The trust that was put in Rowan is the same trust that is tasked throughout squads and fire teams. We have to be able to use the resources that we have on hand and the skills we learn throughout our training to be able to accomplish whatever mission and task is set before us. It gives examples at the end of the essay of different types of people who could be tasked out for missions but get lost along their way and lose sight of what needs to be done. It talks about people who need to do work when the “boss” is away and does work as well when he is at home. The man who when given an order doesn’t question it, but obeys without hesitation and does his job proficiently and thoroughly. The leaders who step up when it is needed and when it is not to be able to build trust in one another and earn the respect of his peers.
A Message to Garcia highlights a prime example of the leadership that is need in a battalion, company, platoon and squad sized element, as well as the society we live in.
The tactical lessons I learned from A Message to Garcia are that if you are given a task to do, do it without being constantly told to do so and accomplish it to the best of your abilities and in a timely manner.
Leadership lessons I have learned from A Message to Garcia are to make sound and timely decisions and to ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
If Rowan is appointed a task to do, he contemplates himself to where he can do an outstanding job. He has remarkable assurance in himself and what he does. Rowan is a gentleman that you can have faith in to carry out any job from the easiest to the most difficult and extensive. Rowan puts all his determination and emotion into his assignment and finishes the duty given. Rowan doesn’t place any justification not to bring out the assignment given, nor does he use any postponing tactic to delay the mission. He used his own resources and delivered out the task.