Earn It

One of the primary movers in reshaping the Army's Non-commissioned Officer Corps into the envy of the world following the Vietnam conflict, Sergeant Major of the Army Bill Gates uses his experience to give us a leadership guide for service-members of all ranks and branches of the United States military. Anchoring on the three pillars of soldier development (command, formal schooling, and the individual), Sergeant Major Gates recounts his leadership experiences and the many events from his time in service that still shape our lives and our armed forces to this day. Earn It is an excellent read." - General (Retired) George Casey, 36th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

In combat, the warrior fights hardest for those on either flank. This applies not just to individuals, but all the way from squads to major commands sharing the front line of battle. The positive experiences and knowledge gained by Sergeant Major of the Army Gates while working with the U.S. Marine Corps are well documented throughout Earn It. Embracing the Marine Corps' concept of "improvise, adapt, and overcome," he pushed himself hard to be among the best within a very elite force. In Earn It, Sergeant Major of the Army Gates shares those lessons for all warriors of today and tomorrow. General (Retired) James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Team play wins. Earn It is a testimonial that honors the capabilities, competence and dedication of service members of all branches of the American military and our allies. Building upon the importance of air power in Vietnam and Panama, Sergeant Major of the Army Gates explains that during OPERATION DESERT STORM, combined fixed wing forces dominated the skies, quickly transported ground troops and equipment into theater, prepared the battlefield, decimated Saddam's military, broke Iraq's critical infrastructure, and provided critical air cover as allied forces liberated Kuwait. For study of both leadership and combined-force operations, Earn It is a must read. General, U.S. Air Force (Retired) Charles F. Wald, former Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command

The leadership lessons provided in Sergeant Major of the Army Gates' Earn It apply to all organizations, government and civilian. Building upon the three pillars of soldier development, Sergeant Major Gates and Colonel Martin examine the importance of mission statements, identification of essential tasks, training, hard work, diligent study, and dedication to teamplay in the pursuit of excellence. Anchoring on the principles of duty, honor, and loyalty to his country, Sergeant Major Gates always gave of himself to help others. Earn It is his latest contribution in that endeavor. Judge Louis Freeh, former F.B.I. Director.