LEADERSHIP: THE ESSENCE OF CAP'S "MISSIONS FOR AMERICA"


by Brig Gen Richard L. Anderson
National Commander
1993 - 1996


It is a privilege to address the topic of leadership in this inaugural edition of "The CAP Officer, a Professional Journal for CAP Volunteers." I welcome and applaud this initiative to raise the level of professionalism and quality in the CAP officer corps. For this reason, I wish to briefly discuss the importance of leadership to CAP's Missions for America. You have often heard and read about what I choose to call "Missions for America." While CAP serves proudly as the Auxiliary of the United States Air Force and performs vital missions for our Air Force partners, we in reality perform nothing less than Missions for America. As such, CAP members have an important calling to volunteer public service to our country.

The essence of our Missions for America lies in the quality of leadership we bring to bear in our public service missions. Leadership is difficult to define because it comes in all shapes and sizes. It is elusive unless we nurture its growth in our people. And it is ill-suited to a step-by-step process.

Leadership is often confused with management. Management is a science and comes from the head. Leadership is an art and comes from the heart. Management is important...but leadership is indispensable. As for me, give me one leader for every 100 managers! And while I cannot hope to even describe leadership for you within the confines of this brief article, I assure you that you know a leader when you see one!

Why is leadership so important in Civil Air Patrol? It is important because no human endeavor in the long history of man has been successful without the vital element of leadership. Whether on the battlefield, in the classroom, or on Capitol Hill, leadership is first and foremost the determining factor in a successful effort. This reality takes on special meaning in Civil Air Patrol for three distinct reasons.

First, you have sworn by the oath on your membership application to perform essential emergency duties for federal, state, and local governments. Your status as a volunteer does not lessen your requirement for doing so in a professional manner.

Second, you have chosen to wear the uniform of your country--whether it is the Air Force-style uniform or one of our CAP-unique uniforms. The bottom line: The garment you wear identifies you as one who answers a higher calling and who performs volunteer public service to America as a valued member of the Air Force family.

And third, you are custodians of public moneys, public equipment, public welfare, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the public trust.

In sum, YOUR personal leadership is the most important quality in the successful execution of Missions for America by Civil Air Patrol. It is vital that you continue to develop your personal leadership skills and that you step up to the challenge when your community, state, or nation calls. Without question, leadership is truly the essence of our Missions For America.

Semper Vigilans!


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