The military is often referred to as “the service.” We work for—that is, we serve—the United States. Selfless service means doing what is right for the nation, the Army, the organization, and fellow soldiers—and putting these responsibilities above our own interests. The needs of the Army and the nation come first.
This does not mean we neglect our families or ourselves. In fact, such neglect weakens a leader and can cause the Army more harm than good. Selfless service does not mean we cannot have a strong ego, high self-esteem and healthy ambition. Rather, selfless service means one does not make decisions and take actions that will help one’s personal image or career while hurting others or sabotaging the mission. The selfish leader claims credit for work his or her subordinates do; the selfless leader gives credit to those who earned it. The Army cannot function except as a team; and for a team to work, individuals have to give up self-interest for the good of the whole.
Soldiers are not the only members of the Army who display selfless service. Department of the Army (DA) civilians display this value as well. Former Army Chief of Staff, Gordon R. Sullivan, assessed the civilian contribution to Operation Desert Storm this way: “Not surprisingly most of the civilians deployed to Southwest Asia volunteered to serve there, but the civilian presence in the Gulf region meant more than moral support and filling in for soldiers. Gulf War veterans say that many of the combat soldiers could owe their lives to the DA civilians who helped maintain equipment by speeding up the process of getting parts and other support for 60 logistics agencies Army-wide.” As Gen. Sullivan’s comment indicates, selfless service is an essential component of teamwork. Members give of themselves so the team may succeed. In combat, some soldiers give themselves completely so their fellows may live and the mission accomplished.
As Christians, we also should be selfless in our service. Jesus taught that the first would be last and the last first. In
