militarymoms

All over the country, military moms are heading out to graduation ceremonies at kindergartens, grade schools, high schools and universities.  The U.S. Naval Academy held its commissioning ceremony yesterday.  Graduation celebrations are important milestones, and the best ceremonies include speeches that truly have meaning for the graduates.  I think Admiral Michael Mullen’s address to the Academy graduates was just such a speech.

Admiral Mullen advised the new ensigns and second lieutenants to question their superiors when they feel things aren’t going right and to take responsibility for their own actions.  Most importantly, he told them that they need to be ready to learn from their mistakes.  “What matters most is how you deal with it [your mistake],” Adm. Mullen said.  He should know - he’s the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

After 22 years of hanging around military folks, I think Adm. Mullen’s words are spot on.  Just yesterday my husband came home upset because one of his friends wasn’t selected for promotion, and this officer’s superior didn’t bother to break the bad news.  She had to find out from a Web site.  That’s poor leadership - it might seem like a small thing, to avoid breaking bad news to a subordinate, but it’s not.

I’d like to see all military members, enlisted and officer alike, take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes.  Over the years I’ve met so many military members who take their work very seriously and who go the extra mile to take care of their people.  We need those leaders.  Our country needs those leaders.

I hope Adm. Mullen’s speech gets lots of press coverage.  His advice is relevant to all graduates today - and to the rest of us, too.

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