Matthew Young
Leadership Qualities Derived from Service in the Armed Forces
Throughout my life I have encountered many obstacles that I have overcome. The most challenging of all was spending the last four years in the Infantry Division of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army. I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq (twice in 4 years) and I led the Sniper team for our company. I spent 2 out of my 4 years enlistment in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Challenges and obstacles have presented themselves many times in the last several years and I was called upon to be a leader on many occasions.
From the time I was a young student athlete playing high school football, to leading soldiers in combat today, I have approached tenuous situations in my life with a sense of excitement and motivation. Immediately after High School, after completing a semester of community college, I joined the United States Army. I wanted the challenge of the army so I could prove to myself that I could do anything that I put my mind to. This attitude has helped me prevail over the obstacles in front of me every day, but especially while facing danger in a combat zone on a daily basis.
Many of the tasks I have encountered in the military may seem daunting to many. I prefer to look at the challenges in front of me with eagerness and excitement, with a sense of fulfillment when I finally complete the task. There are few things in life that feel as good as knowing I have been through some of the worst possible situations and have overcome them. Every time I accomplish a seemingly impossible task, I gain more and more confidence in myself. My success in overcoming the obstacles I have faced so far has taken the "I can't" mentality completely out of me.
Physically, the Army challenged me beyond what I could have ever imagined. Walking endless miles with ridiculous amounts of weight on my back, getting little or no food and/or sleep for days, in addition to enduring temperatures in excess of 120 degrees, are part of my daily life. I look at these inconveniences as obstacles that I must get past in order to make it to the next day. Everyday I wake up knowing that will have to endure the unimaginable, yet my attitude remains positive. I know that once I make it through the day I will be a stronger person than I was the day before. The only way to survive is to remain motivated and positive in order to keep the correct mental attitude required to do my job day in and day out.
Mentally, there were obstacles that I have had to overcome in the military as well. Initially, adjusting to my new surroundings in the hostile environment of basic training and being away from family and friends was difficult, but my motivation got me through. During basic training I was designated as the leader of my platoon, which is much like being the captain of a football team. I was required to guide my platoon through the tasks that were assigned to us and I was responsible for their success or failure. Just the knowledge that I was the one responsible was a mental obstacle in itself.
Coming to Iraq and being required to lead soldiers at 20 years old also has been one of the toughest mental obstacles that I have had to overcome. I was required to guide my platoon through the tasks that were assigned to us and I was responsible for their success or failure. There was deep sense of accountability and a grave reality set in once I realized that I was responsible for the lives of my men. I knew the decisions I made could potentially cause someone to lose their life. Keeping a calm head while under enemy fire is essential for leading soldiers, and I have been told that my ability to do it well was uncommon for my rank and age. I was promoted to the ranks of a non-commissioned officer sooner than most and I successfully lead my entire team through the deployment without any causality.
During my deployments to Iraq, I received several awards and/or medals for performing my duties exceptionally well. These included the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Overseas Ribbon. In addition, I also received the Commander's 3 Star Coin Award for my dedication to duty and commitment to my fellow soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I attributed the success that I had, and will continue to have, to my leadership ability, a positive attitude and motivation that I display every day. I will maintain this attitude and motivation well into the future.
"Soldier, athlete, leader, goal driven, student achiever, directed and hard working" are words I believe describe me. I was a leader in high school athletics and excelled in sports. I went into military service where I was called upon to lead. Every day, I worked extremely hard physically and mentally to prepare myself for what I would be facing in Iraq as a combat infantryman, sniper and team leader. I have always wanted to prove I could do whatever I put my mind to.
"Effort, energy, commitment, and a willingness to go 'the extra mile' are the time-tested ingredients to success," said Peter Dawkins. I agree, and I believe that these qualities have enabled me to become successful. I am not afraid of hard work, and I look at each challenge in my life as one that will make me a better person and one that will continue to allow me to lead well into the future.
Like Peter Dawkins, I value education, have set goals for myself, and I will continue to work towards my goals. I believe education is the key to achieving success, and I am prepared and ready for my next challenge.
I know throughout the rest of my life I will encounter many more obstacles. I believe the lessons I have learned will help me to achieve success in any future endeavors that I face. Booker T. Washington said, "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome." I am confident if I remain motivated, and keep looking at obstacles with excitement and eagerness, and continue to overcome the challenges set out in front of me, I will not only be successful in life, but I will be happy with the way that I lived it.
