How to Be a Good Soldier: 15 Proven Tips

My goal today is to talk about how to be a good soldier.

If you ask ten experienced First Sergeants or Company Commanders to describe the best Soldier they ever served with, you’ll probably hear ten different names. However, if you listen carefully, you’ll notice something interesting. They won’t spend much time talking about PT scores, marksmanship badges, college degrees, or how many ribbons that Soldier had on their chest.

Instead, they’ll describe someone who could always be counted on, someone who worked hard without complaining, someone who made the people around them better, and someone who always put the mission and the team first. Those are the Soldiers every leader wants on their team.

During my Army career, I had the privilege of serving as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Staff Officer, and Major in both the Active Army and the Reserve Components. Along the way, I worked with hundreds of Soldiers. Some were outstanding. Others struggled.

The biggest lesson I learned is that being a great Soldier has very little to do with natural talent. It has much more to do with attitude, discipline, consistency, and the choices you make every day.

The good news is that becoming the Soldier everyone wants on their team is something anyone can accomplish. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You don’t have to max the ACFT or be an expert marksman. Those things certainly help, but they aren’t what people remember most. What people remember is how you treated others, whether they could depend on you, and whether you made the organization better simply because you were part of it.

If you’re wondering how to be a good Soldier, how to become a better Soldier, or how to earn the respect of other Soldiers, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll share many of the lessons I learned over my military career. My hope is that these ideas will help you become the type of Soldier that leaders trust, teammates respect, and junior Soldiers want to emulate.

What Makes a Good Soldier?

Ask this question to one hundred Soldiers, and you’ll probably receive one hundred different answers. Some people think a good Soldier is someone who maxes out their ACFT. Others believe it’s someone who earns every available badge or school. Some define success by rank, while others focus on awards and decorations.

Those achievements certainly matter, but they don’t tell the whole story.

I’ve known Soldiers with outstanding PT scores who couldn’t be counted on when things became difficult. I’ve also known Soldiers with average fitness scores who became the backbone of their platoon because they were dependable, humble, and willing to do whatever needed to be done.

To me, a good Soldier is someone who consistently makes their unit stronger. They accomplish the mission, support their teammates, maintain high standards, and represent the Army professionally on and off duty. They’re the type of person you never have to worry about because they’ve already earned your trust.

Your reputation becomes your résumé in the Army. Leaders talk. NCOs talk. Soldiers talk. Before long, people begin to know exactly what kind of person you are. You want your reputation to say that you’re dependable, hardworking, positive, and committed to excellence.

Why Every Team Needs Great Soldiers

One of the biggest misconceptions among new Soldiers is that military success is primarily about individual performance. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Army is built on teamwork. Every successful mission depends upon people working together toward a common objective. One Soldier can’t maintain a vehicle by themselves. One Soldier can’t secure an objective alone. One Soldier can’t run a company or a battalion. Everything we accomplish depends on teamwork.

As a Company Commander, I quickly realized something that every commander eventually learns. There were certain Soldiers I could assign to almost any task without giving it a second thought. If I told them what needed to be accomplished, I knew it would get done correctly and on time. I didn’t need to micromanage them or constantly check their progress.

Then there were other Soldiers who required constant supervision. Every assignment seemed to generate questions, excuses, delays, or problems that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

Guess which Soldiers received the better schools, additional responsibilities, and leadership opportunities?

Trust opens doors. Leaders naturally invest more time in Soldiers they believe will succeed because those Soldiers make everyone’s job easier. One of your primary goals throughout your military career should be to become someone your leaders never have to worry about.

How to Be a Good Soldier

Good soldiers have similar habits. Here are the most common habits/traits I’ve observed during my career.

Habit #1: Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude

Your attitude may be the single greatest competitive advantage you possess.

Think about it. Every Soldier experiences difficult days. Training schedules change. Equipment breaks. Vehicles fail inspections. Field exercises get extended. Someone forgets critical equipment. Weather ruins carefully planned events. Long days turn into even longer nights.

None of us gets to choose those circumstances. We do get to choose how we respond.

Some Soldiers immediately begin complaining. They criticize leadership, blame everyone else, and convince themselves they’re victims of every inconvenience. Unfortunately, negativity spreads quickly. One complainer can bring down an entire squad if leaders don’t address it.

The opposite is also true. Positive attitudes are contagious.

I remember one Specialist who served in my company during an annual training exercise. The weather was miserable. It rained almost nonstop for several days. Everyone was soaked, muddy, tired, and more than ready to go home. Yet every morning this Soldier greeted people with a smile and found something positive to say. He cracked jokes, encouraged younger Soldiers, and somehow managed to improve morale simply by refusing to complain.

He wasn’t pretending conditions were enjoyable. He simply understood that complaining wouldn’t improve the situation. Years later, I still remember him—not because he had the highest PT score, but because he made everyone around him better.

People naturally gravitate toward optimistic individuals. That’s true in the Army and in life. Maintaining a positive mental attitude doesn’t mean ignoring problems. It means choosing to become part of the solution instead of becoming another problem your leaders have to manage.

When something goes wrong, ask yourself:

“How can I help?”

Those four words will separate you from many of your peers.

Habit #2: Be a Team Player

One lesson the Army teaches quickly is that very few accomplishments belong to one person. Every successful mission is the result of teamwork.

Unfortunately, some Soldiers spend too much time worrying about individual recognition. They want credit for every idea. They only volunteer when they think someone important is watching. They constantly compare themselves to others and become frustrated when someone else receives recognition. That mindset hurts organizations.

The best Soldiers I’ve ever served with rarely talked about themselves. Instead, they focused on helping their squad succeed.

They carried extra equipment without complaining. They stayed late when additional work needed to be completed. They volunteered for difficult details. They quietly helped struggling Soldiers improve instead of criticizing them. Those are the people everyone remembers.

One experience from my time as a Company XO has stayed with me for years. We were preparing equipment for a major inspection, and everyone was busy. One Soldier had already completed every assignment I gave him, yet instead of standing around waiting for more work, he walked over to another section and asked if they needed help.

Nobody told him to do it. Nobody was evaluating him. He simply recognized that the company would succeed faster if everyone worked together. That’s what real teamwork looks like.

Being a team player also requires humility. Leave your ego at the door. You don’t have to know everything. One of the smartest things a young Soldier can say is, “Sergeant, can you show me how to do that correctly?”

There’s no shame in asking questions. The only shame is pretending you already know the answer and making avoidable mistakes because your pride got in the way.

Confidence is valuable. Humility is even more valuable. When you combine the two, people naturally want you on their team.

Habit #3: Master Your Job and Take Pride in Everything You Do

One of the quickest ways to earn respect in the Army is to become exceptionally good at your job.

No matter what your Military Occupational Specialty is, make it your goal to become one of the most knowledgeable Soldiers in your section.

Read your manuals. Study your equipment. Ask experienced NCOs questions. Volunteer for additional training. Attend every school your unit will send you to. Become a student of your profession.

The Army changes constantly. New equipment replaces old systems. Regulations change. Technology evolves. Tactics improve. Great Soldiers never convince themselves they’ve learned everything there is to know. Learning should continue throughout your career.

Equally important is taking pride in every task you’re assigned. One leadership lesson I learned early in my career is that no job is beneath anyone.

I’ve seen officers picking up trash before ceremonies. I’ve seen senior NCOs sweeping motor pools. I’ve seen commanders unloading trucks alongside Privates. Those leaders understood something many people never learn.

Character reveals itself in the small jobs. Anyone can work hard when they’re being recognized. True professionals work hard when nobody is paying attention.

I remember another Soldier who volunteered to clean the company latrines after a particularly muddy field exercise. It wasn’t glamorous work. Nobody applauded him. Nobody recommended him for an award. He simply wanted to help his fellow Soldiers.

That told me far more about his character than any evaluation report ever could. People who consistently do the small things well almost always perform well when larger responsibilities arrive.

Habit #4: Become the Most Reliable Person in the Unit

If I had to choose one quality that separates average Soldiers from exceptional Soldiers, it would probably be reliability.

Can people count on you? That simple question says more about your future than almost anything else.

Every platoon has a few Soldiers who earn a reputation for always following through. When they’re assigned a task, leaders don’t worry whether it will get done. They don’t have to check on them every thirty minutes or send reminders. They simply know the job will be completed correctly and on time. Those Soldiers become incredibly valuable.

As a Company Commander, I had a handful of Soldiers like that. If I needed something accomplished before the next drill weekend or before a major inspection, I knew exactly who to call. It wasn’t because they were the smartest Soldiers in the company. It wasn’t because they had the most experience. It was because they had consistently proven they could be trusted.

Trust isn’t built overnight. It’s earned one small decision at a time.

Showing up fifteen minutes early. Returning phone calls. Meeting suspense dates. Keeping your promises. Owning your mistakes. Doing exactly what you said you would do. Eventually, people stop questioning whether you’ll get the job done because your reputation already answers the question.

One drill weekend I assigned two Soldiers nearly identical projects. One Soldier finished his work several hours ahead of schedule and even asked if anyone else needed help. The other Soldier spent most of the day making excuses about why he couldn’t finish. Guess which Soldier received additional leadership opportunities later that year?

Leaders remember reliability. If you want to stand out in the Army, become someone your chain of command never has to worry about.

Habit #5: Live the Warrior Ethos Every Day

Most Soldiers can recite the Warrior Ethos. Fewer actually live it.

The Warrior Ethos isn’t something you memorize for a promotion board. It’s a mindset that influences how you approach your career.

“I will always place the mission first.”

“I will never accept defeat.”

“I will never quit.”

“I will never leave a fallen comrade.”

Those aren’t just words. They’re standards.

Living the Warrior Ethos means refusing to become complacent. It means striving to become a little better every single day.

Improve your physical fitness. Study your profession. Complete military schools. Read leadership books. Improve your civilian education. Seek feedback from your leaders. Every day should leave you slightly better than the day before.

One lesson I learned throughout my career is that success rarely comes from one giant breakthrough. Instead, it comes from hundreds of small improvements made consistently over time.

When I was a young officer, I tried to learn something new every drill weekend. Sometimes it was about maintenance. Sometimes it was supply procedures. Other times it was leadership or counseling. Those small lessons accumulated over the years and made every new assignment a little easier. The Soldiers who become outstanding leaders rarely stop learning.

Habit #6: Communicate Like a Professional

Communication is one of the most overlooked skills in the Army.

Many problems that appear to be leadership problems are actually communication problems.

Learn to communicate clearly. Listen carefully before responding. Ask questions when you’re unsure. Keep your leaders informed. Don’t make people chase you down for updates.

If you’re going to be late, call. If something breaks, report it immediately. If you make a mistake, own it before someone else discovers it.

One thing I always appreciated as a commander was when Soldiers brought me problems early instead of waiting until those problems became emergencies.

Nobody expects perfection. Everyone appreciates honesty.

One of the fastest ways to destroy trust is by hiding mistakes. One of the fastest ways to build trust is by admitting them immediately and helping fix them.

Professional communication also includes how you speak to others. Treat everyone with respect. Whether you’re talking to a brand-new Private or a Colonel, your professionalism should remain the same.

Habit #7: Be Coachable and Accept Feedback

Nobody enjoys hearing they made a mistake. However, the Soldiers who improve the fastest are usually the ones who accept constructive criticism without becoming defensive.

The Army is designed to develop people. That development requires feedback. Sometimes you’ll receive praise. Sometimes you’ll receive correction. Both are valuable.

One young lieutenant I worked with taught me an important lesson. After every major training event, he would ask the senior NCOs one simple question.

“What is one thing I could have done better today?”

Notice he didn’t ask for compliments. He asked for improvement. Over time, he became one of the strongest leaders in the battalion because he never stopped seeking feedback. You should adopt the same mindset regardless of your rank.

Every counseling session. Every after-action review. Every conversation with an experienced leader is an opportunity to grow. Don’t waste those opportunities by becoming defensive. Instead, ask yourself:

“What can I learn from this?”

That attitude will accelerate your development more than almost anything else.

Habit #8: Volunteer for Difficult Assignments

Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. If you always choose the easiest assignments, you’ll probably remain average.

Outstanding Soldiers volunteer. Volunteer for schools. Volunteer for deployments. Volunteer to serve on committees. Volunteer to help another section. Volunteer to lead projects.

Does that mean you should say yes to everything? No. But it does mean you shouldn’t spend your career avoiding challenges.

Some of the best assignments I had during my military career weren’t the ones I wanted. In fact, several of them initially felt like extra work. Looking back, those assignments taught me leadership, planning, logistics, communication, and problem-solving skills that I still use today.

The difficult assignments often become the most rewarding ones. They stretch you. They force you to grow. They introduce you to new mentors. Most importantly, they show your leaders you’re willing to embrace responsibility instead of running from it.

Habit #9: Lead Without Rank

One of the biggest myths in the Army is that leadership begins when you earn stripes or bars. It doesn’t. Leadership begins the moment people start following your example.

I’ve watched Specialists influence entire squads simply because they consistently did the right thing. They worked hard. They stayed positive. They helped younger Soldiers. They maintained high standards. People naturally listened to them. That’s leadership.

Rank gives you authority. Character gives you influence. The best leaders combine both.

One Specialist in my company became the unofficial mentor for several new Soldiers. Whenever someone struggled with equipment, paperwork, or Army procedures, they sought him out first.

He wasn’t the squad leader. He wasn’t the platoon sergeant. He wasn’t even an NCO. He simply cared enough to help others succeed. Eventually, he earned his promotion.

But the promotion didn’t make him a leader. It simply recognized the leadership he had already been demonstrating for months. That’s an important distinction.

If you want to become a great leader someday, don’t wait until you’re promoted.

Start leading today. Set the example. Be accountable. Encourage others. Take responsibility. Help solve problems instead of creating them.

Leadership isn’t a rank. It’s a daily choice. And the Soldiers who make that choice consistently become the people everyone wants on their team.

Habit #10: Help Other Soldiers Succeed

One of the biggest differences between average Soldiers and exceptional Soldiers is what they do when someone else is struggling.

Average Soldiers notice the problem. Great Soldiers become part of the solution.

One lesson I learned early in my career is that leadership isn’t about making yourself look good. It’s about helping other people become successful. The stronger your teammates become, the stronger your squad, platoon, company, and battalion become.

Unfortunately, some Soldiers see everything as a competition. They don’t want to share information because they think helping someone else somehow hurts their own chances for promotion. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The best leaders I’ve ever known were excellent teachers. They enjoyed mentoring junior Soldiers. They shared their experience. They answered questions without making people feel foolish. They understood that knowledge grows when it’s shared.

One of the NCOs I respected most always had younger Soldiers gathered around him during downtime. Sometimes he was explaining maintenance procedures. Other times he was helping someone prepare for a promotion board or reviewing counseling statements with a new team leader. He never acted like teaching was an inconvenience. He saw it as part of his responsibility.

Years later, many of those Soldiers became excellent NCOs themselves. That’s leadership.

Every Soldier you help today has the potential to become tomorrow’s squad leader, platoon sergeant, or first sergeant. Never underestimate the impact a few minutes of mentoring can have on someone’s career. If you truly want to become the Soldier everyone wants on their team, make it your goal to leave every person you work with a little better than you found them.

Habit #11: Stay Physically and Mentally Ready

The Army places a tremendous emphasis on readiness, and for good reason.

When your unit receives a mission, there isn’t time for everyone to start getting into shape or suddenly begin learning their job. You need to be ready before the mission arrives.

Physical readiness is about much more than passing the ACFT. It’s about having the stamina to perform your duties during long training exercises, extended workdays, deployments, and combat operations. It’s about reducing injuries, maintaining energy, and being able to help your teammates when they need you.

One thing I always appreciated was seeing Soldiers who took responsibility for their own fitness. They didn’t wait for organized PT to stay in shape. They exercised because they understood their teammates depended on them.

Mental readiness is just as important. Military service can be demanding. Long hours, family separation, deployments, financial stress, and personal challenges affect every Soldier differently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it.

Some of the strongest Soldiers I served with weren’t the ones who never struggled. They were the ones who recognized a problem early and took action before it became something much bigger.

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s part of taking care of your team. A Soldier who is physically fit, mentally resilient, and emotionally healthy is in a much better position to help others and accomplish the mission.

Habit #12: Be Professional On and Off Duty

Professionalism doesn’t stop when you leave the armory or take off the uniform. Everything you do contributes to your reputation.

Treat people with respect. Wear your uniform correctly. Maintain your appearance. Take care of your equipment. Represent the Army well in public. Think carefully before posting on social media.

The Army is a relatively small organization. People move from unit to unit, and reputations travel surprisingly fast.

I can’t tell you how many times I heard something like this:

“Oh, I know Sergeant Smith. We served together five years ago.”

Those conversations can open doors—or close them. Professional Soldiers understand they’re representing something much larger than themselves. They recognize that their actions reflect on their unit, their leaders, and the Army as a whole.

Professionalism isn’t about being perfect. It’s about consistently doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching.

Habit #13: Take Initiative

One of the qualities I’ve always admired most in a Soldier is initiative.

Every leader appreciates the Soldier who sees a problem and starts working on a solution without having to be told every little step. Initiative doesn’t mean going outside your authority or ignoring your chain of command. It means taking ownership of your responsibilities and looking for ways to make your team better.

Throughout my career, I noticed there were generally two types of Soldiers. The first group waited to be told exactly what to do. When they finished a task, they stood around until someone gave them another assignment.

The second group looked around, found another way to contribute, and kept working. They picked up trash in the motor pool, helped another section, reorganized equipment, or asked their squad leader, “What else can I do?” Those Soldiers quickly became invaluable to the unit.

I remember one drill weekend when our company was preparing for a major inspection. Everyone was busy, and there was more work than time. One Specialist had already completed everything I assigned him. Instead of checking his phone or waiting for someone to notice him, he walked over to the maintenance section and asked if they needed an extra set of hands.

They did. For the rest of the afternoon, he worked alongside Soldiers who weren’t even in his platoon. Nobody ordered him to do it. Nobody promised him an award. He simply understood that the mission came first. That small act told me everything I needed to know about his character.

Initiative is one of the fastest ways to earn the trust and respect of your leaders. It shows maturity, confidence, and a genuine commitment to the team. Leaders notice the Soldiers who solve problems instead of waiting for someone else to fix them.

Before you ask yourself, “Is my work finished?” ask a better question:

“How else can I help?”

If you make that your mindset, you’ll quickly become the type of Soldier everyone wants on their team.

Habit #14: Be Someone Others Can Trust

Trust is the foundation of every successful military team. Without it, units struggle to accomplish even simple tasks. With it, Soldiers can accomplish incredible things under the most difficult circumstances.

If you want to become the Soldier everyone wants on their team, make it your goal to become someone others trust completely. Your leaders should trust you to complete the mission without constant supervision. Your fellow Soldiers should trust you to pull your weight and have their backs. Your subordinates should trust that you’ll treat them fairly and lead by example.

Trust isn’t earned through one heroic act. It’s built over time through hundreds of small decisions. Show up on time. Keep your word. Tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Admit your mistakes instead of making excuses. Maintain accountability for your equipment, your responsibilities, and your actions. When you consistently do the right thing, people begin to rely on you without hesitation.

One lesson I learned as a Company Commander is that the Soldiers who earned the most trust also received the greatest opportunities. They were the ones selected for military schools, key leadership positions, and challenging assignments. It wasn’t because they were always the smartest or the most talented. It was because their leaders knew they would follow through. Trust reduced the need for supervision and gave leaders confidence that the mission would be accomplished.

Trust also works both ways. If you expect your leaders and teammates to trust you, you must trust them as well. Support their decisions, communicate honestly, and work together toward the mission instead of focusing on individual recognition.

At the end of your military career, people may not remember every award you earned or every position you held. They will remember whether they could count on you. In my opinion, being known as a trustworthy Soldier is one of the highest compliments anyone can receive.

If people know they can trust you, they’ll want you on their team. Every. Single. Time.

Habit #15: Leave Every Unit Better Than You Found It

As you move throughout your military career, you’ll serve in different squads, platoons, companies, battalions, and perhaps even multiple components of the Army. Every assignment will eventually come to an end. You’ll PCS, ETS, retire, or transfer to another unit.

When that day comes, ask yourself one simple question:

Is this organization better because I was here?

That’s the standard I believe every Soldier should strive for. Leaving your unit better than you found it doesn’t require you to reinvent the Army. It happens through hundreds of small actions over time.

Train your replacement thoroughly instead of simply handing them a notebook. Share what you’ve learned with younger Soldiers. Improve a process that’s been frustrating everyone. Volunteer to update the SOP. Help build a positive culture where people enjoy coming to drill or work. Encourage others, recognize their accomplishments, and set an example they’ll want to follow.

One of the things I appreciated most as a commander was watching Soldiers take ownership of the organization. They didn’t act like temporary visitors. They cared about the company and wanted to make it stronger. They cleaned equipment because they were proud of it. They mentored new Soldiers because someone had once invested in them. They identified problems and offered solutions instead of waiting for someone else to fix them.

Years later, nobody may remember every detail of the missions you completed or every award you received. But they’ll remember how you treated people. They’ll remember whether you could be counted on. They’ll remember whether the unit became stronger because you were part of it.

In my opinion, that’s one of the greatest compliments a Soldier can ever receive.

If you consistently maintain a positive attitude, put the team first, master your job, remain dependable, live the Warrior Ethos, and leave every unit better than you found it, you’ll become the type of Soldier every leader wants on their team and every Soldier wants beside them. That’s a legacy worth building.

One More Big Takeaway

Before I wrap things up, I want to leave you with one final thought.

Being a Soldier isn’t something you do one weekend a month or only while you’re wearing the uniform. It’s part of who you are. Whether you’re Active Duty, National Guard, or Army Reserve, you represent the Army twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

People are always watching. Your family is watching. Your children are watching. Your neighbors are watching. Your coworkers are watching. Even complete strangers are watching. Every interaction is an opportunity to reinforce the values you swore to uphold.

Be the type of person others enjoy being around. Treat people with dignity and respect. Be honest, dependable, and willing to help those in need. Be a person of your word. Volunteer in your community. Support local events. Mentor young people. Look for opportunities to make your town, workplace, church, or neighborhood a little better than you found it.

Take pride in being an American and in having served your country. Patriotism isn’t just flying a flag or standing during the National Anthem. It’s demonstrated by how you live your life each day. It’s about respecting others, serving your community, and setting a positive example for future generations.

Long after you hang up your uniform, people probably won’t remember your PT score, your weapons qualification, or the awards you received. They will remember your character. They’ll remember whether you kept your word, whether you treated people fairly, and whether you made a positive difference in the lives of others. In my opinion, that’s what being a Soldier is really about.

Strive to become the kind of person who inspires confidence simply by the way you live. If you can do that, you’ll not only become the Soldier everyone wants on their team—you’ll become the person everyone is proud to know.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important quality of a good Soldier?

If I had to choose just one quality, it would be dependability. Leaders need Soldiers they can trust to accomplish the mission without constant supervision.

How can I become a better Soldier?

Start by mastering your job, maintaining a positive attitude, staying physically fit, helping your teammates, and constantly looking for ways to improve. Small daily improvements produce remarkable results over time.

Do leaders notice hard work?

Absolutely. Good leaders notice much more than people realize. They see who volunteers, who prepares, who helps others, who shows up early, and who quietly gets things done without complaining.

Can junior enlisted Soldiers be leaders?

Without question. Leadership is influence, not rank. Many outstanding leaders begin earning respect long before they receive their first promotion.

Final Thoughts

As I reflect on my military career, I rarely remember the Soldiers with the highest PT scores or the longest list of awards. Instead, I remember the people I could always count on.

The Soldier who volunteered without being asked. The Specialist who stayed late to help another section finish a mission. The Sergeant who mentored younger Soldiers instead of criticizing them. The team leader who accepted responsibility when things went wrong instead of blaming someone else. Those are the Soldiers who leave lasting impressions.

If you want to know how to be the Soldier everyone wants on their team, the answer isn’t found in one spectacular achievement. It’s found in thousands of small decisions.

Choose to be dependable. Choose to stay positive. Choose to work hard. Choose to help others. Choose to keep learning. Choose to put the mission before yourself. Do those things consistently, and you’ll earn something far more valuable than awards or promotions.

You’ll earn the trust and respect of the people who serve beside you. In my opinion, that’s one of the greatest compliments any Soldier can receive.

What are your thoughts about how to be a good soldier? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think.

Recommended Toolkit

• The Soldier’s Guide (Blue Book) – A must-have reference for Army customs, courtesies, ranks, and basic Soldier knowledge.
• FM 7-22 Holistic Health and Fitness – Learn how to improve your physical readiness and long-term performance.
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – Timeless lessons on communication, relationships, and leadership.
• Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John Maxwell – One of my favorite books for learning how to influence and lead others.
• The Go-Getter by Peter B. Kyne is a timeless motivational classic that teaches the importance of initiative, persistence, positive attitude, and doing whatever it takes to accomplish your goals.

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