A historical event shocked our country on this date. Here's our team's thoughts as voiced by our Executive Director.
Shock and awe. During my military experience this phrase was usually associated with war or quelling violence in some distant foreign land. Unfortunately, this week those words crept into my mind as we all watched brazen criminal acts that sought to shatter our most fundamental institutions under the guise of patriotism... but ever so far from it.
Unacceptable... Unconstitutional... Unamerican...
Those were the next words that came to mind. Regardless of our political affiliations we should be able to agree that an armed attack against ALL of our elected officials at one of our long-standing democratic citadels was an active attempt to prevent the will of the people with force and fear. Personally, I was both angry and sad.
But slowly my confidence in our ever evolving democratic experiment started to return as our elected officials worked through the late night, doing the business of the people, for the people. I regained hope as a host of our nation’s leaders began to stand up and speak out.
I believe that leadership is a universal salve, even for the most catastrophic wounds. A leader’s character is exposed during times of calamity, not calm. As an organization committed to improving leaders, in moments like these my MilitaryMentors team and I ask, quite simply and directly, “Are you a leader?” Leaders have a responsibility to improve the lives of those around them and make their organizations better. Leadership and providing mentorship will build, maintain, and propel what has always been our greatest resource - PEOPLE.
MilitaryMentors serves mostly professional military members. As such, we reaffirm our publicly taken oaths—to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Never forget “foreign AND domestic” - the acts at our Capitol were home grown threats to all that we hold dear and illustrate the work that still needs to be done by leaders, including those in our justice system, as noted by VP-elect Harris.
This week surely has tested some of our wills, but we cannot allow it to crack the bedrock of our beliefs.
Whereas my views do not represent the views of the DoD and are my own as Executive Director of MilitaryMentors, I’d like to emphasize our motto of “Start a conversation. Spark a transformation.” Be informed, but push away from the media storm, seek deeper self-awareness, reaffirm your values, and check in with those around you.
Vince Lombardi once said “The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising after you fall.” Let’s be leaders who can rise, yet again, together. See video version here.
Chaveso "Chevy" Cook
Executive Director