Sun • Oct 4th, 2009 • by Tom Nees • Comments 2
At what age should we begin teaching young people to be leaders?
I wondered that while reading about the new academic dean at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Andrew Phillips, “said that he has great respect for the midshipmen, and is firmly dedicated to making sure they are capable of leading ‘as soon as they put on the uniform or the ensign or the second lieutenant.’”
I live about five miles from the Academy and for nearly 20 years and have watched class after class of “plebes,” the incoming freshman – mostly recent high-school graduates about 18 years old. They graduate in four years on commissioning day receiving baccalaureate degrees and appointments as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
I watch these young men and women – they are looking younger every year – walking around Annapolis neighborhoods, playing football, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and occasionally I’ve worshipped with them at the Navy Chapel. They have to be very good students to get admitted and graduate with a bachelor’s of science degree.
But that’s not all. They are trained to be leaders. After graduating in their early 20’s they are given enormous responsibility, for expensive equipment like multimillion dollar fighter planes and multibillion dollar war ships and submarines. Even more important, Phillips said, “These midshipmen are going to be put in harm’s way; it is a sure thing, and they understand this. And yet, they have chosen to defend their country.”
I know that the military command and control leadership structure is different from civilian leadership. And yet, it takes a special kind of leader, either civilian or military, to make life and death decisions. Our country’s defense as well as the lives for whom these young officers are responsible is dependent upon them being good leaders.
In the military that kind of leadership development must begin early in their training – at a very young age.
What if colleges and universities recognized that all their students need to prepare for leadership in order to serve well through their chosen discipline? What if all academic deans understood, with Phillips, that teaching young people how to lead is as important as teaching subject matter in a curriculum?
What if in our homes, our schools and churches we would teach our children and grandchildren about leadership by recognizing and rewarding them for doing the right things? What if kids learned early on the difference between being a bully and a leader?
If moral leadership training – doing the right thing – would be begin at an early age and continue through higher education we might avoid some of the leadership failures that threaten society and the world.
As I look at these young college-age midshipmen I sometimes wonder if they will be ready for the awesome responsibility of protecting and defending the country. Will they be ready to take charge on commissioning day?
I wonder about all of our young people. I hope they too are getting ready to take charge on their commissioning day – whenever that comes.
October 5th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Tom,
At what age? As soon as someone is following!
Interested article about bring qualified to lead as well. I liked the part where Dr. Phillips spends times at the games to hear what people are really saying. It has the ring of great discipleship. The differences between the Academy and the church however is that these students have ” Devoted themselves”. Oh how we in church leadership desire that more who claim Christ would as well, “Devote themselves” to the teaching, fellowship and prayer of the leaders as in the days of the Apostles. It does happen, but unfortunately it is not the majority of those professing.
Thanks for blogging leadership thoughts!
Peter
October 5th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Peter – One of the big differences between military and civilian leadership is that in the military an officer/leader is given a command/following while civilian leaders often have to attract a following. Nevertheless effective leadership is required to retain and serve followers for the best interest of a cause.