The Map On The Wall

Posted on 2021-09-05

I recently came across this guidance yet again on The Military Blog in the Green Notebook.  Simply put, I consider this to be some of the best guidance on leadership ever shared –– highly relevant to our effort –– and encourage you to click on the following link to download and read it in full.

Whenever I write, I try hard to avoid expressing political or partisan opinions. Not only do I doubt you care about my opinions, but it would also be wholly inappropriate for me, in my current position as an active duty squadron commanding officer, to make them publicly known. Last year when I wrote “Ship to Shore” it was fascinating to see as many MAGA hat-wearers as Bernie Bros applaud. I considered that a win — strange, perhaps, but a win nonetheless. So with that said…here we go again.

In my office, I’ve got a large map of the United States with dozens of small pins stuck all over it. Almost every day visitors to my office (most likely there to get some paperwork signed) try to guess what all the pins represent. Seeing as I’m an aviator, many guess the pins represent airports I’ve visited — not a bad guess. Others take a little more general tack and ask if the pins denote cities I’ve visited. Also not a bad guess but, like the first, it’s not correct. The real answer is simpler and more complex. Those pins represent what makes my organization strong; that they’re dispersed so widely around the map underscores the point.

When a new member joins our team, regardless of rank or time in service, they go through a standardized check-in process that culminates in a one-on-one conversation with both the Executive Officer (XO) and the Commanding Officer (CO). When I assumed my role as XO last year, I hung the map and placed one lonely pin in my hometown. With each subsequent check-in, the map gained a new pin. An entirely different discussion could be had about the cultural and social implications of where the pins have begun to cluster (to include the not insignificant number that isn’t from within the US), but that’s another day. The point is that in a little over a year the map has slowly begun to fill; each new pin makes my original purpose in hanging it easier to demonstrate. When we sit down for our first conversation, the first thing I ask them to do is take a pin out of the jar and place it on their hometown (or as near as they can get). Once they’ve done so, I explain that the map and its pins visually demonstrate that we come from everywhere and why that matters. I point out that we come from different cultures, different values, different educations, different family dynamics, different spiritual or faith traditions, and many of us have different motivations to serve. But, and this is the key, now we’re all here — at this squadron — which means we now have a shared purpose, and all those differences…they’re features, not flaws.

These conversations have proven humorous, enlightening, and more often than not, encouraging. I recall one recent check-in with a Sailor who told me he’d never worked with a black person before joining the Navy. Not alarming, he’s simply a product of where he was born and raised — and there just weren’t many black people where he grew up. In that case (as with all of them) I explained that the first step in pursuing our shared priorities and realizing our shared purpose is respect. We start with respect. I explain that from Day One, they have my respect, if for no other reason than they’ve raised their right hand (some multiple times at multiple reenlistments) and sworn a solemn oath to protect and serve our nation and its interests. My expectation from them is to extend the same Day One respect to their new shipmates. But I go further. Not only do we start with my respect, but we pair it with trust. I explain that from the moment we meet I trust them. This strikes some of them as odd because we’ve been told for so long that trust is earned over time. That’s true, but it’s also true that sometimes you just have to start with the presumption of trust and go from there if you hope to have it reciprocated.

So what do the ideas of Day One trust and respect have to do with pins on the map? Everything. We see in the news every day how a fundamental lack of respect and trust is tearing at the very idea of what it means to be an American. We argue over who’s more patriotic, who’s more compassionate, who’s more responsible, and on and on. It’s not good, and it doesn’t appear to be getting better.

But I can’t control what goes on “out there.” All I can do is try to foster a culture within my hangar — within our squadron — where we address things like race, gender, and religious difference in a mature way that reinforces some very basic truths: we’re better because we’re different. We’re stronger because we come from everywhere. And, we’re much more dangerous to any potential adversary because we don’t all approach difficult problems the same way. My way of thinking about this isn’t “soft,” “new Navy,” or “PC run amok,” though some of the older (and frequently more vocal) voices in our community might suggest otherwise — and that’s fine. In reality, it’s simply a matter of getting the most and best out of the team I’ve got. If there’s a fault in that, I’ll gladly plead guilty.

As alluded to, I recently had the privilege of assuming command of the squadron from a good friend of mine. When he rode off into the sunset and I moved into his office, I considered whether to bring the map with me or leave it for the new XO. I decided to move it with me, and chances are strong that I’ll take it with me when I leave. Who knows where it’ll hang next, but it will always serve to remind me during my most frustrated and cynicism-filled moments how those little pins came together from everywhere to accomplish something seemingly unimaginable in today’s environment — unity of purpose, unwavering commitment, and courageous service from, and for, Americans of widely disparate backgrounds.

——-

CDR Jack “Farva” Curtis is the Commanding Officer of a US Navy EA-18G Growler squadron. He is graduate of the University of Florida and the Naval War College. He has previously written for War on the Rocks, Strategy Bridge, USNI, and OnGlideSlope. He is a proud member of the Tailhook Association. Views expressed are his alone and do not represent those of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or any other government agency.

2 Comments

  1. Jen Byrd

    That is a powerful testimony of integrity and charity.

Submit a Comment

SEARCH INDEX

________

ImageTitlePublished dateCategoriesTagshf:categories
In a Nutshell2024-03-27, , , , , featured-media charlies-brief corac-leaders-forum
CORAC Newsletter2024-03-17, , , corac-leaders-forum national-news featured-media
Do the Right Thing2024-03-16, , , , featured-media charlies-brief corac-leaders-forum
The Hour of Our Discontent2024-03-14, , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Going My Way?2024-03-07, , , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Paul List – Mount Doom2024-02-10, , , , , , , featured-media reveille corac-leaders-forum
From the Cockpit of the Subaru2024-01-18, , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media
The Red Squirrel2024-01-14, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media
Kyoshi Scott Maczuga – Christian Warriors2023-12-20, , , , , , , , , , featured-media reveille corac-leaders-forum
Blessings to You This Christmas2023-12-15, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media
What a Glorious Christmas This Is2023-12-15, , , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Jesse Romero – Defense!2023-12-06, , , , , , , , , featured-media reveille corac-leaders-forum
Dare Greatly2023-12-05, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Leave the Gun. Take the Cannoli.2023-12-01, , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
CORAC Global Zoom Session 5 (Video)2023-11-06, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
Doug Barry – Keeping It Simple2023-10-11, , , , , , , , featured-media reveille corac-leaders-forum
Blessing of the Lost Girls2023-10-06, , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Game of Baseball2023-10-03, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Belling The Cat2023-09-21, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Wisconsin Field Day – Back to Basics2023-08-19, , , , , , , , , , featured-media reveille corac-leaders-forum
It Is the Religion of Ignorance That Tyranny Begins2023-08-14, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
The World of Squirrels?2023-08-09, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Regular Podcast2023-08-07, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum national-news featured-media
A Heritage Deeply Embedded in the American DNA2023-07-31, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Dead Parrot Sketch2023-07-27, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Be a Light to the Homebound2023-07-24, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum national-news leader-resources downloads-lf
Be a Light at the Supermarket2023-07-19, , , corac-leaders-forum downloads-lf
CORAC Global Zoom Session 4 (Video)2023-07-17, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
Continue Hoeing the Beans2023-06-29, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Aslan is on the Move2023-06-26, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Bind Yourself to God’s Will2023-06-20, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Finding Our Courage2023-06-13, , , , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources general-leaders-forum-discussion downloads-lf
Be the Lighthouse2023-05-23, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
It’s Speeding Up Dramatically, Folks2023-05-18, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Go Forth2023-04-26, , , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media
CORAC Global Zoom Session 3 (Video)2023-04-24, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
Judgment Call2023-04-10, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
The Misery Farm2023-03-31, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A New Ally2023-03-30, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
From the Ground Up2023-03-28, , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media
CORAC Global Airmeet Session 2 (Video)2023-02-28, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
A Tower of Babel Moment2023-02-13, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
World Weariness2023-02-08, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
America: Lost in Place2023-02-08, , , corac-leaders-forum national-news featured-media
Get Back in Your Lanes2023-02-06, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
How Do We Build Anew?2023-02-02, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Two Trains Crashing2023-01-29, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
The Quiet Girding2023-01-25, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Keep Steady2022-12-26, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
God’s Ways Are Not Man’s Ways2022-12-15, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Merry Christmas!2022-12-15, , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Lot To Do In The New Year2022-12-09, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Region 8 Field Day2022-11-16, , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum regional-news other-media
What’s Required Now2022-11-03, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Build The Right Mindeset2022-10-28, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Structure of Neighbors2022-10-21, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Procession With Our Lady of Guadalupe2022-10-19, , , , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum regional-news other-media
The Crisis in the Church Today Video2022-10-17, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Gun Laws Event (Video Photo Album)2022-10-03, , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum regional-news other-media
CORAC National Zoom Session 1 (Video)2022-09-21, , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
CORAC National Zoom Session Invitation2022-09-01, , , , , corac-leaders-forum featured-media global-meetings
It’s Here. It’s Now. (Video)2022-08-26, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Start Doing This Now (Video)2022-08-16, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Value Them Both – Special Podcast2022-07-26, , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum regional-news other-media
Think and Act Anew (Video)2022-07-22, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
We’re The Guys That Do Stuff! (Video)2022-04-20, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
A Chalk Talk (Video)2022-04-08, , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Consider the Squirrels2022-01-22, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum inspiring-stories other-media
A Gut Punch to Mandatory Compliance2022-01-12, , , , charlies-brief featured-media corac-leaders-forum
Region 8 Newsletter2021-12-10, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum regional-news other-media
Simple Quotes to Ponder in Charity2021-11-12, , , , , corac-leaders-forum general-leaders-forum-discussion downloads-lf
Simple Quotes to Ponder on the Road to Renewal2021-11-12, , , , , corac-leaders-forum general-leaders-forum-discussion downloads-lf
The J6 Project2021-11-11, , , , , , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum top-stories national-news regional-news leader-resources downloads-lf
Stuff Every Leader Should Be Doing to Serve Well2021-11-03, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources general-leaders-forum-discussion downloads-lf
Stuff We Should Be Doing Every Day2021-11-01, , , , , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources general-leaders-forum-discussion downloads-lf
What is CORAC?2021-10-31, , , , , , , corac-leaders-forum top-stories national-news regional-news leader-resources general-leaders-forum-discussion other-media
Building Bridges (Updated)2021-09-19, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Bibles, Beans & Bullets2021-09-13, , , , , , , regional-news other-media corac-leaders-forum
Overcoming “Busyness”2021-09-08, , , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources downloads-lf
The Map On The Wall2021-09-05, , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources downloads-lf
Doing it Anyway2021-08-21, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Taking a Stand2021-08-13, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Jab Religious Exemption Downloads2021-07-30, , , , , , health-and-wellness health-news corac-leaders-forum downloads-hw downloads-lf
Team Building Guide2021-06-16, , , , , corac-leaders-forum leader-resources downloads-lf
Leaders Forum – General Discussion2021-06-15, , corac-leaders-forum general-leaders-forum-discussion
Defending The Constitution2021-05-24, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Walking With The Real Presence2021-01-28, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Celebrating Life2020-12-07, , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum
Living Rosary2020-08-15, , , , , inspiring-stories corac-leaders-forum

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

The latest posts from CORAC.

________

Who We Are >

Watch the videos here to learn more about CORAC - the guys that do stuff!

What We Do >

Learn how we're defending the tradtional values of Faith, Family & Freedom!

Who Can Join >

We're open to all people of goodwill who support tradtional values.

Your Region >

We're organized by regions from coast to coast in the U.S. and beyond.

The Next Step >

We make it easy to connect with like-minded people and get involved in your community.

Learn, teach & collaborate with a wealth of downloads, classes and conversations.

Attend one of Charlie's free talks in your area.  Please Note:  You must be a registered site user to view meeting specifics.

Find an upcoming event online or in your area and see how we're actively working for renewal around the country.

Please utilize these extensive resources before contacting us for tech support.

Our t-shirts feel soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. They're comfortable and flattering for both men and women.

A good long-sleeved shirt is a fashion must-have. Add this wardrobe essential to your collection, and have a great go-to option for a casual look.

Whether you're drinking your morning coffee, evening tea, or something in between – this mug's for you! It's sturdy and glossy with a vivid print that'll withstand the microwave and dishwasher.
Corps of Renewal and Charity (CORAC) is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(4) organization. Donations to CORAC are not tax-deductible.

Click above to access the customer portal where you can manage your account including your monthly donation subscription.