The Army's definition of leadership -- the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization -- took on a personal dimension during the Dec. 13 Leader Investment for Tomorrow graduation ceremony for 64 Redstone Arsenal employees.
Each speaker -- from Maj. Gen. Doug Gabram to the three students who represented the different levels of the Aviation and Missile Command's LIFT program -- brought their own message of leadership to the graduation stage in the Sparkman Center's Bob Jones Auditorium.
Allen Wampler, a graduate of the Advanced LIFT class, compared LIFT students to the seeds of an orange, telling his story of how each student can seize opportunities for growth and development to become true leaders.
Erica Thompson, a graduate of the Intermediate LIFT class, charged the graduates to be accountable for what they have learned during the nearly year-long leadership program, saying that leadership is a choice and an action, and that each student needs to "use information to lead change on our teams and in our organizations."
Jonathan Bradford, a graduate of the UpLIFT class, told a story about the $2.41 in a metal tin that was handed down to him from his father, who was given the loose change at the age of six by his mother as the pocket money his father was carrying when he passed away. To this day, that change represents an investment that continues to inspire Bradford.
"I believe you are going to see a return on your investment," Bradford said to the AMCOM senior leaders and students. "Loose change becomes life change. We all have the ability to influence others. Don't fear adversity. Turn it into positive, productive change. A little bit of change can make a lot of difference. You can hold on to your change or choose to lead and invest in others."
But, it was Gabram's personal story of leadership that resonated the most with the audience.
To bring his message of leadership home to the LIFT graduates, Gabram showed them the 143 Soldier cards that he carries with him every day. Each card carries the name and information of a Soldier who was killed in Iraq under Gabram's command from 2011 to 2012.
"This is personal. This is why it matters," Gabram said. "I would be there as a coffin was put on a C-130 to come home. It really wears on you. The last 50 or so, I didn't feel anything. I was kind of numb."
Every LIFT graduate, he said, contributes to the mission, to the goal of bringing every Soldier back from war alive.
"Our purpose is to support, at the time of need, our Soldiers on the ground," Gabram said. "You are part of this profession. Engineers and logisticians, aviation and missiles, and all those in between, this is what matters. Remembering that first Soldier who died, this is how you all contribute to Soldiers who come back alive. I am proud of this organization."
He urged the LIFT graduates to continue their leadership development through self-development, professional education and operational development in the workplace.
"At work, who's training you? Who's helping you to become a leader? For your supervisors, who's going to be the next to take their place? You are the future," Gabram said, referring to a leadership book he is currently reading called "Discover Your True North" by Bill George and Peter Sims.
"How can you be an authentic leader? Here's a question for you: Are leaders born or are they made? I would argue they are made."
Those aspiring to leadership should also reflect on what their true desires are, where they have been in their lives and where they want to go, he said.
"Whom do you really admire and why? Put their names down. Why do you respect and love them? Then, see if you can be more like them," Gabram said.
"Ask yourself: Where can you use your leadership to serve others? Life is about giving and living fully."
Gabram told the LIFT graduates that there are three life lessons that he hopes all will live by. They are: Know who matters in your life and always leave them with loving words, Find the right balance psychologically, emotionally and mentally, and Have a goal that you can aspire to.
"If you don't have balance and you are not able to perform at the top of your game, then you can't lead," he said. "In this world of technology, we won't get anywhere without you."
This year's LIFT classes impressed both their instructors and the mentors who provided guidance during the year, said LIFT program manager Tom Olszowy. Besides leader development, they also learned about time management, decision making, communication and networking.
"They learned about each other and helped develop each other," he said. "This program is designed to get them out of their cubicles and to meet and to learn about people, and to learn to be the leaders we want them to be because leadership is about people."
This year's 64 LIFT graduates represent 18 government organizations. Before their graduation, each class presented its projects to Team Redstone leadership. While the UpLIFT class spoke about leadership and Army values, and shared information about their class project with the Downtown Rescue Mission, the more advanced iLIFT and Advanced LIFT classes presented projects meant to impact Team Redstone. The iLIFT projects included AMRDEC/AMCOM/ACC-RSA Synergy, Qualify of Life Analysis in the Tennessee Valley, Team Redstone Education Outreach Initiatives, AMC Reimbursable Tracking System Functional Requirements and AMRDEC Engineering Directorate Employee Feedback Survey Results Analysis. The Advanced LIFT class presented on the Team Redstone Mobile Application that launched Dec. 1 as the Redstone Explorer app.
The following students graduated at the ceremony on Dec. 13:
Advanced LIFT -- Steven Davis, Carolyn Farmer, Lisa Gilbert, Adam Hudson, Eric Hunnicutt, Kelvin Magee, Markeeva Morgan, Craig Northridge, William Dale Smith, Eve Swaim, Kyell Turner, Robin Tutin, Allen Walker, Mark Walker and Allen Wampler.
iLIFT -- Fred Beck, Lori Bolen, Kit Borden, Alex Boydston, Brian Cole, Bradley Easterwood, Stephanie Fachko, Michelle Gilbert, M.L. Stafford Graves, Lisa Hall, Clint Howard, Karin Hughes, Robyn Jackson, Elizabeth Jennings, Autumn Knoth-Jez, Lisa Maddox, Gerald Montague, Stela Pierce, Roosevelt Pitts Jr., Dr. Everett Roper, Elizabeth Schmitt, Barbara Watson, Cindy Webb and Alison Young.
UPLIFT -- John Bankston, Jonathan Bradford, Carmela Brewer, Cameron Broadus, Jasmine Bruno, Corey Campsey, Lauren Cobb, Ameisha Collins, Emanuel Edwards, Megan Fosdyck, Carol Garth, Jacob Gibson, Codie Gopher, Theory Haywood, Shirley Hogan, Stephanie Jones, Jennifer League, Sonya Merritt, Rosario Miranda, Mitchell Moe, Russell Ott, Rebekah Smith, Alejandro Vargas and Juanella Wright.
Social Sharing