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Prepared to Lead: US Army Major Curran Chidester

US Army Major Curran Chidester (Mount Union) places a high value on leadership, and he says much of what he's learned came through personal experience in college as a Sigma Nu.

Chidester has found those leadership lessons to be even more relevant as he's taken on increasing responsibilities over the last 10 years in his military career. Today he's attending the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where his coursework is preparing him with the skills and knowledge to successfully fulfill the duties of a staff officer.

The pursuit of such a position has caused Chidester to reflect on the leadership lessons he gained in the Sigma Nu chapter. He joined during his freshman year and remained active throughout college. He held numerous positions on the Executive Council, including new member educator and rush chairman, as well as serving as treasurer for the Interfraternity Council. He credits Sigma Nu's LEAD program, along with his observations of other leaders in the chapter, as contributing factors in his own leadership growth. "My four years in the Fraternity were really the pulse of my college career that set me up for success in the future," he says.

His memories of those years in the chapter correlate with a deep respect he feels for the brothers with whom he served on the Executive Council. "A couple of my Commanders were excellent leaders," he recalls.

He also recognizes a similarity between the Fraternity and the rank structure of the Army. "Being an Army officer is all about leadership. The biggest difference today is that I'm no longer leading my peers like we did in college. Looking back, I now understand how hard peer leadership really is," he shares.

One especially difficult semester the chapter was on probation with strict restrictions. Chidester recalls the Commander demonstrating leadership by encouraging the brothers to work together for the good of the whole. Instead of being frustrated about their circumstances, most chapter members responded well to the Commander's efforts to hold them to a higher standard. They learned to police their own behavior and to act quickly with members who resisted following the rules. "It made us stronger, and that year we won Fraternity of the Year," he remarks.

That semester, Chidester learned an important lesson that he says has greatly influenced his leadership today. "You have to do the right thing no matter what; and it's not always popular. As a Commander, you make decisions that others might not like, but as long as you know it's the right thing, you always get past it," he explains. "Plus, nothing was ever personal with those guys. That's a big lesson I use today. In the Army, nothing can be personal."

He put these lessons to work during his service as a company commander in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005. His unit was part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood. During the first six months they patrolled western Baghdad in the vicinity of the Abu Ghraib prison and the western edge of Baghdad International Airport. They were responsible for interfacing with the public, understanding the needs of the people and securing the area. They brought in medical and dental care for the residents, generators for power, helped open waterways for irrigation, and distributed clothing and other donations from the US.

They spent the second six months patrolling the Baghdad Airport Road, known as "Route Irish," where they were responsible for security route clearance. The road has been called "the most dangerous road in the world." Major Chidester's unit was one of three batteries charged with cleaning up the area and keeping the roadway open, providing security presence and patrol so that convoys and dignitaries could travel safely back and forth.

Inevitably, some of Major Chidester's decisions as battery commander were unpopular, but he is very proud of the unit's success in their mission. "It was very challenging and rewarding at the same time. We eliminated a lot of the threats, even though we could not eliminate all of them," he shares. He is most proud of helping to provide a secure, safe area for Baghdad's first elections. "Watching that first election and securing our area for that event was probably our biggest accomplishment. We put in a lot of long days, but it was worth it," Chidester recalls. Without hesitation, he considers this experience as battery commander his greatest leadership success.

Chidester also credits Sigma Nu with shaping his expectations as a leader. "Sigma Nu showed me that the reward is on the other side. Sometimes it's tough, but it's always rewarding. You make decisions that people may not like, but in the end they will respect you for your leadership," he explains.

One of the greatest rewards comes unexpectedly when soldiers formerly under his leadership call to ask for advice or to thank him for something. "They're no longer under my command, but they still ask me. It's similar to the Fraternity and how I keep in touch with a lot of the brothers there. Those were the best times. The relationships I built in the Sigma Nu chapter helped me to build relationships with those in my command and those who are senior to me," he says.

He compares the friendships formed in Sigma Nu with those he's formed during his time in the Army. "The friendships and bonds you develop - you can't put a price on that. The military and Sigma Nu both offer that kind of camaraderie. Both have been very positive in my life," he says.

In addition to Iraq, Major Chidester spent a year in Korea, two years in Hawaii, and completed course work at Ft. Bliss, Texas and Ft. Benning, Georgia. He has also completed training exercises in Jordan, Kuwait, and Thailand. He considers himself a "career military guy," and he looks forward to graduating from CGSC and serving as a staff officer. His ultimate long-term career goal is to be a battalion commander, a role in which he will undoubtedly continue to draw upon his Sigma Nu experience. "Sigma Nu is still a big part of my life," he says. "Truth, love, and honor - the values we learned while pledging - and the leadership style practiced in Sigma Nu all apply directly to what I do today," he says.