The VALUE of Leadership

1st Sgt. Andre Value is an authentic soldier with a straightforward approach to leadership. He’s an active listener who doesn’t believe in wasting words or time. Stand in one of his morning formations, and you’ll quickly discover he’s not there to chat. He’s there to deliver daily tasks, conditions, and standards, followed by a quick, “Platoon sergeants, take charge and conduct your business.”

Value currently serves as the 1st Sgt. for the Army Reserve’s 90th Special Troops Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company, overseeing soldier training and readiness.

When it comes to leading troops, he puts VALUE in three things:

“Shoot, move, communicate,” said 1st Sgt. Andre Value. “Understand these, get them right, and watch your Soldiers and units perform and grow.”

Here’s how he breaks down his version of shoot, move, and communicate:

Shoot: Soldiers must be proficient with their primary weapon. Don’t rush range training. Hone your skills and ensure you can advance on the enemy if needed. The soldiers to your left and right depend on your skills as much as you depend on theirs. We owe it to each other to be weapons experts.

Move: Be ready to move if our nation requires it. When we raised our right hand and swore to protect and defend this nation, we made the underlying commitment to be mentally, physically, and administratively ready. To do this, you must take the required training on time, do PT often, and ensure your paperwork is current and correct.

Communicate: This may be the most important to 1st Sgt. Value. You can’t move if you don’t communicate, and you won’t be in the best position to shoot if you can’t move. In Basic Combat Training, you learn precise movements to ensure cover fire, like “I’m up, they see me, I’m down.” These commands keep the team in sync. The same applies to calls, texts, emails, and other communication methods. Delayed responses hinder movement, and lack of timely training schedules leads to inadequate preparation. Poor communication will break down a team.

The VALUE he places on leadership comes from mentors throughout his career who believed in him more than he did in himself. He credits a drill sergeant who sought him out for roles of responsibility beyond his experience.

As 1st Sgt. Value continues to lead with integrity and dedication, he inspires his soldiers to excel, ensuring that the next generation of leaders is prepared, proficient, and ready to serve. His straightforward, no-nonsense approach is a reminder that effective leadership is built on the foundation of clear communication, unwavering readiness, and mutual trust.