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General Stanley McChrystal discusses everything from cadet pranks to civilian life in his new book “My Share of the Task”.
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I get a lot of guys -- rage all upset with me because of the fact that I I've I've observed after Vietnam there was.
The warrior general the warrior leaders in the military.
Became more PC.
And and weren't the old school generals from world war to an end you know your father was it was a military officer.
But you seem like he broke the mold because it's still seems like you were still a a warrior.
But but there was a lot of young lieutenants who were taught not to be war is about building roads and hospitals and hearts and minds.
Well I feel like I was a warrior but I was also problem -- And I think that's what leaders do you what ever problem you've got you saw.
Well it it evident that the same time leadership is one of those things where thank you -- -- I think -- and in the book was leadership hard to explain.
There's one of -- -- three you know when you see it.
Well you know it when you're doing it or when you are receiving it you really know when you're not receiving I think I described.
Washington's army.
In the dark years -- the revolutionary war and he had a tattered group that.
He's no way he could have ordered them to do what they did know we could've ordered them to cross.
The Delaware where they were losing they -- liberalism.
You can only of vocal motion and inspire people.
If you really want him to do more.
Paced to tell people -- when people go into combat they don't perform because they're afraid of their leaders they may be afraid of their sergeant or there officer.
When -- in garrison because.
They're imposing characters but in combat you're more scared of the enemy you're more scared of bullets.
But yet they do extraordinary things in combat for their comrades in for their leaders and that's what people have to remember.
You -- an interest in -- did you came up the date that you talk about the fact I mean -- all little boys one of these soldiers policemen firemen.
You wanted to be a soldier from the time mural -- But he did you came from a family that was also they be guiding you as well but at the same time so you get to West Point.
Wow that's pretty hard to get into you've got to West Point and what did you do general what you became a goof ball.
You were in trouble you were getting to merits.
You -- you were doing everything wrong what happened.
Yeah I.
From H early I can remember I wanna be a soldier -- my father was my hero is my vision of of what I wanted to be and so wanted to West Point.
And it was hard to get in for me it was even harder to get out.
Because when I got there they were I was focused on okay this is a speed -- probably get over the same quickly on the get on MBS it seemed like it was -- -- -- procedure what it was it was a nuisance so that's right we'll get this done and move on to what we're gonna do.
And they didn't see it that way.
And I wasn't very disciplined and you can RJR are here wasn't very mature had a good time -- When you were eighteen that's for 1890 I start involved in food -- -- you were drinking a year dorm room.
Did he twice -- got caught price so you were in trouble.
That you were -- that and what's interesting about that is that you said there's two types of infractions here's the kind where you mess up.
And the kind where you lie about what you messed up the -- would get you kicked out.
-- and up would get to -- merits and you had to go Goobuntu punishment.
You did you didn't do this latter they got you kicked up what you -- getting enough to merits of where you were worried what you never break the honor code I mean that's inside yet.
But like a friend of mine general frank Carty became a three star general we were in special operations together we both serve more than a hundred hours on the area.
And walk in dad are back and forth and -- -- -- yeah.
But but it was what would change -- because somewhere along there you grew up what was -- you know.
I think there a couple of things one at a tactical officer at that time major David for auto and I'd -- two years have given a lot of trouble and he came in at the beginning my junior year's a new officer West Point.
-- my first counseling with -- my expected him.
To just be in the head tell me what -- screw up I was but our first meeting he looked across the table let me says you're gonna be a great cadet and a great officer.
And I was -- and I said wait a minute you got the wrong filed here you know go get my file and he said now the things that matter.
The peer ratings from the other cadets the other indicators.
You're gonna be great we just gonna get a get through this this problem when you.
The other thing I started seriously -- the girl who became my wife and has been for 35 years of and I think she was a little bit about -- How.
Influence that young ladies you -- tend to help young guys -- that -- -- grow up they do that so but but the fast forward general all the way to the fact that.
The Rolling Stone interview you get called to meet the president.
And you brought to resignation with you.
And I thought back to -- infractions that you had as a young kid at West Point and and they were.
Silly.
And so now you've done something in an interview that got the boss upset.
Why did you why didn't you bring your resignation why did you just say give me.
Time in the area would give me my punishment you know not to star off -- -- and and and continue your service.
Yeah will win the rolling start -- came out it created a media controversy now whether I thought the article was accurate or fair became irrelevant.
I wasn't at West Point anymore I was commanding a 150000.
Troops in combat and people were dying and what mattered was the mission and those troops.
And so -- thing that distracted the nation.
From that.
Was a bad thing in it was my responsibility as a leader because I hold that sacred to accept responsibility.
So I went into the president and I said.
I would be happy to go back to Afghanistan continue to serve.
Or.
Here's my resignation whatever's best for the mission.
-- Christine because.
In the book you also.
At least two maybe three times you mention the fact that.
You were crossing paths with David Petraeus he was a couple years ahead of view he was maybe a -- or so above you.
But you knew the guy pretty well and you kept run and in doing.
And here you get totally different situation but again the guy who.
Did not going to say okay I made a mistake.
You know punish me he he resign.
What's with this resignation that you guys come up with that most people in life don't do.
What we see someone like Dave Petraeus who serve the nation so incredibly well for so many years there's a deep sense of responsibility.
And my guess is that he -- felt his responsibility was.
To.
To offer his resignation at that point and I think that that's something I respect how do you world.
You military guy -- -- from the time -- child.
And 35 years 34 years of -- -- services it.
And all of a sudden it's over.
Are you doing.
We are adjusting to be -- a civilian.
When I first to resign of course I wasn't expecting to be a civilian suddenly and I was that it was disorienting.
And my wife and I've been living apart for long time when we're back together again in the my son comes out of college he moves in and his fiancee comes along and they bring their cat rooster.
So I go from living in a little room lead to war -- lead -- or be a part of a family of four cat.
Until it changed a lot -- you it's been great I got a call.
About a month after -- resigned asking me if I'd be and student teaching at -- And that I'm in my third year about to finish my third year it's been wonderful.
Part of a small firm and -- co founded the does leadership for quick big corporations.
That's really fulfilling so.
I think I'm doing well there's life after various all right.
