What a difference a year makes. One year ago, in the March 2024 AVV newsletter, I presented some guidelines for judging political candidates as leaders. At that time, it was early in the primary season and there were twelve Republican candidates for President! The question was how to judge these earnest candidates, one from another. I suggested that what set the strongest candidates apart were their comments on how they intended to lead change. Did their comments translate concerns from the voters into tangible actions that could unite voters, win elections, and improve lives?
The ensuing election outcome validated my early assertion – did it ever! Think first about Kamala Harris…times up! Now, consider President Trump, his victory, and all we’ve seen him overcome and accomplish in the year that spanned last March to today. His overwhelming win was difficult but, in retrospect, predictable considering how often and how well he addressed just how he intended to lead and what he intended to get done.
As the Democratic party learned (or not), desire and empathy are good but not enough. Personality or background aren’t sufficient. What seem to be good policies too often just perpetuate tired or useless process. It takes a leader and leadership to frame the vision, ignite energy and purpose, unite powerful teams, overcome inevitable obstacles, and persevere to make change happen. Political rhetoric is not adequate when leadership is what is needed most. While we need to understand the values, commitments, public record, and political positions of candidates, it is vital that we also base our vote on who can best lead change.
I admit any insight I had about winners and losers in politics a year ago too easily discounted manipulated outcomes (talking to you Pelosi and Obama), potential tragedy (Butler, Pa.), or disqualifying incompetence (Harris, Waltz). In the end, changes were demanded by the majority of American voters and change is upon us, fast and dramatic! The times and the way back to unity and national strength demanded such action.
And the potential for success from the changes underway is great. Difficult times and tough choices are not new concerns. As a leader, I have often looked back to a reference I’ve kept on my bookshelf for years – a book, not surprisingly called, “Leading Change” by John Kotter. In this book, the author describes his long study of how successful leaders lead successful change. He describes the very steps underway in this new administration. To successfully lead change, a leader must:
1. Establish a Sense of Urgency – Combat complacency (WHEW. Roger that!)
2. Create a Guiding Coalition – Inspire the power of teamwork (see First Cabinet meeting!)
3. Develop a Vision and Strategy – Link task and purpose to outcomes (America First!)
4. Communicate the Change Vision – Over communicate; ensure the coalition models the expected behavior (1000+ questions answered!)
5. Empower Broad Based Action – Encourage risk taking and new ideas (Vance + all Cabinet members!)
6. Generate Short Term Wins – Reward and recognize change as it happens (DOGE!)
7. Consolidate Gains and Produce More Action – Build and sustain momentum (Hostages released, Peace breaking out, Reciprocal Tariffs!)
8. Anchor Change in the Culture of the Organization – Change will not self-sustain (Budget cuts, elimination of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, Federal workforce cuts!)
A word of caution as we expect success and “we get tired of winning.” A clash of cultures may be in the offing. Elon Musk comes from the culture with a tech ethos described by Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg – “Move fast and break things.” Mr. Musk is executing such a strategy. His understanding of risk, however, is less about what may break along the way to change and more about overcoming the risk to our nation itself in the absence of needed change. BUCKLE UP!
Elections have consequences, someone said too often! So true. Thank you to the AVV team – our members, donors, subscribers. What we did in this last year was very consequential. The year ahead can only boost the momentum. Every Veteran, Every Vote wins the State and assures the Assembly for a bright Virginia future.
Veterans Forward!
Bob
Bob Wood
LTG, US Army
CEO, American Veterans Vote
by
Michael B. “Yama” Hoyes
COL (R), USAF
As we depart the season of the “Snowmaggedon” and look forward to Spring, I could not help but think about “pruning.”
In the USAF fighter community, before a flying mission there is always a briefing where we discuss the plan for the flight and address who will do what, when, and how. After the flight there is the debrief. Debriefs can be quite lengthy, often double or triple the length (sometimes quadruple) of the flight itself! Excruciating in detail, but necessary with rank left outside the debriefing room. All participants are subject to critique. Positives and negatives are discussed freely with the intention to make better warriors and enhance their ability to protect our dear nation.
As a process, “pruning” is when dead, diseased or injured parts of foliage are removed to improve the health, fruit production and safety of the plant. John 15:2b states, “…while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Those debriefs are meant to purge activities that could lead to disaster in an air battle, and thus enhance USAF lethality and effectiveness, while promoting the safety of friendly forces/non-combatants.
As we look ahead to the next election cycle here in Virginia, we want to bring forth the maximum amount of “fruit.” As Veterans and those who support Veterans, we want to increase our impact (“fruit”) for the good of our Commonwealth and nation. So let us wisely use this time to prune and prepare ourselves to reap an even more fruitful harvest!
EVERY VETERAN, EVERY VOTE!!!
by
James Hutton, COL (RET)
As President Donald Trump attempts to lead Ukraine and Russia to a ceasefire and ultimately to a cessation of their conflict that had origins in 2014 but escalated to full-scale combat in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in 2022, the western world waits to see how that is accomplished.
Creating a deal to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine is no small endeavor.
Ukraine has as much as twenty percent of its territory effectively under Russia control. It has lost more than 12,000 civilians killed, according to Statista and 62,000 military killed (possibly as high as 100,000), according to the New York Times. (It must be noted that sources vary widely on casualty numbers).
Ukraine wants all its territory returned. Russia wants all that it has gained, and the rest of Ukraine.
Russia has lost “nearly 150,000” military killed as of October 2024, again according to the New York Times. By contrast, the U.S. losses in Vietnam from 1965-1975 was about 58,000.
The stakes are obviously high.
Meetings are being held in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russia delegations to gather views and demands.
Uniquely, there is a business component for U.S. with Ukraine, and the potential for Russia to engage the community of nations that are arrayed in defiance of the long-term strong man Vladimir Putin. The Russian president is indeed responsible for 100,000 deaths on both sides of the border. To say he has fences to mend would be a gross understatement.
President Trump’s new administration has jumped into action, recognizing the extreme situation. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg is assigned as Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and others are playing key roles engaging both sides and other players such as European nations.
The facts demonstrate why the role of the U.S. is not only pivotal but indispensable.
The European nations have provided both military and humanitarian support to Ukraine, but the bulk of military support — by far the most of any nation, according to Statista — comes from the U.S. Whether it’s sophisticated weaponry or ammunition, no nation or even group of nations is close.
It is not all that useful to try to present dollar figures of the support given to Ukraine, with President Trump and European sources differing on the amount. All agree that the U.S. has led the way militarily.
While no foreign country is providing troops on the ground, the support has enabled Ukraine to fight back against the invasion and create a stalemate of sorts for years.
Not incidentally, western leaders said that at the beginning of war, notably then-U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, it would quickly end with a victory for Russia. Milley suggested three days.
Incidentally, he said later in 2023, the war would be a “considerable length of time and it’s going to be long and hard…”
Predicting outcomes in Ukraine is beyond difficult.
It’s clear by now that Ukrainians have no desire to become subject to Russian rule.
The Ukraine story is unfolding before us, and its outcome could define the ultimate success or failure of the Trump presidency.
James Hutton is a former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. Follow him on X @jehutton.
Author of Biden-Harris: Views of Misguided Policies Foreign and Domestic 2021-2023
American Veterans Vote, Inc. (AVV) is a volunteer team of Veterans and Veteran supporters. We are a 527 Political Action Committee with a nationally-focused mission to promote the political power of Veterans and Veteran supporters in support of our three strategic goals:
AVV’s goal is to help Veterans maximize their political voice by supporting Veterans’ ability to Vote, Volunteer and Lead.
“Every Veteran, Every Vote.”
We don’t speak FOR Veterans… we speak AS Veterans.
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