VEDP International Trade’s Post

In the military, credibility is built through consistent leadership under pressure. Whether commanding a Special Forces company or managing multi-million-dollar security projects, I’ve learned that credibility is the foundation of effective communication. The troops won’t follow orders unless they trust you, and that trust is earned by living out the values you preach. Here’s how to apply the Law of Credibility in the military and security world: Lead by Example: As Special Forces Company Commander in the UAE Armed Forces, I didn’t just instruct tactics - I was on the ground, demonstrating them. This built trust within my team and ensured operational readiness at all times. Be the first to do what you ask of others. Consistent Actions Build Trust: Overseeing security operations in Angola, I made sure every directive I gave was backed by action. This consistency led to seamless operations and strengthened our ability to respond to high-risk situations. In leadership, words mean nothing without consistent actions. Earn Respect by Living the Mission: Throughout my career, from South Africa to the UAE, I made it a priority to live out the mission daily. When your team sees you embody the values of service, discipline, and resilience, your credibility is cemented. How can you ensure your actions match your words today? In the military, your most powerful message is the one you live. Lead by example, and your communication will be trusted and respected. Quotes to Inspire Credibility: "The most effective communication is not what you say, but how you live." - John C. Maxwell "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." - Sheryl Sandberg "Actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often." - Mark Twain #MilitaryLeadership #CredibilityInAction #MaxwellLeadership #LeadByExample #TrustInLeadership #OperationalReadiness #MilitaryExcellence #LeadershipCredibility #SecurityLeadership #CommandAndControl

Leadership Communication in the Military – A Key to Mission Success In over 30 years of military service, leading Special Forces operations and managing high-stakes international military projects, I’ve learned that effective communication is the foundation of mission success. Whether in the heat of battle or in the strategic planning room, how you communicate can be the difference between victory and failure. If I were to improve communication in military operations by 80%, here’s what I’d focus on: Clarity and Command: During my time as Special Forces Company Commander, clear and direct communication ensured that every mission was executed flawlessly. Ambiguity in leadership can cost lives; clarity ensures that everyone knows their role and executes with precision. Adaptability in Crisis: As the HR Director for the UAE Armed Forces, I had to adapt my communication style to manage a force of 2,760 personnel while navigating various challenges, from morale to operational readiness. In military leadership, being able to adapt your message to fit the situation is critical to maintaining discipline and focus. Building Trust Through Action: Whether leading airborne operations or managing security projects, I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words. Effective communication builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any successful operation. What can you do today to elevate your communication in military leadership? In military operations, communication is your most powerful tool. Lead with clarity, adaptability, and trust, and you’ll see your team’s performance soar. Quotes to Inspire Military Communication: "Communication works for those who work at it." - John Powell "In leadership, you cannot communicate what you don’t live." - John C. Maxwell "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said." - Peter Drucker #MilitaryLeadership #MaxwellLeadership #EffectiveCommunication #SpecialForcesLeadership #CommandAndControl #LeadershipDevelopment #OperationalExcellence #MissionSuccess #ClearLeadership #MilitaryCommunication

Leadership brain transplants would be the fastest and best solution to injecting professionalism into Foreign Military Sales oversight. For Air and Missile Defense, mitigating the toxic, destructive good-ole-boy network among Rocket City government and industry will be difficult. Purging integrity-challenged leaders and DNA—as extremely difficult as it will be—will be key to transforming a culture of incestuous and unethical business practices.  The approach must be informed and methodical, concurrent with reeducating a workforce long steeped in unethical oversight practices. Radical restructuring—along with creating a “Security Assistance Czar” with centralized power and authority—is the only clean way to purifying an inferior system, sustained by unskilled and corrupt leaders. The goal should be to not only build an expert and knowledgeable workforce, but to create a set of values and behaviors that embrace integrity and resilience. Relying on current leadership to implement these changes would be like opening the door to the chicken house as long as the wolves promise not to eat the chickens.

Strategic Leadership: Honoring Legacy and Shaping the Future Leadership is not just about commanding; it is about vision, strategy, and responsibility. As a descendant of Major Nguba Honore, a key figure in the Belgian colonial Special Forces, and now serving as Colonel in the FARDC, I carry the weight of my family’s legacy and the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). My mission is clear: to build a modern, resilient military capable of securing our borders and contributing to regional stability. This vision requires strategic planning, international partnerships, and unwavering dedication to our people. In the ever-changing landscape of global security, the DRC must assert its place, not just as a survivor, but as a leader on the world stage. As I take this responsibility forward, I recognize that the strength of the DRC’s military is not only about size or equipment—it is about training, discipline, and collaboration. Partnerships with global powers are essential for the modern forces we aim to build. Together, we can ensure the protection of our nation while contributing to peace and prosperity across Central Africa. The DRC’s military future will depend on both our internal strength and our international alliances.”_ Engagement Strategy: Engage with leaders, professionals, and organizations focused on military strategy, African geopolitics, and defense policy. Encourage discourse around the importance of legacy-driven leadership and the role of global partnerships in military development.

Concordia Leadership Council Spotlight: Gen. Wesley K. Clark dives deep into the rising influence of China and Russia on U.S. national security in his latest USA Today article. Discover his insights and what they mean for the future of our nation's safety. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gGmabNFT #Concordia24

To achieve strategic success in any organization, leaders must first and foremost idealize and communicate a clear vision. This unambiguous demand signal must come from the top of the organization to identify and support the concepts, themes, and attributes necessary to achieve the required effects and objectives. Then, focused gap analysis can occur, and subsequent capability development and refinement of operations and tactics can flow forward with increasing efficiency toward achieving the vision. Keep going Marines! https://lnkd.in/g8RcpdXt

In a new European Leadership Network and Asia-Pacific Leadership Network policy brief, Nobumasa Akiyama of Hitotsubashi University writes on Japanese perceptions of strategic risks in East Asia and makes recommendations for how Japan can create a network of regional security cooperation amidst a deteriorating security environment. The paper has three key recommendations: -Strengthen Japanese defence capabilities -Strengthen trilateral Japan-US-ROK coordination -Threat reduction through strategic communication This paper is part of the European Leadership Network and the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network Asia-Pacific Strategic Risks project, which convenes officials, experts, and practitioners from South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the UK to discuss how changing threat perceptions impact proliferation challenges. Read the full report below ⤵ https://lnkd.in/ec5QJMGU

The Liberator’s Dilemma: The Paradox Of American Leadership - by @Joseph Long in Arizona State University's Inter Populum: Summary: As the special operations profession enters a new era of Special Operations Forces (SOF) involvement in geopolitical competition in the “gray zone” as part of a comprehensive U.S. strategy of integrated deterrence, the leadership skills developed by the broader profession of arms remain necessary but insufficient. For special operations, the complexity of the emerging security environment suggests there is increasing uncertainty on how the Joint SOF profession must exercise leadership in support of American interests that center on partner forces of both developed and developing nations, as well as the interests of micro-level populations and associated non-state, sub-state, and paramilitary actors. As SOF adapts to these requirements through joint and combined integration, or “the imperative of approaching complex, complicated, wicked, and compounded challenges through ‘whole of governments, whole of societies,’” SOF must recognize the reality that this environment necessitates a new framework for understanding military leadership. For full article: https://lnkd.in/eqUadnyf

A new European Leadership Network (ELN) and Asia-Pacific Leadership Network report compares Australian, Japanese, South Korean, and UK risk perceptions towards Taiwan and North Korea. It finds that diverging perceptions of risk in the Asia-Pacific are potential obstacles to policy coordination and offers recommendations for how to address this. Read the full report by Joel Petersson Ivre, Dr Rishi Paul, Alice Saltini, Tanya Ogilvie-White, and Oliver Meier below ⤵ https://lnkd.in/e-a_nQ7d

Are leadership gaps set to undermine cross-border partnerships? What does this mean for your business? A mid-July report from a United States Department of Defense advisory group highlighted a critical issue: the absence of a central standing mechanism for interacting with allies, partners, and international organizations. Interested in how this role could transform global defense strategies? Join us at the GovCon International Summit IN THREE DAYS, where prominent Pentagon leaders will discuss these issues and the future of global collaboration. Reserve your seat here: https://lnkd.in/gRdpNp6H __ #EventsinDC #POCgovconintl #Events