Armed Forces Day: Lessons from life in the military
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs, Warrant Officer Glenn Haughton OBE has spent more than 30 years in the Army. In celebration of Armed Forces Day, he shares the five life lessons he’s learned from his time in the military.
With over 30 years of service, I have served from Guardsman to Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs — providing advice to those heading up the Armed Forces — and have deployed on operations all over the world, with no two days ever being the same.
With life experiences come life lessons.
The military has not only equipped me for the battlefield, but it’s left with me with lasting life skills that will stay with me forever.
Here are my top five life lessons that I have learnt from my time in service.
- It’s time to talk
One of the most important things I’ve learned from years of deployments is how important it is to process emotion and communicate.
We live in a world that often stigmatises poor mental health, but there comes a point where we all need to take care of ourselves and each other.
I know from previous personal experience how easy it is to think that in order to be strong, you also have to be silent.
Poor mental health doesn’t discriminate and can affect anybody when they least expect it.
Sharing my experiences changed my life for the better and it is often the first step to recovery.
2. Fitness is a lifestyle
Throughout the years I have had to perform at peak physical fitness.
I’ve learnt the importance of good health, nutrition and rehabilitation. I have been tested to my limits and got through it because of tough training.
Physical and mental fitness go hand in hand and I train both every single day. I practice rigorous physical exercise as well as meditation as part of my daily routine, and the recent lockdown period has reminded me that you don’t need a gym to train.
You can train anywhere, anytime. Civilise the mind and make savage the body.
3. Leadership is a behaviour, not a title
Military life has taught me that you are no better a person than anyone under your command.
I have led soldiers at every rank, and that is a privilege. I have always tried to find the good in everybody and inspire, motivate and elevate others.
Good leaders treat those under their command fairly, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender or religious beliefs.
“You can train anywhere, anytime. Civilise the mind and make savage the body.”
4. Routine
More than anything, the Army has taught me the importance of routine and keeping a daily battle rhythm.
Waking up to a day with a clear routine is essential for efficiency and success.
During the current lockdown, I’ve developed a clear routine to help keep me fit both physically and mentally. It’s important to keep a week as a week.
I currently work from home Monday to Friday and keep my weekends for family time.
5. No man is an island
It’s a cliché, but the best part of my 32 years of service has been the people I have served with.
Whether it’s the military humour after the worst day of your life on operations, or the text message from a mate you haven’t spoken to for years, communicating and connecting with others makes us better people and is a key and essential part of military life.
I have learnt so much from others and am grateful for the relationships I have developed over the years.
Armed Forces Day is celebrated on Saturday 27 June. Get involved by:
1. Liking the Armed Forces Day (@armedforcesday) Facebook page
2. Following Armed Forces Day on Twitter (@ArmedForcesDay) will tell you how to find out about planned virtual events
