‌Self-Reflection: Are You Stewarding the Profession?

Chaplain’s Corner

By Chaplain (Maj.) Glen Thompson, U.S. Army Signal School

Article published on: June 21, 2025 in the Army Communicator Summer 2025 Edition

Read Time: < 2 mins

Chaplain (Maj.) Glen Thompson, U.S. Army Signal School

Stewardship is one of the five characteristics of the Army profession along with trust, honorable service, military expertise, and esprit de corps. According to the Army Leadership and Profession (ADP 6-22), “Strategic leaders, as senior stewards of the Army, are responsible for reinforcing trust and ensuring the ethical design, generation, support, and application of land power. Strategic leaders have the greatest influence on Army policies, regulations, programs, and systems. Their goal is to steward the profession by developing a core of Army leaders with relevant competencies.”

Strategic signal leaders have an incredible responsibility to reinforce the military’s culture of trust and traditions of the Army. Every level of stewarding the profession is important. ADP 6-22 continues to define the leadership roles of stewarding the profession. Organizational stewardship includes establishing a professional climate that fosters living by the Army ethic, strengthens mutual trust, and fosters cohesive teamwork. Organizations must be equipped, trained, and certified for current and future missions.

Down to the individual, stewarding the profession is key. Individual stewardship is the responsibility to strive continuously for excellence in the performance of duty, to pursue lifelong learning, and to accomplish every mission. Whether strategic, organizational, or individual, every mission counts – today’s mission and future missions. Stewardship is a lifelong pursuit to excel in every area of the profession.

How can you actively participate in stewarding the profession?

Leaders of the U.S. Army Signal Corps can provide stewardship in several ways. First, we care for our Soldiers, civilians, and family members in our formations. Caring for America’s sons and daughters is a sacred duty. We care for those in our formations, plus we contribute to their well-being. We share our knowledge and experience, come alongside them, and point them in the right direction. It is our duty to guide and direct them on their journey. Second, stewardship is wise use of resources. Signaleers and civilians must be good managers of the resources entrusted to them. We want to share our expertise with the wider community. We want to stay current with our education and pursue opportunities to expand our skillsets. Third, stewardship is passing the torch to the next generation. It is imperative that leaders at every level take the time to coach, train, and develop their subordinates.

In his article, “Improving readiness by developing leaders and using their talents,” retired Army Col. and chief of the Army Leader Development Division in the Center for Army Leadership at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Frank Wenzel argues, “Leader development is essential to the Army's success. The Army's strategic leaders of tomorrow are serving in entry-level ranks and positions today. To maintain an Army of competent and committed leaders of character who have the skills and attributes necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century, leaders must train, educate, and provide experiences to progressively develop subordinate leaders. This will ensure the Army prevails in unified land operations.”

As current Signaleers, we must look beyond our current mission and develop the next generation of leaders. At every level, growing and maturing our future leaders must be our long-term goal. As a chaplain instructing ethics at the U.S. Army Signal School, it is a great privilege to care for the next generation of leaders attending their Basic Officer Leadership Course and their Captain Career Course. It is an honor to pass the torch of information and knowledge to encourage transformational leadership and the Army profession and professional ethic. It is inspiring to see students continue to develop their moral foundations as they journey through their primary military education.

Stewardship – one of the five characteristics of the Army profession. Pass it on!