National Character and Leadership Symposium

This past week, the Academy hosted its annual NCLS. They invite speakers from across the country to come speak and students and other guests from around the world to come listen (I personally met two guys from Japan and a guy from the great country of Turkey). Let me lay out the list of speakers I saw, then I'll let you in on some of the things I gained from this "symposium." Now, in order of appearance:

• Dr. Rick Rigsby, former college professor and author of "Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout." Spoke on holding on to what your mommy and daddy taught you, and how becoming a person of character is just remember the things your parents taught you: be nice to people, be early, etc. Shared a moving story about meeting, marrying and saying goodbye to his wife who died of breast cancer. He said "for two years after her death, I didn't breathe, my heart didn't beat." His dad's advice: "Son, just stand." During the hardest times of our lives, we need to just stand and survive, knowing that everything will one day be alright.
• Tommy Lasorda, former manager of the LA Dodgers and the 2000 USA Baseball team- winner of two World Series and a gold medal. Oh my HILARIOUS. Spoke on how he made it from a little boy that loved baseball and dreamed of playing in the major leagues to becoming a pitcher, then a scout, minor league coach, manager, VP, and now Special Advisor to the Chairman of the LA Dodgers. The man loves baseball. He loves America. Said that as a leader you need to lead and inspire your people to the greatness that is already within them. After one of his players said he was 'trying' he replied, "Trying?! You're trying?! I could go grab any truck driver, construction worker, or street sweeper and pay him 8 million dollars to TRY!!! You're here because you have talent - NOW START USING IT!"


• The Honorable Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force. Gave a 20 minute speech from notes.


• Brian Billick, former NFL Head Coach and TV Sports Analyst. Caught the last part of his talk after Donley's short and empty talk. Said that no matter what you do you will have critics, but to not pay them any attention. Gained more from the last 5 minutes of his talk than all of Donley's talk.


• Dr. Eric Greitens, former Navy SEAL and founder of The Mission Continues. Shared lessons learned from his Navy SEAL training and from his research done around the world for his PhD titled "Children First." Shared stories from his foundation and how it is helping Disabled Vets feel needed in society and continue serving their communities. Talked about how orphans, refugees, disabled vets and all these people need help -- but not just money or other "Aid Kits." They need leaders, people that can inspire them and show them the way to change their lives and the lives of those around them.


• Dan Clark, a primary writer for "Chicken Soup for the Soul," and motivational speaker. He looks 20 years older in real life (just FYI). Said that he wasn't going to teach us anything new, or ways to do 'think outside the box' because "Change from the outside-in is reactive and creates pressure. Change from the inside-out is proactive and creates power through stretching." Talked about being a "Guardian of Trust" and how we should respect and trust people by default, and that by trusting in someone and their abilities we can truly lead them. Also talked about commitment and how the three biggest, most powerful words of commitment are not "I love you," but they are "I need you."
  
• "The Roberts Ridge Panel." Four American Heroes that were at the Battle at Takur Ghar: Roberts Ridge Rescue. Discussed the battle from the 4 different points of view (Army Ranger on the ground, AF TacP on the ground, AC-130 Fire Control Officer, and AC-130 Aircraft Commander). Talked about how to train and prepare for leadership so that it comes automatically during times of crisis. Also talked about how leadership isn't management and that as a leader you should inspire and LEAD people, not control them or micromanage.

Intense couple days, yeah? I know. I think the talk that had the biggest influence on me was Dr. Greitens. You could say that he inspired me. Because now I just want to help people. I want to motivate people to make changes within themselves and show them how to change their lives. I want to enable them, support them, and give them the things they need to make a change. Using the training, education, and experience I will gain here at the Academy and in the Air Force as a springboard, I want to be a force for good in this world, and spend my life in the service of my fellowman.

Who's with me?!