[February 21, 2022] U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Bryant stood like a statue looking over the simulated battlefield on the west side of Fort Polk, LA. We were about to charge into the open fields to attack the enemy. “Stand ready!” he said with great anticipation, “Charge!”
And we went, willy-nilly running like the highly motivated newbie recruits we were. The exercise was more about building up our esprit de corps than about actually ‘winning’ any simulated battle. We were pumped. We thought of ourselves as having the strongest commitment to being a real Soldier and the will to sacrifice anything to please Sergeant Bryant.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” – George Orwell1
To stand ready means having an unwavering commitment and firm knowledge that we may have to sacrifice anything we have for something important. In the military, to stand ready means to ready yourself for battle. In friendship, it can mean you are an unwavering friend.
The term “stand ready” can be applied in various circumstances, but it always refers to a robust emotional willingness to stand up for our country, our comrades, or our unit.
“I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.” – part of the U.S. Soldier’s Creed2
To stand ready is about being part of something greater than oneself. There is nothing more important than being part of a noble act. We join the military in service to our nation. Doing so is a means of achieving meaning in our lives.
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- Some question whether it was George Orwell himself or essayist Richard Grenier in 1993 quoting Orwell in a column published in the Washington Times. April 6, 1993, The Washington Times, Perils of Passive Sex by Richard Grenier, Page F3, Washington, D.C. (NewsBank).
- https://www.army.mil/values/soldiers.html
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Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” at Amazon (link here).
Gen. Satterfield, great series you have going on here. Keep it up. Every day I look forward to spending a few minutes on your blog to get a new insight into some unexpected topic on leadership. BTW, look at what is happening in the Ukraine with Putin’s army invading. Who is next? China taking on ????
Others have written that they love this series on “famous leader commands.” Yes, they are indeed entertaining but there is a kernel of truth that we should not overlook. That truth is that these commands somehow reach a deep psychological need to be part of something important (and dangerous). Maybe it is a drive to be brave (see article from today 2/23/2022). Thanks Gen. Satterfield. Well written.
Wilson, excellent point and thanks. Oh, have you read Gen. Satterfield’s new book? I got my copy. Great read.
Excellent article to add to your series. Others have suggested it and I will too — CHARGE should be the next famous leader command like we see on cowboy shows when the US Cavalry comes to the rescue. With bugle blaring all the way.
Right on suggestion. Another well written article.
Thinking the same thing. This is why a good friend of mine recommended this website.
Gen. Satterfield, another enjoyable article on your leadership blog. Thanks.
Thanks! Read the US Army’s Soldier’s Creed. Read it again. You will get a lot from it.
Gen. Satterfield, I recommend your next “famous leader command” to be CHARGE!!!! Like in the old cowboy westerns when the cavalry comes to the rescue.
Good one Newbie in Seattle. Thanks for the suggestion, I agree.
Yes, and in his first paragraph, Gen. Satterfield mentions “charge” and I think he has already aimed his sights on it.
By the way folks, I’ll be the first today to remind everyone to go out and buy “Our Longest Year in Iraq” a book by Gen. Satterfield. Buy it, comment on it, and give him a review on Amazon.
“To stand ready means having an unwavering commitment and firm knowledge that we may have to sacrifice anything we have for something important. ” You really nailed it with this line.
Funny how that works out. Gen. Satterfield is amazing what he can put together for us. However, I do have one bone to pick. This blog is more about leadership for those who are new or are mid-level and below, not so much senior leaders. That is okay with me. Perhaps, Gen. Satterfield should consider changing his stated purpose to “junior leadership.”
You are getting really good at integrating old stories from your time in the US army into your message, thanks for that. I encourage others to read your blog and come away with something to hold their attention thru the day. I’m a huge fan.
My favorite one in your series, Gen. Satterfield, is “hold the line.”
Gen. Satterfield, I enjoyed thoroughly this blog post and, of course, your website on leadership. Keep up the great work you are doing. I’ve recommended your site to my High School students. Several of them read it regularly and come back to class to discuss the points you make. This shows you are making progress even against the perversion we are seeing in higher educ today.
I’m glad someone is making progress against the evil that we see developing in the West that pits one race against another.
Yes, EVIL, when this is now encouraged rather than discouraged that we all get along based upon our individual achievements and choices. You are evil if you don’t agree that whites are oppressive always.
Right, this is what Pres Joe Biden, dementia patient, is spreading.
The most important words said here. Seer them into your memory.
“To stand ready is about being part of something greater than oneself. There is nothing more important than being part of a noble act. ”
Gen. Satterfield has made simple, what is often complex. Read this, cut and paste it on your desk, never forget.
Cool, I really like your series on famous leader commands. Thanks! 👍
Exactly! …. and why I read this blog every day. A tidbit of good info is better than a lot of word-salad talks by other so-called experts.
I hope Gen. Satterfield continues with this series about leader commands. In fact, IMHO, every time one of these commands are said, under certain circumstances, it makes me sit up and pay attention; exactly what they are intended to so.
So true, good note.