Humility a virtue worth emulating

Published 8:21 pm Saturday, November 8, 2014

The Navy SEAL who killed Osama Bin Laden has been revealed. But even as his upcoming interview on Fox News is sparking some controversy, there’s one point that bears thinking about. What if all government servants acted with the dedication, discretion and single-mindedness demanded of our nation’s most elite warriors?

“The hero Navy SEAL Team Six member who shot and killed 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden has been unmasked,” the New York Daily News reported last week. “His name is Rob O’Neill, a 38-year-old highly-decorated military veteran who retired from the Navy after 16 years. O’Neill, who grew up in Butte, Montana, was first identified on SOFREP.com, a website that caters to military personnel.”

O’Neill has our nation’s thanks and praise, but here’s the thing. Mostly, Navy SEALS work without those rewards.

USA Today reports about a letter from Navy brass to SEALs, written after it was announced that Fox would interview O’Neill on Veterans Day.

“At Naval Special Warfare’s core is the SEAL ethos,” the letter reads. “A critical tenant of our ethos is ‘I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions.’ Our ethos is a life-long commitment and obligation, both in and out of the service. Violators of our ethos are neither teammates in good standing, nor teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare.”

The letter says the Navy will prosecute those who leak vital secrets and endanger other soldiers (although none of these charges are specifically made against O’Neill).

“We will not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain, which only diminishes otherwise honorable service, courage and sacrifice,” the letter reads. “Our credibility as a premier fighting force is forged in this sacrifice and has been accomplished with honor, as well as humility.”

What an amazing statement about the purpose and character of the SEALs — sacrifice and selflessness, honor and humility. These are the best traits of servant-leaders.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if such an ethos went upstream from the Pentagon, as well as downstream?

Imagine if public officials and political figures weren’t financially motivated to keep their eye on the door, always looking for the next higher office or book advance or lobbying job.

It’s not about the current Commander-in-Chief, nor his staff, nor his cabinet — although those do present some prime examples of people who have profited from their public service. It’s really more about who we are as a people — at our best.

Admiral William H. McRaven, a former SEAL, gave the commencement address to the University of Texas at Austin in August, and he succinctly laid out the SEAL ethos.

“If you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, then next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today,” he said.

That’s an ethos worth emulating.