RULES OF THE ROAD FOR UNIT LEADERS – Paving the Way to Your Future

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR UNIT LEADERS – Paving the Way to Your Future

Thinking Ahead • Soon all of you will either enter the private sector work force or start your military careers. • What are your credentials for being successful in the future? • Do you model good leadership? • Do you uphold the standards of The Citadel? • Do you expect and require other cadets to uphold the standards? • Are your actions consistent both in and out of uniform?

THE BEST LEADERS …recognize their responsibility as role models and live up to their commitment to endeavor for what is right, not just what is expedient.

Responsibility • Everything you do here has the potential to affect your future • Everything you tolerate that others do here also has the potential to affect your future • Because: • You are judged by your own actions, but you also are judged by the actions of those who are affiliated with you • Therefore: • If you tolerate the bad behavior of others, you possibly are damaging your own reputation and the strength and reputation of the institution

How would you respond if… • Your best friend came in drunk and disorderly? • Your best friend came in drunk and disorderly and went into a knob’s room and sexually assaulted him/her? • You knew one of your classmates was beating a knob and lying to the TACs about it? • You saw some cadets being rude to people downtown?

The Citadel – an Alternate Universe? • Would you respond the same way if the same behaviors occurred outside the gates? • Do you hold yourself and other cadets to different standards, higher or lower, than those who aren’t part of The Citadel community?

Fast forward in your head to your future • Imagine you have graduated and are employed by a corporation or are in the military • If you are going into the military, you hold the same rank you have as a cadet • If you are going into the private sector, you have a position in the corporation: • Battalion Commander = Chief Executive Officer • XO = Chief Operations Officer • Cadet Captains = Vice Presidents • Cadet Lieutenants = Division Managers • Senior Privates = Entry-level Managers

In your new role, determine how you would handle the situations on the following slides • Imagine what would happen to your corporation or military unit if you ignored the situations • Also imagine how the situations might be perceived if the community found out • Discuss each scenario with others in the group • Discuss as a large group

Situation #1 – Private Sector • One of the company division managers has started to come to work drunk once or twice a week. • The drunk is unable to complete his work correctly and has lost two clients because of his mistakes • He is training new employees who are either following in his footsteps and drinking with him or are uncomfortable with the status quo • He drives a company car • How would you handle this? • How might it affect the company? • How does his future in the company look?

Situation #1 – Military • One of the 2nd lieutenants in your unit has started drinking heavily. • He is showing up for duty still drunk • He has asked several privates to go out drinking with him • He drives a tank • How would you handle this? • How might it affect the unit? • How does his future in the military look?

What if it was The Citadel? • Would you react the same if the drunk was a Citadel platoon leader who: • Goes into knobs rooms after a bender and physically assaults them several nights a week until two finally quit? • Insists that company clerks drink with him and play beer pong in the barracks? • Goes AWOL with the same clerks and drives drunk? • How would you handle this? • How might it your company? • How does his future at The Citadel look?

Situation #2 – Private Sector • You recommend your sister for a position in your company and she is interviewed by your manager. After the interview: • The manager tells you that your sister is a “hot ****” and he would like to “do her”. • Your sister tells you that the manager told her she could have the job if she slept with him. • What would you do? • How might this situation affect the company? • How does the manager’s future in the company look?

Situation #2 – Military • An officer in the military tells another member of the unit: • You are a “hot ****” • I would like to “do you” • You are told that the officer expects sexual favors in return for privileges. • What would you do? • How might this situation affect the unit? • How does the officer’s future in the military look?

What if it was The Citadel? • Would you react the same if a senior cadet: • Tells a female knob she is a “hot ****” and that he would like to “do her”? • Tells the knob that he will make sure she has a good freshmen year if she sleeps with him? • How might this situation affect your company? • How does the cadet’s future at The Citadel look?

Situation #3 – Private Sector • The CEO of your company is very unhappy with your department’s performance. He calls the whole department into a meeting and tells you things need to change. After he leaves, the division manager tells all of the administrative assistants: • To hang from ceiling pipes as motivation • That they will not be able to eat during the work day until the whole department improves • He then slaps one of them in the face and calls him a useless fag. • What would you do? • How might this situation affect the department? • How does his future in the company look?

Situation #3 – Military • A lieutenant colonel is very unhappy with your unit’s field performance. During an AAR she makes it clear things must improve. After she leaves, a 1st LT tells all of the enlisted members: • To hang from ceiling pipes as motivation • That they will not be able to eat until the whole unit improves • He then slaps one of them in the face and calls him a useless fag. • What would you do? • How might this situation affect the unit? • How does the lieutenant’s future in the military look?

What if it was The Citadel? • Would you react the same if a cadet told knobs: • To hang from ceiling pipes as motivation; • That they will not be able to eat until the whole unit improves; and • Then slaps one of them in the face and calls him a useless fag? • How might this situation affect your company? • How does the cadet’s future at The Citadel look?

Make Sure your Present Actions fit your Future Aspirations • Model good leadership • Uphold the standards of The Citadel • Expect and require other cadets to uphold the standards • Make sure your actions are consistent both in and out of uniform • Acting responsibly and requiring others to act responsibly show you care: • About yourself • About your values • About the welfare of your fellow cadets • About the culture and traditions of The Citadel • About the image and reputation of The Citadel and its cadets

Leadership cannot just go along to get along. Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day. Jesse Jackson My challenge to you is to “Lead, Follow, or get the hell out of the way!” General George S. Patton

One Final Note:Citadel Policy -- Other Drugs • Zero tolerance • For possession, solicitation, distribution, sale, or use of hallucinogenic, narcotic, or other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia • Policy applies to all cadets ANY TIME OR ANY PLACE • Policy also applies to prescription drugs for which there is no prescription. You cannot share your prescriptions with anyone. • Any of those offenses may result in expulsion

QUESTIONS?

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR UNIT LEADERS – Paving the Way to Your Future