Without Vision the people will perish
In case you haven’t figured it out, I am just a little passionate about our nation, our Navy, this city, Naval Air Station- Kingsville and all things red, white and blue. I am also passionate about s tudy i ng and teaching people about leadership. As the Commanding Officer of your Naval Air Station (it is yours by the way – you pay the bills), I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure everyone under my command gets a hefty dose of leadership and ethics training, and I take a very hands-on approach. I have been asked and have enjoyed the opportunity to discuss leadership and ethics in your high schools and area colleges.
One thing I am known to say on base is that we are a command of values; values are the underpinning of everything we do at NASK. Whether you lead our schools, The King Ranch, Texas A&M University- Kingsville, or you name it, leaders must have a vision and develop a strategy to see that vision fulfilled. Strategy development is a leader’s single greatest contribution to his or her organization’s success. Vision without strategy is meaningless, just as vision without values is baseless.
I am a “history guy.” I love to read it, talk about it and pass on what I know. As I began to thumb through the pages of something I was reading about the King Ranch, one of the first things I came across is a page that describes values and vision as the perfect combination for resounding success.
I cannot help but think that when Richard King formed that shipping company in 1847, he already possessed, as my mentor calls it, that “secret sauce,” or as we pilots might say, the “right stuff,” which kept him true to his values; values that resulted in his legendary story of success.
Capt. King and his bride Henrietta couldn’t possibly imagine the city named in their honor would eventually be home to a Naval Air Station where half the world’s pilots are trained to fly off aircraft carriers.
They couldn’t possibly have imagined a city that embraces and supports the young men and women who may someday place everything on the line to ensure the future generations can learn about and enjoy the legacy of Capt. King. Toward the back of the book, I found words such as “uncompromising quality,” “heritage,” “ruggedness,” “self-reliance” and “authenticity.” Sure these words sound good and would look good on a “Running W” bumper sticker, but they are more than just words.
They embody the values and the vision of Capt. King that could apply to your life, your business and even the Naval Air Station.
We need to ensure future generations of Texans and Americans are raised with the values that will be required to meet the demands of the 21st century.
I have made values the underpinning of everything we do on this air station. I would challenge each of you to do the same in your schools, families and businesses. These continue to be the most challenging times in the history of the republic. We are on the brink of great success or failure. We must change our strategy in the face of new realities to meet today’s global challenges. Our economy across the nation is still not where it needs to be.
We have troops fighting a war that folks seem to have forgotten.
Kids today would rather play the knock-out game than stickball and some adults fight for deals on “Black Friday.”
Personal freedom and our ability to protect our homes and property are under constant attack.
What we need today is a good dose of values and vision; values and vision that were not new to America or Texas when the King family settled here. What we truly need are the values and visions of not only Captain and Mrs. King, but those of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson; values and visions that birthed a new nation a century earlier.
I am so grateful the cities of Kingsville and Bishop and Kleberg County have dedicated elected and appointed officials, as well as wonderful academic, business, church and civic leaders; leaders of values and vision who are flexible, responsive and prepared to create opportunities to meet our citizens’ expectations and the take on the challenges of the 21st century.
Like a friend of mine said at a meeting I attended at Kleberg Bank recently, “without vision, the people will perish."
Capt. Christopher Misner is the commanding officer of Naval Air Station-Kingsville.