General Bowlds highlights military values during address to cadets

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds discussed military leadership and values while addressing Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC cadets during a scholarship luncheon sponsored by the Patriots Roost Chapter of the Association of Old Crows April 11 at the Hanscom Minuteman Club.

During the luncheon, which was also attended by many of ESC's senior leaders and company grade officers, the local Old Crows chapter presented $1,000 scholarships to 21 deserving Boston area ROTC cadets.

In his address, General Bowlds, who was an ROTC cadet himself at Mississippi State University, paid tribute to ROTC instructors, many of whom were in the audience, saying that what his instructors taught him about military leadership and values has had a lasting impact on his career.

"As future military leaders, you will need to be competent decision makers, able to remain innovative and adaptive under pressure," he said. "The global environment you will serve in will test your intellect and character in ways you'd never experience in the corporate world. History will look back on your time in service as one of great struggle to defend our country against threats to our way of life."

Guiding the cadets throughout their careers, regardless of their branch of service, will be the enduring core values that each service holds dear, General Bowlds said. Reciting each service's core values, the general noted the commonality among them, and their focus on honor, duty, commitment and service.

"The words associated with these core values of our services really mean something," he said. "They are beacons guiding our professional conduct and inspire us to do our very best all the time. They represent a common bond among all comrades in arms. They tie us to the great warriors of the past. You won't find anything like them in corporate America."

The general particularly focused on the third Air Force core value, service before self, saying it is especially relevant today, since many of the scholarship recipients will be asked to deploy around the globe and serve in harm's way in defense of their country.

"Under my command, I currently have approximately 174 officers and enlisted personnel deployed in support of the global war on terror," General Bowlds said. "This includes two of my key support staff officers, one of whom had little time to prepare his family before deploying to Iraq. It's not until you're looking at a six- month to one-year deployment on two-weeks notice that it begins to hit home you're in the military and we're at war."

The general advised the cadets to "do a gut-check" as they continue on to commissioning and "understand what it means to be an officer."

"I say that not to discourage you, but to ensure you really understand what core values mean," he said. "We're not spouting clichés when senior officers and leaders tout these core values. And if you can accept that responsibility, I assure you, it can be very rewarding."

Following the speech, Chapter President Nino Amoroso thanked the general and asked him to join in presenting the scholarships.

"Since our inception over 30 years ago, the Patriots' Roost Chapter has donated over $350,000 to the ROTC scholarship program," Mr. Amoroso said. That represents the second largest source of donations for any AOC chapter worldwide.

"We are able to raise the necessary funds for these scholarships through the continuous hard work and support of the various government and industry teams that conduct the many Old Crows symposia, golf tournaments, and other activities," Mr. Amoroso said.

"We were really pleased that General Bowlds could join us and talk with these impressive cadets about leadership," said Pat Dagle, chairman of the Old Crows' scholarship program. "Having the senior military officer in all of New England as the guest speaker was a great honor for us, and was truly special for each of our scholarship winners."