Training and experience are the keys to growing leadership in NJROTC and student teams

Leadership isn’t reserved for a rare few who were born with a leader’s spark. It’s something you develop—layer by layer—through a mix of training and the kinds of real-world experiences that test your mettle and sharpen your judgment. For students in the LMHS NJROTC circle, that journey isn’t abstract. It’s concrete, it’s practical, and it starts long before you’re handed a title or a clap from the crowd.

Here’s the thing about potential: it isn’t a trophy you earn once. It’s a set of capabilities you grow over time. And while there are various routes people try, the most reliable path to true leadership is training paired with experience. Think of training as your toolbox and experience as the trips you take with it. The more tools you have, and the more you use them in real situations, the better you’ll become at guiding others when the wind shifts.

Let’s break that down a bit, shall we?

Two engines that power leadership: training and experience

• Training: this is where you learn the language of leadership. It’s not just memorizing a few lines or a daily routine; it’s building a framework you can lean on when things get messy. In formal settings, you might study leadership theories, ethical decision-making, and team dynamics. You’ll also benefit from workshops, seminars, and mentorship. A good mentor can shine a light on your blind spots and push you toward clearer communication, more confident decision-making, and better delegation. Even practical drills and simulations count here—these aren’t merely chores but practice runs for real leadership scenarios.

• Experience: knowledge without action tends to fade. Real leadership shows up when you step into roles that require you to lead, coordinate, and adapt under pressure. That might mean guiding a project, organizing a service event, or taking charge of a small team during a drill. The moment you apply what you learned—adjusting plans on the fly, listening to the team you’re leading, and making decisions with imperfect information—you’re building a deeper, more durable form of leadership. With each challenge, you gain clarity: what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Small steps, big gains

You don’t have to wait for a big break to start growing. You can stack small leadership opportunities into a steady ascent. For example:

• Volunteer to mentor a newer cadet who’s navigating a tough drill or a confusing instruction sequence. Explaining something clearly is a powerful way to reinforce your own understanding.

• Lead a team during a service project, a fundraiser, or a community event. These settings push you to coordinate people, manage timelines, and communicate goals succinctly.

• Take charge of a planning session for an upcoming NJROTC event. You’ll need to outline tasks, set responsibilities, and track progress, all while keeping the group aligned.

• Seek feedback after events. Ask a peer, a supervisor, or a mentor what you did well and what you could improve. Then show you’ve listened by adjusting your approach next time.

Why passive following isn’t enough

Watching others lead or following a routine without variation can feel safe. It can even be inspiring at times. But it won’t cultivate the core muscles of leadership. Here’s why:

• Passive observation can spark ideas, but it rarely yields the discipline you need to act. Leadership isn’t a spectator sport. It grows when you try something, see the result, and adjust accordingly.

• Following others may teach you about teamwork, yes, but leadership hinges on making decisions when timing matters—and those moments are rarely scripted perfectly.

• The most meaningful growth happens when you step into responsibility and push through uncertainty. If your path to leadership is mostly handling “the easy stuff,” you’ll miss the chance to sharpen judgment and resilience.

What leadership development can look like in a young NJROTC crew

In a military-structured environment like NJROTC, leadership isn’t abstract; it’s embedded in duties, chains of command, and shared responsibility. Here are a few practical illustrations:

• Leading drill teams or color guards requires precision in instruction and a calm, clear voice that guides others through a routine under pressure. It’s not just about how you move, but how you coordinate a group to move as one.

• Planning a community service event merges logistics with people skills. You’ll design a plan, assign roles, and keep morale steady when hurdles pop up—like a vendor falling behind or weather changing plans.

• Coordinating a small project within the unit—say, a fundraising drive or a recruitment event—tests your ability to set expectations, monitor progress, and celebrate the team’s wins without losing sight of the goal.

A simple, actionable path forward

If you’re eager to grow your leadership without diving into “go big or go home” drama, here are some practical steps you can start today:

• Seek a mentor. A teacher, a senior cadet, or a community leader who understands leadership in action can offer you a map and a compass. Ask for regular check-ins, honest feedback, and a few role-model stories to study.

• Start small but real. Volunteer to chair a monthly team meeting, plan a drill sequence, or direct a small group on a service project. The goal is to practice organizing people, communicating clearly, and keeping momentum.

• Learn the basics of effective communication. Clarity in speaking and writing helps others understand the plan quickly. Practice stating the goal, listing key steps, and summarizing outcomes after each task.

• Sharpen decision-making under pressure. Don’t avoid tough calls. Weigh options, consider risks, and choose a path. Then observe the results and refine your approach next time.

• Build a leadership journal. Jot down what happened, what you learned, and what you’ll try differently next time. Seeing your patterns written down makes growth tangible.

• Embrace feedback with curiosity. Feedback isn’t judgment; it’s fuel. Treat it as information to help you improve, not as a verdict on your character.

• Balance action with reflection. You’ll learn more from a sincere debrief than from powering through tasks with blind confidence. The quiet moments after a task can be your best teacher.

A few words on the broader picture

Leadership isn’t just about directing people. It’s about lifting others, listening deeply, and shaping an environment where everyone can contribute their best. In the NJROTC context, leadership also means upholding values like integrity, accountability, and teamwork—qualities that hold steady whether you’re firing off a drill sequence, coordinating a service project, or mentoring a peer.

You’ll notice something fundamental here: leadership development is a duo effort. Training gives you the language and the tools; experience gives you the practice and the context. Put together, they create a durable capacity to lead that you can carry into any setting—school, service, or future roles beyond the unit.

Let’s connect the dots with a simple takeaway

When the question comes up—How can a person with potential grow into a leader?—the answer isn’t a guess or a shortcut. It’s training plus experience. It’s reading, listening, and learning how to apply lessons in real situations. It’s the courage to step forward when things aren’t perfectly planned and the humility to ask for help when they are.

If you’re part of LMHS NJROTC, you already understand the value of purpose, discipline, and teamwork. Those aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the scaffolding of leadership. The road to becoming a leader isn’t a straight line. It’s a winding path paved with study, hands-on roles, moments of doubt, and the stubborn joy of guiding others toward a shared goal.

So, what’s the next step for you? Find a mentor, grab a leadership task, and look for that moment when you turn a plan into action and a team into something greater than the sum of its parts. Start small, stay curious, and keep your eyes on the horizon. Leadership isn’t a destination; it’s a practice of showing up, learning, and lifting others as you rise.

In the end, the right answer isn’t “all of the above” or “this or that.” It’s this: with potential, the best growth comes from training and experience—together. That combination shapes leaders who can think clearly, act decisively, and lead with both heart and head. And isn’t that the kind of leader you’d want to follow?