Legion program develops leaders

The American Legion recently hosted its 17th consecutive session of Legion College with 59 Legionnaires. The students gathered in the National Executive Committee Room at National Headquarters in Indianapolis to gain institutional knowledge, develop leadership qualities, and understand how to apply the principle PEOPLE (professionalism, empathy, optimism, partnership, loyalty, empowerment) as leaders within the organization.

"The PEOPLE principle is about taking care of others; it’s about serving others," said Josh Clement, a 2015 Legion College graduate and a group facilitator. "Every aspect of it says I’m going to be optimistic because we need to keep going in a positive direction; I’m going to keep my team engaged, energized and moving forward; I am going to be loyal to my team and earn their loyalty back; I’m going to empower them so they are helping us for the common good."

Clement acknowledged to the students that "leadership is not easy. But I encourage you, no matter what level of leadership you’re in, make it a point for the good of the Legion to educate and share about our great organization." As the commander of Post 2 in Helena, Mont., Clement closes each meeting on a positive note. "I say something great about our organization. I want them to walk out of our meeting proud to be a Legionnaire."

When it comes to being a leader, it’s important to "pick the leadership method that works for you," said Past National Commander and Legion College Chancellor Dave Rehbein. "One of the principles that I try to live by is a simple statement – people don’t care how much you know about them once they know how much you care about them. The more you know about them, the better you are to lead them to where they want to go."

Attending Legion College for Chad Woodburn was an extra step in following the Legion path of his late father, Terry, who was a longtime Department of Illinois adjutant and Legion Rider.

"Growing up in the Legion I knew bits and pieces, but (Legion College) helped bring a lot of it together," said Woodburn, a member of Illinois State Police Post 1922. "This is definitely going to help me throughout my career in the Legion. And for my dad… to follow in his footsteps is pretty neat.

"It was a special week; it really was."

In his congratulatory remarks, Rehbein reminded the class of 2016 that "your (Legion) education is not over; it’s only beginning," Rehbein said. "(Legion College) was the directed part of your education. For the rest of your American Legion career, your education will be self-directed. So I hope I see every one of you back in (the NEC Room) one day as a department commander, department adjutant, wearing a red cap… a productive, active, involved member of The American Legion. You have that potential."

Despite his passion for the Legion, student Leo Gruba from the Department of Washington realized that he has "much farther to go" in the organization after finding his mentor’s name in his department’s desk drawer located in the NEC Room.

"The one and only thing that I want to be now, besides a Legionnaire and a comrade, is a name in that drawer that somebody that I mentored comes and finds," Gruba said. "I got to learn from some of the best and brightest Legionnaires this week, and I got to learn from a bunch of comrades who are just as passionate about The American Legion as I am."

The students supported National Commander Charles E. Schmidt’s fundraising cause by donating $1,225 to the Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program and service officer program.

To learn more about American Legion College and how to participate, visit www.legion.org/college.