I wish to express my gratitude and thanks for the Soldiers and Airmen of the Utah National Guard. I see your hard work and efforts towards our mission as part of the United States Military. As we welcome Brigadier General Turley as our new adjutant general, I know he is fully invested in the members of the UTNG. I am confident in his leadership abilities and excited to serve with him as part of our command team.

Expanding upon my last article, which touched on the topic of leadership, recently the Army released the updated Noncommissioned Officers Guide (TC 7-22.7). Through my initial study of it, I found a part in chapter three of particular interest.

Chapter three, paragraph 3.7, states,

"Military leaders are responsible for achieving any and all assigned missions. They can do this through either commitment or compliance-focused influence. Compliance-focused is directed at a follower's behavior. It is generally effective for gaining short-term and immediate results. Long-term and lasting change requires a different focus. Leaders must move beyond compliance-prompted behavioral changes and focus on influencing followers’ attitudes, beliefs and values in order to gain commitment. Commitment-focused is directed at a follower's thinking and implies the followers want the organization to succeed and positive changes to occur."

As leaders of Soldiers and Airmen, NCOs must pro-actively dedicate themselves to a constant self-assessment of the leadership style they are using with their teams. We must also ask ourselves this question, "Am I committed to the mission, or am I compliant?”

As we assess ourselves, our Soldiers and Airmen will see our efforts to improve and better the team. It requires a leader to have the humility to assess themselves and seek improvement. This humility is critical in the development of lasting, inspiring, and meaningful teams. I highly encourage you all to take time and study the updated Noncommissioned Officers Guide. It's an honor to be a leader in the Utah National Guard. Your team is counting on you to make the right decision as you lead!

I wish to express my gratitude and thanks for the Soldiers and Airmen of the Utah National Guard. I see your hard work and efforts towards our mission as part of the United States Military. As we welcome Brigadier General Turley as our new adjutant general, I know he is fully invested in the members of the UTNG. I am confident in his leadership abilities and excited to serve with him as part of our command team.

Expanding upon my last article, which touched on the topic of leadership, recently the Army released the updated Noncommissioned Officers Guide (TC 7-22.7). Through my initial study of it, I found a part in chapter three of particular interest.

Chapter three, paragraph 3.7, states,

"Military leaders are responsible for achieving any and all assigned missions. They can do this through either commitment or compliance-focused influence. Compliance-focused is directed at a follower's behavior. It is generally effective for gaining short-term and immediate results. Long-term and lasting change requires a different focus. Leaders must move beyond compliance-prompted behavioral changes and focus on influencing followers’ attitudes, beliefs and values in order to gain commitment. Commitment-focused is directed at a follower's thinking and implies the followers want the organization to succeed and positive changes to occur."

As leaders of Soldiers and Airmen, NCOs must pro-actively dedicate themselves to a constant self-assessment of the leadership style they are using with their teams. We must also ask ourselves this question, "Am I committed to the mission, or am I compliant?”

As we assess ourselves, our Soldiers and Airmen will see our efforts to improve and better the team. It requires a leader to have the humility to assess themselves and seek improvement. This humility is critical in the development of lasting, inspiring, and meaningful teams. I highly encourage you all to take time and study the updated Noncommissioned Officers Guide. It's an honor to be a leader in the Utah National Guard. Your team is counting on you to make the right decision as you lead!