Retired four-star general speaks to ROTC at USU
Retired four-star Air Force General Robert C. Oaks spoke to the Air Force ROTC cadets Thursday about life in the Air Force, calling it “a grand life.”
Oaks, who is in the presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to about 100 cadets in the Eccles Conference Center. The general spoke about the qualities of a leader and gave the cadets advice on building a successful career in the military.
“Never let your own self-interest show through,” he said. “People don’t care about your career if they see you care too much about your own career.”
The difference between a career officer and a careerist, he said, is that a career officer’s goals are whatever is good for the country, while a careerist’s goals are whatever is good for himself.
“That’s what it means to be an officer – the country trusts you with its survival,” he said.
Oaks said the best thing about working for the Air Force was he never got bored. He said he and his wife never stayed longer than a few years in any location.
“It’s great to be in an organization where you don’t have to start at the bottom whenever you start a new job,” he said.
Gloria Oaks, the general’s wife, gave some advice on how to make the moves less difficult.
“Always unpack every box, whether you’re there two months or two years. Explore the place you’re in. Get out to see what the area has to offer,” she said, telling about taking her kids to see castles in Germany.
The most important thing Oaks said the cadets could learn to be a good leader is to care about people.
“You are expected to be a leader,” he said. “In order to be an effective leader, you must like people and care about their success as well as the success of the organization.”
To be a good leader, you must share the praise and keep the blame, he said. However, that’s only half the equation, he said. Caring only about the people – what Oaks called the “union-shop mentality” – will not get anything done.
“You must care about the mission, also,” he said. “If the mission doesn’t get done, the people don’t get satisfied.”
The final bit of advice Oaks gave was directed at the cadets who were members of the LDS Church.
“Some Latter-day Saints separate themselves,” he said. “Socialize. Don’t make a big deal of it. Some refuse to go to the officer’s club because they drink there. Don’t do that. Just live by your standards. That’s true for anybody – live by your standards.”
-ella@cc.usu.edu