www.hmdb.org/

2012 Naval Academy Herndon Monument Climb: Andrew Craig Makes Greased Ascent – Posted 5/22/12 – Huff Post DC – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/2012-naval-academy-herndo_n_1537561.html - Accessed 23 May 2012 – The Huffington Post – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

 The Charge of 1000 – The History and Traditions of the Herndon Monument Climb – http://www.usna.org/HerndonPAO.html - Accessed 23 May 2012 – USNA-NET – The Naval Academy Parents Network – http://www.usna.org/

Herndon Monument – Wikipedia – Updated 22 May 2012 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon_Monument - Accessed 23 May 2012 – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/

Sights from the Annual Herndon Monument Climb - Navy Times Scoop Deck - Posted by Jacqueline Klimas - Posted May 22, 2012 – http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2012/05/22/sights-from-the-annual-herndon-monument-climb/ - Accessed 23 May 2012 – Military Times – http://militarytimes.com/

Empowerment (Not Just Another Buzzword)

Ronald Reagan once said, “The greatest leader is not the one who does the greatest things.  The greatest leader is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.”[i]  He also said, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority and don’t interfere…”[ii]

I wanted to use this post to discuss The process of empowerment, the guiding principles of workplace empowerment and empowerment in management.  Empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices, and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.[iii]  In today’s workplace, people quite often endure the absence of empowerment and carry on like robots doing as they are told.  Empowerment unleashes an individual’s potential and enhances [their] ability to promote creativity and productivity in the organization.[iv]  Some might call empowerment a buzzword.  But, empowerment is being increasingly embraced by more and more managers and leaders in both the military and the corporate World.  And, quite honestly, people are hungry for empowerment.

Decision-making in many organizations and corporations is currently too top-heavy.  Decisions need to be pushed down to the lowest level possible.  But, in some instances, managers and executives are afraid to relinquish some of their authority.  They feel that doing so would be too risky, fearing that they would have less power, diminished control or might lose their job.  But, the true risk is to not embrace some form of an empowerment process.

Empowering others is essentially the process of turning followers into leaders.  Through empowerment, there are fewer levels of decision-making.   As a result, there are reduced levels of bureaucracy, and organizational pyramids are flattened.  Managers trust employees to make decisions, and the staff trust managers and feel supported in their decisions.  In some instances, procedures and guidelines are generated by the people who perform the work every day.  Through empowerment, good ideas and decisions are implemented faster.  Ultimately, empowerment creates confident and competent employees who are more productive because they are not waiting for approval to make decisions.

General George S. Patton saw empowerment this way:

“Never tell people how to do things.  Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”

Patton believed in exploiting, encouraging, and rewarding individual initiative.  Patton saw leadership as mostly training and motivation.  The object of leadership is to create people who know their jobs and who can reliably supply the how to your what.[v]

But, empowerment is not something you just simply turn on like a light switch among your staff.  You don’t show up one day and say, “you, the people, are now empowered!”  For all involved (leaders, managers, employees, etc.), it is a process of education, knowledge and experience, where the staff is provided the criterion which directs them in making decisions in their respective jobs, areas of expertise and departments.  If the staff has the basic guidelines, they should be able to make educated and informed decisions without having to go to the next level.  As a result, the customer is served, or the mission is accomplished, more quickly and effectively, and managers are freed to make decisions that really require their level of expertise.

It is in this way that all staff has the information they need to be truly empowered to collaborate effectively.  A process is developed to continue the culture change so that there is true empowerment for informed decision-making.  Through this empowerment process, a new organizational culture is established; a culture where management encourages teamwork and risk taking, and employees can establish teams where they see the need.  From this teamwork, creativity and initiative are fostered.

As leaders, we should strive to cultivate leadership not only in ourselves, but in those we are responsible to lead.  As leaders, we shouldn’t think that we have all of the answers.  As leaders, we don’t know everything.  As leaders, we should be surrounding ourselves with capable, knowledgeable people who can take much of the decision-making burden off our shoulders; where employees own their work and are more accountable for outcomes.

As a result of employee empowerment:

1. Micro-management is virtually eliminated
2. Productivity in the workplace increases
3. Creativity and innovation within the organization is cultivated
4. Employee morale is improved, and there is greater job satisfaction
5. The leader – follower (management – employee) relationship is strengthened
6. There becomes an environment where future leaders are developed and nurtured for the future.

When people are empowered with the knowledge and tools to be successful doing their jobs, their confidence breaks down the intimidation of any task, and they are energized to do their jobs well.  When people know that the leash is off their neck, and their boss is not breathing down their neck, they become some of the strongest and happiest people.  Empowerment is about making sure that people are well-trained, they have the tools to do the job, and are given the autonomy to take risks and to think outside the box.  A truly empowered team can do great things, and as leaders we need to stand back and let them succeed.

Copyright © Dale R. Wilson

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Footnotes -

[i] Interview with Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes, December 14, 1975

[ii] Ronald Reagan, September 15, 1986, in an interview with “Fortune” magazine, describing his management style – Cover Story: Reagan on Decision-Making, Planning, Gorbachev, and More

[iii] Empowerment - PovertyNet – http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/EXTEMPOWERMENT/0,,menuPK:486417~pagePK:149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:486411,00.html - Accessed 2 May 2012 – The World Bank – http://web.worldbank.org/

[iv] Hungry for Empowerment – Posted May 4, 2012 – http://sidtuli.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/hungry-for-empowerment/ – Accessed 7 May 2012 – Sidtuli blog on WordPress – http://sidtuli.wordpress.com/

[v] Axelrod, Alan. Patton on Leadership: Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999. Page 165. Also, War As I Knew It (1947) by George S. Patton, “Reflections and Suggestions”

*Portions of this blog post were adapted from a presentation entitled, “Empowerment & Decision-Making – Building a Framework for the Future.”  This presentation can be found at the link http://www.maine.gov/labor/bendthecurve/minutes/empowerment.pdf, through the State of Maine’s Department of Labor website (http://www.maine.gov/labor/), and their Bend the Curve initiative.

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Related Articles and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Reading -

Hungry for Empowerment (sidtuli.wordpress.com)

6 Steps to Sustainable Leadership: Feedback Mechanisms (linked2leadership.com)

8 Ways to Find Freedom (leadershipfreak.wordpress.com)

10 Strategies for Building Confidence in Others (leadershipfreak.wordpress.com)

Believe in Empowerment? Then Just Do It! (km4meu.wordpress.com)

Delegation and Empowerment (prmarketingcommunication.com)

Enlightened Empowerment (myraqa.com/blog)

The Benefits of Employee Empowerment (cutimes.com)

Cover Story: Reagan on Decision-Making, Planning, Gorbachev, and More (money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune)

Need Some Advice? (managebetternow.com)

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Quote of the Day By General John A. Lejeune

13th Commandant of the Marine Corps
(1867 – 1942)

“Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that enables a person to inspire and control a group of people successfully.”

Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune

 

Messages from the Top of the Department of Defense for Armed Forces Day/Month

Armed Forces Day

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Armed Forces Day Message

“Let me take this opportunity to wish all of our troops and their families the very best on this Armed Forces Day. I hope you know that all Americans join me in gratitude for everything you do to keep us safe. Wherever and however you serve, you are an inspiration to me and to millions of your fellow Americans.

“President Truman was right to recognize this day, and even more right when he said that it is ‘not enough to yearn for peace. We must work, and if necessary, fight for it.’

“You fight for peace so that others don’t need to. You work for peace, at home and abroad, so that others may know a better life. Your families share in that labor and in that sacrifice, so that other families need not endure the pains of separation and of strife. There is perhaps no more admirable calling.

“In keeping with that same spirit of service and leadership, heads of state from across the world are joining together at the NATO Summit in Chicago to affirm our shared commitment to work and to fight to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan.

“Our goal is clear: to ensure that Afghanistan will never again serve as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against our homeland. To do that, we have to build an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself.

“Thanks to your service and that of your international and Afghan partners, we are closer to achieving these goals than we ever have been before. Al Qaeda’s leadership has been decimated, the Taliban’s momentum has been thrust back, and the Afghan National Security Forces are increasingly in the lead.

“In the past year, I have had the opportunity to meet thousands of you at installations across the globe. As the war in Afghanistan draws towards its conclusion, you still face difficult tasks ahead. But every day I serve as Secretary of Defense, I have been amazed and impressed by your grit and determination, and your resilience. It’s the same grit that won the day at Gettysburg, that scaled the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc, that sunk four enemy carriers at Midway, that broke the enemy’s back at Inchon and broke through the Berlin blockade.

“You stand on broad shoulders — a legacy of courage going back to this nation’s founding. Yet you have set a new standard while carrying a heavy burden over the last decade of war.

“As Americans take this Armed Forces Day to reflect on your service and that of your loved ones, I hope they also find new ways to show you the admiration and the respect you have so rightly earned. You have made our nation stronger and safer over the past decade of war, and whether in uniform or out, I know that you will continue to lead this country and never stop working to fulfill the dream of giving our children a better life.”

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Source -

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Armed Forces Day Message – Press Release No. 401-12 – Posted May 18, 2012 – http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15292 - Accessed 19 May 2012 – U.S. Department of Defense – http://www.defense.gov/

 

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Panetta Praises Troops on Armed Forces Day

 

Armed Forces Salute (commandperformanceleadership.wordpress.com)

 

Armed Forces Day ~ May 19, 2012 (commandperformanceleadership.wordpress.com)

Armed Forces Day ~ May 19, 2012

Salute Our Military: Armed Forces Day Is May 19, 2012

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department of Defense. Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.

In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman “praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas” and said, “it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace.” In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Mr. Truman stated:

“Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America’s defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense”.

The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was “Teamed for Defense.” It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government. Although this was the theme for the day, there were several other purposes for holding Armed Forces Day. It was a type of “educational program for civilians,” one in which there would be an increased awareness of the Armed Forces. It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life. It was a day for the military to show “state-of- the-art” equipment to the civilian population they were protecting. And it was a day to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States.

According to a New York Times article published on May 17, 1952: “This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces … to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won’t be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty.”

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. In Washington D.C., 10,000 troops of all branches of the military, cadets, and veterans marched pass the President and his party. In Berlin, 1,000 U.S. troops paraded for the German citizens at Templehof Airfield. In New York City, an estimated 33,000 participants initiated Armed Forces Day “under an air cover of 250 military planes of all types.” In the harbors across the country were the famed mothballed “battlewagons” of World War II, the Missouri, the New Jersey, the North Carolina, and the Iowa, all open for public inspection. Precision flying teams dominated the skies as tracking radar were exhibited on the ground. All across the country, the American people joined together to honor the Armed Forces.

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Source -

Salute Our Military: Armed Forces Day Is May 19, 2012 – http://www.ourmilitary.mil/hot-topic/salute-our-military-armed-forces-day-is-may-19-2012/ - Accessed 19 May 2012 – OurMilitary.mil – http://www.ourmilitary.mil/

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Armed Forces Salute