Responsibility

RESPONSIBILITY
These last two weeks of lockdown at the Armory has gotten me thinkin' about a BUNCHA' stuff! Although we were typically up at 0400 and training straight until 2100 (9pm) minus meal times, of course... lying on a foldable cot in a warehouse-like room with 300 other guys in the dark... you get a lot of thinking done as you try to fall asleep (and ignore all the snoring). We deploy in January for MOB and after a 4-day leave in March (to say goodbye to family and friends) we fly out to Baghdad... so lotsa' things are being done ASAP and the myriad of thoughts is hard to contain.

ONE THING I SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON:

What kind of person are you?

Do you take on your fair share of responsibilities... less or even MORE than your fair share? If someone needs help, love and compassion... do you take the time and make the effort to make sure that person is okay... or do you pawn it off on someone else figuring "it'll get done." Do you figure you will get around to your responsibilities "one of these days"? Is your life so hectic that some responsibilities just fall to the wayside and before you know it weeks and months have passed since you last checked in on those responsibilities?

Are you the one who does the heavy lifting, or do you make excuses, justifications, and flimsy reasons for not doing what you SHOULD be doing? This is equally applicable for soldiers, workers, friends, family, politicians... what have you.

THOSE WHO SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY:
TYPE 1 Person: The Excuser
"Ya' know, I would _________ IF I didn't have to deal with _______." Ahhhh what a convenient excuse... saves you all the heartache, hard work, and demands of a responsibility, and you get to play the victim card at the same time. Funny, how people that are like that are guaranteed to not pick up the slack even WHEN that obstical is no longer there.

Type 2 Person: The know it all
"The way this is being done, is lousy! If I were in charge....."
Again ... such a wonderful excuse, while at the same time building yourself up as some superior, smarter, more enlightened master of the universe. Of course, the fact is... if your ideas were actually TRIED and TESTED.... they might not work, but then again.. you don't have to worry about that do you? "Cause you haven't lifted a finger, have you?

Type 3 Person: The complainer
"I won't have anything to do with this.. the person in charge is a louse"
Similar to the "know it all" mentioned above...no need to do anything.. just attack the chain of command, the person 'in charge' and you again don't have to lift a finger, only complain.

Type 4 Person; The Bulldozer in a China Shop
This is the pro-active version of the "Know it all"... I don't care what you want or say... we're doing it this way like it or not. This is the equivilent of a superior who enlists no information, suggestions or input from inferiors. "But Sir! There's a mine field there that will wipe out this entire batallion!" "Shut up... the plans don't mention a mine field... I've set my mind and we're going... I don't care about new information."... note: this isn't something I've encountered in the Army, just a hypothetical to illuminate the behavior. The Army is VERY cognizant of new intel and reacts accordingly! The bulldozer can sit back and say "I took responsibility"... but in fact, responsibility WASN'T served, only that person's need for ego and control. Responsibility includes serving the wishes and requirements of those being served.

Taking responsibility requires sacrifice, it doesn't consist of doing things the easy way, nor does it consist of passing the buck. Above all, it doesn't consist of letting someone else do the work while you kick back making excuses, complaints, and criticizing how things are being done!

As George W. Bush has learned in spades, taking responsibility often means being attacked for the manner in which you take care of those responsibilities... by people who don't have the balls, the patience, or the abilities to take on the responsibilities themselves.

THE SOLDIER'S CREED
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

ARMY VALUES

Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage