Learn from nation's best: Rise to humility

  • Published
  • By Col. Mark MacDonald
  • 615th Contingency Operations Support Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In January 2013, I had the distinct honor of attending the American Legion's Salute to Heroes Inaugural Gala in Washington, District of Columbia. 

Seated among us at the banquet were more than 30 Medal of Honor recipients, awarded during combat in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan.  In a strange shift in priority, my friends and our spouses were seated in the front row, recognized as a table of actively serving military members. 

Throughout the course of the evening, my wife Julia and I were privileged to break bread and share conversation with the likes of Col. Joe Jackson, Army Col. Jack Jacobs, Army Master Sgt. Leroy Petry and Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta.

As you might imagine, my own perceived sense of individual accomplishments paled in comparison to the achievements of those warriors wearing the light blue ribbon around their neck.  There in that room, rank, badges, deployment tabs and ribbon racks meant nothing compared to the five-pointed star. 

However, this was not a room of bravado and heroic story telling.  On the contrary, each recipient I spoke to seemed more concerned about my family and experiences - asking about my history, instead of focusing on their own accomplishments.  There even was the occasional "thank you for serving," offered from warriors who have seen the direst of situations and displayed the utmost gallantry and intrepidity.  Despite great achievement and recognition, these gentlemen were truly humble.

The more time you serve in the military, the more status you acquire - in the form of increased rank, as well as titles such as commander or superintendent.  Often, there are privileges associated with these status upgrades, as well as polite deference from your subordinates.  Stay suspended in the "self-importance bubble" long enough and you can easily start to believe your own hype.  A senior mentor once offered this bit of sage advice to a group of us newly minted colonels on the verge of taking command:  "you are not as funny, interesting, wise or good looking as the privileges of your title will lead you to believe."  With each rise in outward stature you must stay ever vigilant against unwarranted cranial enlargement.

In January of this year, the Washington Post published an exposé on "Military Brass, Behaving Badly" detailing misconduct and unethical behavior by senior ranking military members.  While I certainly don't suggest that all of these offenses emerged simply from a lack of humility, the road to decline is often paved by an outsized sense of entitlement.  Staying grounded, humble and true to the person underneath the uniform and accoutrements serves as a powerful inoculation against allowing your ego to outpace your worth.

There was a simple lesson to be learned at the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Gala: If humility is a trait ceaselessly practiced by the finest Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines that America has to offer, certainly those warriors provide an example we all can strive to emulate.