Leadership: with great power comes great responsibility

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Goff
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." These words were declared by Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and in the United States Military, leadership is sought and admired.

The aspect of leadership is shown during Operation REAL, standing for respect, equality, accountability, and leadership, the operation consisting of a base-wide stand down dedicated to ending sexual assault. Leadership is defined by members of a military community through their own personal convictions rather than through the words of previous leaders.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Keith Smail, Instructional Systems Specialist, relates his experiences in leadership from his eight years of teaching.

"As a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer I realized that the number one rule of leadership is to treat people the way you want to be treated; by doing that you can set up a person to where they excel," Smail said. "You never know who you will influence; any person you interact with positively could inspire them to be the next great leader," he said.

Smail also describes that leadership is not a checklist, and that a leader has to use their personal experiences.

"Being a leader is like playing cards, you can't control the cards you're dealt, but you have to play them properly," Smail said.

Senior Master Sgt. Brent Batten, Flight Chief of the 366th Training Squadron also discusses his view on leadership.

"Leadership is about knowing you and your people's strengths and weaknesses and accomplishing the mission," Batten said.

Airman Zachary Kennedy, electrical power production student for 366th Training Squadron describes leadership as something important to everyone.

"A leader is someone who has a responsibility to lead others, to keep them on the right track, and get the job done," Kennedy said. "Without leadership, without someone to delegate and organize, everyone would just go in different directions."