Personal Narrative: My Legacy Leader
Legacy Leader
One of my most impactful leaders I’ve ever had was SGT. Christopher Smith. SGT. Smith went way above and beyond as my team leader, during one of the hardest times I’ve ever encountered as a soldier. Even more impressive to me was SGT. Smith at that point in his career did not have had the classic higher leader training the Army provides but he instinctually knew the right things to do. This was a leader who took care of myself when I literally had nowhere else to turn and through this paper I will examine the attributes and competencies that made SGT. Smith my Legacy Leader and why I hope to live up to his example. The reason after all these years that I still hold …show more content…
Smith took care of me, even when the Army Emergency Relief wouldn’t. My mother was in a near fatal car accident and was in ICU in a coma. The army was able to get my wife, kids and I back to Canada to see her but because it was the holiday season, we had spent all of our disposable money on gifts. After AER turned me down and told me they couldn’t help me in Hawaii I’d have to get a loan when I got to where I was going, in Canada. My wife and I returned most of our gifts and took things off of layaway to have some money to cover expenses. When SGT. Smith was made aware of my situation, on our way to the airport, he gave me out of his own pocket $3,000 to cover food hotel and a rental car on only a handshake and my word. This selfless act allowed my wife, kids and I to be there to ensure my mother was taken care of while not starving ourselves. This example of SGT. Smith’s character has had maybe the biggest impact on me as a soldier and leader then arguably any other leader ever has. In fact, I have emulated, to a lesser degree, SGT Smith’s behavior a couple of times with my own soldiers, only ever really asking
One of my most impactful leaders I’ve ever had was SGT. Christopher Smith. SGT. Smith went way above and beyond as my team leader, during one of the hardest times I’ve ever encountered as a soldier. Even more impressive to me was SGT. Smith at that point in his career did not have had the classic higher leader training the Army provides but he instinctually knew the right things to do. This was a leader who took care of myself when I literally had nowhere else to turn and through this paper I will examine the attributes and competencies that made SGT. Smith my Legacy Leader and why I hope to live up to his example. The reason after all these years that I still hold …show more content…
Smith took care of me, even when the Army Emergency Relief wouldn’t. My mother was in a near fatal car accident and was in ICU in a coma. The army was able to get my wife, kids and I back to Canada to see her but because it was the holiday season, we had spent all of our disposable money on gifts. After AER turned me down and told me they couldn’t help me in Hawaii I’d have to get a loan when I got to where I was going, in Canada. My wife and I returned most of our gifts and took things off of layaway to have some money to cover expenses. When SGT. Smith was made aware of my situation, on our way to the airport, he gave me out of his own pocket $3,000 to cover food hotel and a rental car on only a handshake and my word. This selfless act allowed my wife, kids and I to be there to ensure my mother was taken care of while not starving ourselves. This example of SGT. Smith’s character has had maybe the biggest impact on me as a soldier and leader then arguably any other leader ever has. In fact, I have emulated, to a lesser degree, SGT Smith’s behavior a couple of times with my own soldiers, only ever really asking