'You have to do everything honorably, to the best of your ability - with no regrets'

By Sgt. Gretchen Goodrich, 35th ADA BDE Public AffairsApril 8, 2009

'You have to do everything honorably, to the best of your ability - with no regrets'
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HUMPHREYS GARRISON - Everybody has someone in their life that pushed them in some way to get to where they are today. Staff Sgt. William J. Schaffhauser, the schools supervisor with 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, had Staff Sgt. Andre Frazier.

"He was an outstanding NCO," said Schaffhauser. "He admitted when he made mistakes and ensured that his Soldiers knew about the mistakes and how to fix them."

As his first squad leader, Frazier pointed Schaffhauser in the right direction the minute he stepped off the bus as a new private in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division six years ago. Between rigorous training, air assault school and several combat tours, Frazier molded Schaffhauser into the leader he is now.

"Leadership isn't something you talk about and it's not something you can write about. It's something you have to do," said Schaffhauser. "Being an NCO is about knowing your job, being flexible and confident and having a degree of humility."

Humility, Schaffhauser says, comes from admitting not just when you're wrong like Frazier did, but from having the willingness to be challenged. For Schaffhauser, the biggest challenge was his first Soldier.

"Everything that could be a challenge in a new Soldier was everything my first Soldier was," said Schaffhauser. From financial issues to military bearing, the new trooper was not cut for the military. Still, Schaffhauser continued to guide his Soldier, knowing that it was his responsibility to train a future leader.

"Being an NCO is not about training future Soldiers, but training future leaders," said Schaffhauser. "Every time you look at your Soldiers you have to think about the leadership qualities they possess and work with them in the areas that they are not as strong in."

Schaffhauser says the best way to prepare them for leadership roles is to start now. "There's a difference between an E-5 and being a sergeant," said Schaffhauser. That difference is leadership; E-5 is simply a pay grade.

"Don't wait until you get promoted to start leading, start now," stated Schaffhauser.

While Schaffhauser is preparing to wrap up his tour in Korea and head off to Drill Sergeant School, he's already ready for a new challenge that will involve taking hundreds of Soldiers through basic training.

He'll be taking his experiences as a leader, lessons learned in combat and lessons learned in training his own Soldiers with him as he starts his new role in the Army. Above his knowledge and experience, keeping his sense of humor will be a key to his success.

"It helps keep me going when things seem dim," added Schaffhauser. "You may know all the values and principles of the NCO creed, but it's how you do the best you can with what you have that makes you a great leader."

"You have to do everything honorably, to the best of your ability - with no regrets."