When I first enlisted, I did not know where my military career would take me. Back at that time, I thought that I may only complete my initial enlistment and move on to other professional pursuits. However, over the past nine years I have come to embrace all that the United States military stands for. I believe that service as an Army officer is a distinguished honor that is surrounded with a rich history of all who have served and sacrificed before me.
The first time I considered joining the military was shortly after September 11, 2001. I believe I’ve always had a strong sense of duty and purpose, but before 9/11, my mindset was individualistic and compartmentalized. The terrible events that occurred on that day demonstrated the need for dedicated men and women to serve our nation and protect against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I cannot think of a better place to serve our great nation than in the U.S. Army, and I believe that, within the Army, the best way I can put all my resources to service is as an officer. I possess a diverse and comprehensive background of experience and training.
General Douglas MacArthur once said, “A general is just as good as the troops under his command make him.” As a leader, I prefer to practice the principles of servant leadership in most situations. A servant leader is someone who looks to the needs of the people and asks how they can help them to solve problems and promote personal development. They place their main focus on people, because content and motivated people are able to reach their targets and to fulfill the set expectations. This has a direct connection to being an effective Army officer. High quality leadership is critical in order to accomplish the mission and succeed in motivating soldiers to perform at the peak of their personal ability level. It is important to avoid complacency and continually strive for excellence.
If I am selected to become an