A friend of mine is a Captain in the US Naval Reserve. Late last year his unit was called up, and for the last 9 months he has been stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan as the senior naval officer attached to the United Nations Command (that's him on the left above with fellow officers from Afghanistan and Pakistan).

Every month he sends an email out to his friends to let us know that he's okay and to share some of his adventures. Recently he included in his note some remarks he made at a promotion ceremony for three men being promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. The Chief is one of the senior non-commissioned officers--responsible for groups of sailors below them and reporting to the officers above.

Here's what my friend had to say to these new leaders:

“In a few minutes you will become a Chief Petty Officer: a leader, a teacher, a mentor, an advisor, and an expert. To get this far you have excelled in your rating, but now much more is expected of you as a leader.

“We in the Navy share the tradition of Sailors going down to the sea in ships. More than in any other service, we live together, face danger together, go to war together, rejoice together, and grieve together. Each Sailor must know and be prepared to do each other Sailor’s task as we take our ship in harm’s way and bring her home again.

“You, the Chief, will become the link in the chain of command that will make or break your ship and your shipmates. You, the Chief, will mentor your junior officers and make them worthy leaders. You, the Chief, will lead and teach your young Sailors and make them grow into fine men and women. You, the Chief, will advise and make your commanding officer successful in leadership. You, the Chief, will be the technical expert at the top of your rating. You, the Chief, will have the duty of brutal honesty—you will bind command to crew by having the fortitude to make your Sailors know the needs of the mission, no matter how hard, and by having the courage to make your officers know the needs of your Sailors, no matter how you fear it may be heard.

“You face a great challenge—but I am confident you will excel. I am proud to be part of this ceremony and will be proud to call each of you, Chief.”

For those of us who are leaders in this organization--particularly the editors, managers and supervisors to whom most staff members report--there is much that can be learned from those words. Like the Chief Petty Officers cited above, we want our managers to take what they do seriously--as mentors, teachers, leaders, technical experts and honest communicators up and down the line. Not an easy role, but a very important one.