May/June 2001
Shine Your Shoes
...and Other Lessons the Army Taught Me
by Trey Graham
During my years in the military service, the Army taught me many lessons, some of which I will never use again. Some of these lessons, however, I can employ no matter where God has placed me today.
The Army develops leaders and our society desperately needs leaders today -- in business, in schools and in our churches. I believe these lessons can help you and me make ourselves better, and therefore, make this world better. Some of these lessons can help us today, some are good reminders from the past, some may be beneficial in the future.
When someone asks what those military guys are doing, I submit that the men and women in our armed forces are working tirelessly to protect our nation's interests, to do their best and to accomplish the mission so that they can come home soon.
Here are a few of the many lessons I gathered while serving my country.
In the Army, I learned:
1. Shine your shoes.
2. Understand your mission and work to see it accomplished.
3. There is always someone who outranks you.
4. Work hard, even when you are tired and hungry.
5. Keep your boss informed.
6. Enjoy seeing the world.
7. Enjoy coming home.
8. Exercise.
9. Our organization always needs new recruits.
10. Thank people for their service.
11. Reward those who do a good job.
12. Correct those who don't.
13. Share.
14. Take care of your own stuff.
15. Clean up after yourself.
16. Return it after you have borrowed it.
17. Work as a team.
18. Find ways to succeed, even without all the resources.
19. Keep trying.
20. Keep learning.
21. Plan for the future.
22. Watch out for your buddy.
23. Always care for the wounded.
24. Put your family first.
25. Stand up and salute the flag when it goes by.
26. Say "Yes, Sir" and "No, Ma'am" and "Thank You."
27. Learn geography and history.
28. Learn how to read a map.
29. Tell the truth all the time, even when it hurts.
30. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
31. How to respectfully disagree with the boss and then support him when he doesn't see things your way.
32. Admit when you are wrong.
33. Enjoy a hot shower and a cold Coke.
34. Arrive on time (If you are not ten minutes early, you are late!).
35. Pray to your God and respect others' gods.
36. Make your bed.
37. Get a haircut.
38. Honor those who have gone before you.
39. Help those who come after you.
40. Take notes.
41. Write letters home.
42. Stand up straight.
43. When you are in charge, take charge.
44. When you are not in charge, support whoever is.
45. Proudly sing the Star Spangled Banner (Make sure you know all the words!).
46. Be proud to be an American.
47. Fight to make this country a better and safer place.
48. Know the standards and work to achieve them.
49. You can always improve and learn and grow.
And of course,
50. Beat Navy!
Trey Graham is the President of Faith Walk Ministries. You may contact
him at www.faithwalkministries.com.
We honor them all as the Captain of our salvation leads his life in us. -- Editors |
West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran
Trey Graham has shared 50 lighthearted yet spiritually significant lessons
he learned in the military service. We offer the preceding as we all give
thanks and offer prayers this Memorial Day.