The role and responsibilities of military officers

Army Leadership

It is the mission of the United States Army to protect the nation from threats by fighting and winning the country's wars. For more than 200 years men and women have served in the Army to successfully accomplish this goal, and as an American, I want to join this line of great citizens and defend this nation against any and all threats. The United States of America is a nation unlike any that have ever come before. Founded in liberty, it's whole purpose is to create an environment where everyone is free to accomplish anything they set their mind to. This system is guided and protected by the principles and laws set out in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution; and the military has been created to protect this nation, and the freedom of its people, from threats that may destroy the peace and order that has been created. In order to do this, the military needs competent and willing people to do the difficult work and make the sacrifices that are necessary; and I feel that I could make a significant contribution to the protection of this great nation by becoming an officer in the U.S. Army.

As an officer in the United States military there are certain expectations that society has in store for me, and they can best be described by the motto "BE-KNOW-DO." An officer is expected to BE a leader, to possess the qualities and attributes that shape character in order that they may be able to motivate, influence, and inspire others to accomplish assigned missions. It is what a leader KNOWS that will give them the ability to be a leader, and in the Army this means knowing tactics, organizational procedures, technical systems, how to manage resources, as well as the needs of the people under their command. And finally, an officer is expected to be able to DO things; they must be able to effectively apply the knowledge they have to the situation they're facing in order to successfully accomplish the goal.

The main duty of an officer in the military is to lead others, and I hope soon to be providing this service in the future. This can be accomplished in a number of ways but mainly an effective leader can provide purpose, motivation, and inspiration for those under their command. Leading others also requires building and sustaining the morale of the team, as well as enforcing standards and performing checks and inspections. A second duty that I will soon be performing is developing people and the organization, or in other words, managing a group of people. This will require me to create a positive environment in which teamwork, cohesion, initiative, and responsibility are promoted while maintaining a balance between the welfare of the members of my team and the successful completion of the assigned mission. Thirdly, I will soon be asked to develop and execute plans so that my team may accomplish assigned missions. An effective plan is vital for the success of an assigned mission as it reduces confusion, builds confidence, and allows a commander to adjust to changing situations. In order to execute a plan it is necessary to have situational awareness and understanding, as well as an effective means of assessing progress and implementing adjustments. Having the ability to develop and execute plans successfully will enable me to perform the most important duty assigned to me and my team: accomplishing a mission.