A brief review of the Merriam-Webster definition(s) for “serve” provides the many uses, tenses, and applications of the word. The word – as a verb, to serve – is packed with so much more than a simple definition could provide. Sometimes we see the word “selfless” or “selflessly” thrown in front of it. There is also a theory of leadership called “servant leadership”. In terms of our community, we are familiar with the term “the service” to describe the profession of arms. The historical origins of the phrase are deep and even routed in conscription. But, in a post-Vietnam U.S. Military, we are an all volunteer force. So, if not required, why do we serve?

In February 2018, Angry Staff Officer published a Guest Post, by David Dixon titled, “The Growing Emptiness of Service”. As I was reading it, I disagreed with the premise. In the moment, I used it as an opportunity to try to demonstrate how we can disagree through respectful discourse. That piece, titled “5 Principles of Disagreement,” led me to talk with Capt. Dixon. During our conversation, we found common ground in our appreciation of what it means to serve.

Over the course of the next five days, The Company Leader will host multiple authors who tackle the topic of “why we serve”. Each author brings a different perspective. Some joined pre-9/11 and others post, enlisted and officer, National Guard and Active Duty, different MOS/Branches, a couple freelance writers from Task & Purpose, and more. I am excited about this series and hope it sparks a larger conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and in your office space. As always, you can join the conversation in the comments below, or reach out via the Contact Us page.

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The first post comes from Capt. Josh Bowen of 3×5 Leadership. Join the conversation on Social Media and click below to Subscribe so you don’t miss out on any of these great posts.