“To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.” – Andre Malraux
The United States does not have a traditional inherited nobility like Europe. We do not have a birthright to leadership in our military, but rather a hierarchy where all but the Commander in Chief (the President, the ultimate servant of the People) all started out at the absolute lowest levels and worked their way up. Where the five star General and the Master Sargent went through essentially the same basic training and have worked their way up through similar circumstances and have opportunities based upon their abilities and choices. And both know they are in positions of authority not to serve themselves but to serve the American people.
The best leaders achieve Level 5 Status in Jim Collins’ hierarchy of leadership. They are servant leaders, and if we had more of them we would all be better.