"Before we can begin the nuts and bolts of officer training, I think it is important to discuss what it means to be an officer in DHG. In other words, I would like to discuss the concept of officer-ship. Officer-ship is a term used to describe the personal characteristics of an officer and should always be at the forefront of an officer’s mind when conducting training, leading, or making decisions...
...To understand what it is to be a professional, let’s examine some of its foundational values. I have taken an excerpt of a paragraph from a U.S. Army publication and modified it slightly for our application:
The values that are the bedrock of officer-ship are loyalty, duty, selfless service, and integrity...
...To maintain this level of professionalism, we must adhere to the principle of situational awareness. Or, more simply put, the perception of the environment and how information, events, and one’s own actions can impact DHG/Squad/Division goals both currently and in the future. In other words, is what I’m doing appropriate for the situation?...
...The same concept is true when handling inappropriate behavior caused by your fellow members. Do not fight fire with fire. You will get nowhere and everyone will leave the conversation angered and largely unresolved, requiring Division Leader (or higher) intervention. Instead, put these fires out with the coolness of your leadership. You are the water in which your Squad, Division, and DHG flows. Do not boil; instead, be calm and refreshing.
Your professionalism, or lack thereof, will influence the members of your Squad and Division. For instance, if you disrespect your higher ranks, both in practice, and out of practice, regardless of who’s in your party, you have failed to be a professional and have disrespected not only those individual(s), but DHG as a whole. The same is true about discussing issues in front of lower ranking members, especially when those issues involve their superiors, or perhaps their equals. In other words, the business of officers should not be discussed with non-officers in the same way we do not discuss DHG affairs with non-DHG members.
Should you have an issue with another member, and you will at some point in your officer career, remember the phrase "Punish in Private, Praise in Public.” Talk to someone in a private chat if you have an issue, or, better yet, call in a neutral higher-up to mediate the discussion between the two of you. This also goes for your subordinates – they have a rank, they earned that rank, respect them for that. It is a two-way street.
Rank does not equal respect. Actions, inaction's, and reactions while holding that rank give rise to respect. Respect is not automatic so do not waste your time in believing otherwise.
You have worked hard to be a leader; don’t forfeit that hard work by making poor judgments. YOU are the standard by which DHG is measured. Remember to always consider the officer-ship values of loyalty, duty, selfless service, and integrity when performing your duties. Be an officer, be professional, and be appropriate – you should never wish to do anything less."
