Empathetic Leadership by Gabriel

Empathetic Leadership by Gabriel - May 2015 Scholarship Essay

Frank and I graduated from Officer Candidate School within a few weeks of each other at Fort Benning, GA. We were then both sent to Fort Sill, OK to complete our training as Field Artillery Officers. Finally, after over a year of military training we were both sent to the same military unit at Fort Campbell, KY that was preparing for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. It was a very rare confluence of events to continually find myself working with or near Frank after so many military moves. However, even rarer was to work with a peer that always showed an incredible ability to communicate, inspire, and lead. Frank always had the uncanny ability to understand and be understood by whomever he spoke or worked with. Something I believe stemmed from his empathy or ability to see things from another’s point of view.

Finally, we found ourselves separated as he deployed to one area of Afghanistan while I deployed to another. Though we were in neighboring provinces we might as well have been on different planets. Nevertheless, as our time in Afghanistan winded down and we returned to home sweet home we found ourselves yet again in the same unit. One of the first things Frank did when he assumed command of his platoon of 37 soldiers was to have a lengthy and personal sit-down with every single one of them. He asked them about where they were from, their families, dreams, and everything else! Furthermore, he took notes on everything they said and did his best to incorporate into the unit their ideas, improvements, and common sense approach. When I assumed command of my platoon of 37 soldiers I found myself overwhelmed by the millions of dollars of military equipment/vehicles, the pace of the training, and the sheer weight of the responsibility. There I was putting forth everything I had just keep my head above water and Frank found the time to sit-down and talk to every single soldier while doing all the same work I did.

It then occurred to me that I needed the help of my platoon to succeed. I began incorporating my platoon mates into our tasks and responsibilities not to simply lighten my load but to develop them as soldiers and give them the opportunity to help shape and steer the future of our unit. Furthermore, it gave them a chance to communicate with me and suggest improvements. My platoon and I found ourselves more and more working together instead of me trying to work and lead alone. Frank and I completed our time as platoon leaders with high marks for the very same reason. We had used our sense of empathy to understand, inspire, and lead our soldiers. Alas, all good things must come to an end. I found myself transitioning out of the military to spend more time with my family and pursue my lifelong goal of being a professor. Frank on the other hand was selected before many more of his better educated, decorated, and connected peers to serve as the aide de camp to Fort Campbell’s Deputy Commanding Officer, a one star general. I will probably never know why exactly he was selected for such a prestigious assignment but I have a hunch.