People assume leadership comes from rank. In the military, sure—rank opens the door. But real leadership? That’s earned in the dirt, not on paper.
I was a 13B in the Army. Our job? Move fast, fire faster, and stay alive. Every fire mission depended on precision, trust, and execution under pressure.
That’s where I learned the truth about leadership.
Lead by Example, Not Command
In a gun crew, yelling doesn’t motivate anyone. If the round isn’t prepped, if the angle isn’t right, lives are at stake. You earn respect by showing up. By knowing your gear. By owning your mistakes.
That lesson stuck with me.
Now in tech, I lead teams through complex systems. I mentor junior devs. I make decisions fast—but only after listening. I learned that from my section chief, who never raised his voice but never missed a beat.
From Fire Missions to Team Standups
In both worlds, the mission matters. And so does the team. Whether you're in a TOC or a Zoom meeting, real leadership means:
- Clarity of mission
- Calm under pressure
- Accountability without ego
- Trust earned daily
Leadership Beyond the Uniform
Leadership isn’t what you did—it’s how you do what you do.
The artillery gave me more than job skills. It gave me a leadership mindset that still guides me in coding, client work, and life.
Follow along daily at jameshenderson.online to explore leadership, loyalty, and tech through a veteran’s eyes.