30 May 2025

Three Qualities of Good Leaders: A Message for New Lieutenants from the Chief of Staff of the Army

General Randy George 

You are entering our profession with a world that is more dynamic and volatile than I have known in my time in uniform. Warfighting is evolving as rapidly as the technology in all our pockets. You will see more change in the next five years than senior leaders today have witnessed in the last twenty, and you will help lead that change. You’re going to need to think creatively, decide quickly, and act purposefully.

And yet, what won’t change is our Army’s need for physically and mentally tough leaders of character. You are trained for that role. You are ready for what’s next. As you take the next step in your journeys as leaders in the profession of arms, I’d like to share three qualities that good leaders embody.

First, good leaders immerse themselves in their craft. They understand the importance of self-development and spend the effort necessary to properly prepare themselves before they train their units.

You must do this because you will be asked to lead incredible soldiers, who have made it their duty to prepare themselves for combat. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha was one of those soldiers in my formation. His tireless preparation paid off when he and his team at Combat Outpost Keating in the mountains of Afghanistan found themselves with the odds stacked against them. They kept the base from being overrun and saved many lives because they were experts. You will lead soldiers like Romesha—soldiers who are immersed in their craft—so take full advantage of the training, coaching, and mentoring that’s available to you. As President John F. Kennedy said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”


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