Responsibility and the Leader

The comedian Steven Wright once said, “Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.”  Many years ago, as a new second lieutenant I learned that lesson the hard way.  I was a new infantry platoon leader and the company commander tasked me with running a machine gun range for “familiarization.”  Eager to prove my worth, I began my research in the relevant manuals.  Not finding exactly what I was looking for, I consulted my platoon sergeant, as to how we should run the range.  He put my mind at ease with words to the effect of, “Don’t worry, sir.  I’ve got you covered.”  Generally, these are comforting words to a young lieutenant from their senior non-commissioned officer.  However, such was not the case this time.

On range day, all had gone smooth: great weather, movement out to the range went off without a hitch, delivery of ammo, and safety briefings were all completed in a precise military fashion.  The platoon sergeant and the other non-commissioned officers had handled everything, and they seemed to have it all under control.  I could sit back, relax, and enjoy the day and a cup of coffee.  Then the bottom dropped out.  A helicopter circled the range and landed on the helipad right behind the firing line.  Out hopped the division commander, a major general.  For those not familiar with military rank structure, you can’t get much further apart in officer ranks than second lieutenant and major general.  I was the most junior officer rank in the Army, and he was the senior ranking officer on post.  He asked what we were doing, and I explained we were running a familiarization range.  He then asked a series of searing relevant questions to which I had no answer because I had disengaged as a leader and let my platoon sergeant handle it.  The general and I had a short (although it seemed like an eternity at the time) one-way military conversation, and he both cranked my neck back and lit my hair on fire (rightfully so).  When it was over, I saluted, and he flew off.  I received the experience I needed just before the general arrived.

Lesson learned.  As the leader, it was my job to make sure I knew all the relevant tasks (and sub-tasks), conditions, and standards to successfully run the range.  It was fine to trust my subordinates with running the range, but it was my responsibility to first learn the ins and outs of conducting the training, so I could ensure it was done in an effective and safe manner and to the standard required.   Second, it was my responsibility as the officer in charge to know what we were doing, why we were doing it, how it was going to get done, and to articulate this as needed.  The leader can always delegate the authority to accomplish the mission but the responsibility for it always stays with the leader.  It is a lesson I have never forgotten.