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Major General Dwight Wheless has published an exciting leadership reading list:

"The most important thing a captain can do is to see the ship from the eyes of the crew." This belief has successfully guided D. Michael Abrashoff, the captain of one of the U.S. Navy's most modern and lethal warships. Abrashoff has revolutionized how to handle such challenging problems as excessive costs, low morale, sexual harassment, and constant turn-over.

I am a Deputy Squadron Commander for Cadets. We recently had an FTX in which one of the local guard units loaned us equipment to use. After the FTX, we were missing a piece of National Guard equipment. We eventually discovered that one of our cadets had stolen the piece of equipment.

Often CAP Units get new members by them walking in the door after a scattershot newspaper article, or recruiting drive at the mall.

There are many skills we need in Civil Air Patrol. Should we target our recruiting efforts for senior members to fill the needs of the unit and wing? I mean new members who bring to the table a full resume of skills for critical jobs.

1st Lt Highspeed is the staple of his squadron. He takes command of the unit and brings it to new heights. Then, he loses his job and has to move. What happens next? Everything falls apart upon his departure. Highspeed is idolized, and the days of that "great leadership" are missed by all.

Like a lot of us 'green commanders' (correction extremely green commanders), we all think we can be Will Riker.

Got new for ya: This is reality! You can't be G. Patton, MacArthur, or Abe Lincoln either. When it comes down to it! Your people will see right through you.

Every few months, I find my cadet staff in a frenzy to put together the training schedule for the next quarter. Surely, there is a better way to schedule, something more than just filling in the blanks.

Over the years, I've been asked by newbie commanders and those aspiring to become commanders about the Unit Commander's Course. The overriding questions always seem to be: "Why should I take this course? What will I get out of it?"