Hi, Cassandra - thanks for an unexpected and very useful viewpoint regarding that monthly theme (the one I ignored).

As someone who has worn the uniform and studied the art, I was pleased to see you picking up on some of the best wisdom the military profession has to offer.   War is not about simple violence and destruction, as many think.  While most folks would not advocate going to war as the first solution, it unfortunately sometimes becomes the only option.

I know we junior officers were exposed to the idea that you "subdue without fighting" whenever possible.   This can be accomplished tactically by things like these:

1)  Training, training, training ... in situations where you do not have time to think, instincts honed by training take over.

2)  Prepare, prepare, prepare ... if you wait until you face a situation or crisis, it is already too late.  While you cannot anticipate and prepare for every specific possibility, you can prepare for both those most likely and those most serious.

3)  Lead, lead, lead ... unlike the mythological lone leaders who push others by brute force or intellect, the most influential leaders I have known, military and civilian, are those who lead by serving.

Quick story:  I saw two types of leaders in my modest military experience.  You could determine which type someone was by what happened when they entered the mess hall or stopped in the field for a meal.

Old-fashioned leaders went to the front of the serving line ... because they could.

Servant leaders were the last  to eat ... because they felt the need to insure that their soldiers were fed first.

Thanks for a post that really resonates with me on several levels and for the trip down Memory Lane:)

John