“I attempted to be tough but fair in my leadership style as we strove for excellence in everything we did,†Levy said.
“I attempted to be tough but fair in my leadership style as we strove for excellence in everything we did,†Levy said.
And there is the root of it. He was just a clerk and wanted the image of being a General Patton. General Officers in charge of supply units need to be EFFICIENT,not "tough". Their job is to keep the supply flow moving to make sure equipment,food,spare parts,etc,etc,etc,gets to where it needs to be,NOT to be "tough".
If he wanted to be tough,he should have gone into the USMC or the US Army as a combat arms branch officer.
Not every officer or NCO in the military needs to be "tough". In FACT,it usually gets in the way of being an effective NCO or Officer because the people under you end up having contempt for you instead of admiration.
This is especially true because the definition of "being tough" is FAR different in combat arms units than in support units. In combat arms units,it has nothing to do with being feared by those under your command. It has to do with being determined to do your duty to the best of your ability and not backing off due to fear of either the enemy or your own commander. It also means you will stand up for the people under your command when they are right,even if the people that outrank you are coming after them. It means not being afraid to show consideration for the people under your command because you are an adult and you understand their welfare is a part of your responsibility.
I served 6 years in the United States Army Special Forces,and met my first General officer when I was a newly assigned E-2 at the Special Warfare center and temporarily assigned as a "role player" at the Gabriel Demonstration Area at Ft. Bragg. It was General Yarborough,the commanding general of the Special Warfare Center,and he made it a point to walk up to me and the other young guys,smile,and shake our hands and ask us what our impressions were of the presentation. Come to think of it,he was the ONLY General Officer I met who was already a General,and he went out of his way to be welcoming and pleasant when he didn't have to and there was absolutely nothing for him to gain by doing so.
To continue,in my entire 6 years or so of serving in various Special Forces groups and detachments,I honestly don't think I heard the words "That is a direct order!" twice,and am not even sure I ever heard them. True leaders don't have to give orders.
It is a sign of leadership,which is a trait this particular General Officer was completely lacking. I have to wonder how he ever got 3 stars unless his father was a General Officer,or had political connections. People don't become like that overnight. He was always like that to the people under him command everywhere he served.