avatarPaul Myers MBA

Summary

Great leaders prioritize the well-being of their team members, as exemplified by the story of US Air Force pilot Johnny Bravo.

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of leadership through the story of US Air Force pilot Johnny Bravo, who put the lives of his fellow soldiers and wingman above his own during a dangerous mission in Afghanistan. The article contrasts this example of selfless leadership with the covert US Airforce bombing campaign in Cambodia during the Vietnam war, known as Operation Menu, where leaders prioritized their own interests over the well-being of their troops. The article concludes by emphasizing that true leadership is not about rank or position, but rather a mindset that prioritizes the well-being of others.

Bullet points

  • US Air Force pilot Johnny Bravo put the lives of his fellow soldiers and wingman above his own during a dangerous mission in Afghanistan.
  • Johnny Bravo's actions were motivated by the belief that his fellow soldiers would have done the same for him.
  • The article contrasts Johnny Bravo's selfless leadership with the covert US Airforce bombing campaign in Cambodia during the Vietnam war, known as Operation Menu.
  • Operation Menu was a covert bombing campaign that prioritized the interests of leaders over the well-being of troops.
  • The article concludes by emphasizing that true leadership is not about rank or position, but rather a mindset that prioritizes the well-being of others.

LEADERSHIP

Great Leaders Sacrifice Themselves for Those Under Their Watch

Lessons from “Leaders Eat Last”

Photo by Byron Sterk on Unsplash

In 2002, US Air Force pilot Johnny Bravo (his call name) decided to fly beneath cloud-cover to check out what was going on below. He knew his colleagues were moving through hostile territory. Instructing his wingman to stay above for cover he descended through the dense clouds.

Just before he emerged, he heard a call over the radio … “Troops” … “Troops in contact.” The Soldiers on the ground were under enemy fire.

As he cleared cloud cover he was surrounded by mountains, flying no more than 1,000 feet above ground level over Afghanistan. Within seconds he was greeted with tracer fire from all directions. He returned fire as he maneuvered dangerously between cliff edges.

Bravo was flying a Warthog. The A-10 Warthog is a low-flying, heavily armed aircraft used to provide air cover for ground troops in difficult terrain.

After his death-defying experience, Bravo called for his wingman to assist. Soon both A-10s dipped below cloud cover again to defend their troops on the ground, repeating the cycle a number of times.

During the engagement, Bravo exhausted his ammo but continued to fly alongside his wingman. He put the lives of others, the troops below and his wingman, above his own.

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

I learned about Johnny Bravo from watching Simon Sinek’s video “Why Leaders Eat Last.” Sinek asked Johnny Bravo “Why did you do it?”, his response: “Because they would have done it for me.”

“Where do people like Johnny Bravo come from?”

— Simon Sinek

“That night 22 Americans went home alive”, with zero casualties.

The Menu

In contrast, “Operation Menu” was a covert US Airforce bombing campaign in Cambodia from 1969 to 1970 during the Vietnam war. The targets were the bases of the Peoples Army of Vietnam, known at the time as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) or the Viet Cong. “Operation Menu” preceded “Operation Freedom”, the latter covering a much larger area from 1970 to 1973 including Laos and Cambodia.

In 1973, a week after signing the Paris Peace Accords with North Vietnam, a US aircraft with 8 US servicemen on board was shot down by Vietnamese forces over Laos. For decades this covert mission was covered up because the crew was commanded to proceed under “Operation Freedom” despite the knowledge that they were contravening international law.

The crew members, on the doomed mission known as Baron 52, were:

361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

  • Capt. George R. Spitz — Pilot
  • 2nd Lt. Severo J. Primm III — Co-Pilot
  • 1st Lt. Robert E. Bernhardt — 3rd Pilot
  • Capt. Arthur R. Bollinger — Navigator

6994th Security Squadron

  • Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov — Radio Operator
  • Sgt. Todd M. Melton — Radio Operator
  • Sgt. Peter R. Cressman — Radio Operator
  • Sgt. Dale Brandenburg — Systems Repair Technician

Intelligence reports indicate that four servicemen survived the crash, but were eventually captured by North Vietnamese troops stationed nearby, before being traded with Russia months later.

Given that the ink was still wet on the peace agreement, signed days earlier, one crew member wrote a letter about his frustrations. This letter was discovered by his family amongst his belongings returned to them after the war. Ironically, his written words went on to form part of the case to unveil the cover-up that cost him his freedom, and eventually his life.

According to Roger Shields, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, the power-brokers in government “acted ‘precipitously’ to declare Matejov and the other three missing crew members to be dead. When in fact overwhelming evidence and eye-witness testimony proved they were alive after impact.”

“In the military, they give medals to people who are willing to sacrifice themselves, so that others may gain. In business, we give bonuses to people who are willing to sacrifice others so we may gain.”

— Simon Sinek

Great military leaders don’t sacrifice their troops. The same cannot be said for Governments, politicians in suits, who play poker with the lives of others.

Four lives were lost and another four were abandoned in 1973 by so-called leaders of the time. Why? To protect themselves, to conceal their law-breaking behavior from the world, and from the families of the missing servicemen.

Final Thoughts

The two missions described above shed light on two different scenarios. Opposing insights on leadership, good, and bad.

So what lessons can we learn?

Leadership is not a position of rank. Leadership is a mindset, governed by a set of values that result in decisions that benefit others. True leaders are those who only eat when everyone else is fed, they do not sacrifice their followers.

In the Marine Corps, “officers eat last.” Leadership is therefore a choice, not a rank. If you decide to look after the people around you and do so with good intent, you’re a leader. Remember what Johnny Bravo said:

“Because they would have done it for me.” — Johnny Bravo

Leadership is a measure of “your willingness to sacrifice” yourself. Not necessarily your life, like Johnny Bravo. No. Just some of your time, your support. The best leaders make time to pick up the phone to chat with their team members. They care about their people.

“The future leader will need to possess a new arsenal of skills and mindsets to lead effectively.” — Benjamin Laker

Leadership is your ability to sacrifice for others “so that they feel safe”, feel valued. Leaders like this are followed, not by HR hired subordinates, rather by trusted comrades who have your back because you have theirs.

Leadership
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