“This is an example of something that can be done with incredible teamwork. Basra was a place where security was very, very challenging, making it difficult to get in and do the work. We’ve had a number of contractor personnel who were kidnapped and killed just trying to get to the worksite, but with teamwork we persevered for the greater good.”
The greater good is to make life better for those kids.
“If you walk into the resident office, you’ll find pictures of Iraqis kids on the wall with the statement underneath, ‘This is what it’s all about.’ It tugs at your heart. It isn’t about the Corps of Engineers or who built it. It’s about children having a chance at life as a result of this work. That will be reward enough for us.”
Thank you for reminding me of the value of teamwork and the passion needed to complete a challenging project. Enable me to “sharpen” someone else today.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
April 24
ADVOCATE
For a general officer, advocacy often requires moral courage.
“I’ve got people on the front lines everyday working construction projects in Iraq, Afghanistan, and more than thirty other countries. I visit our team in the Middle East every three to four months to encourage them and learn of their challenges so I can be a better advocate. I have to have their best interest in mind and stand up for what’s right. I’m their representative. I’m their advocate,” explained Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Commander of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
On these visits Van Antwerp reviews programs, holds town hall meetings and listening sessions to make sure we’re on track.
“A lot of it is cheerleading and encouraging the folks that we have over there,” he noted.
The Corps designs, awards contracts, and supervises construction. In Iraq about 70 percent of their employees are Iraqi contractors and in Afghanistan, about 80 percent are Afghan contractors. The Corps hires them for construction management and oversight.
In the United States, the Corps is divided into eight divisions.
“In the Bible, God asks, ‘who will stand in the gap for the people?’” said Van Antwerp. “The Lord is looking for advocates.”
Advocacy is another godly principle that works in a secular world. When a leader is humble and more concerned about others and the organization than himself, then he or she is free to be the best advocate possible.
“Before an order is given and while an issue is being discussed, we have to have the moral courage to stand up, be heard, and represent our folks,” Van Antwerp said.
As a result, Van Antwerp is prayerful about the decisions he makes, especially the major ones. After seeing a presentation in his office, he often thanks the presenters and then tells them he wants to pray about it before giving them an answer, usually the next day.
“I’m sure that’s a bit unusual for them. I want to make sure I have undergirded my decisions in prayer. That’s how I do it,” Antwerp said.
“My confidence is in him. If you’re confidence is in God, you can accept the outcome because he is sovereign and is watching over the details.”
Give me the courage to be an advocate for others.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)
April 25
GETTING IT RIGHT… FOR THEIR SAKE
The battlefield brings out a soldier’s courage.
Scott Smiley was working for Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp’s son, Jeff, a company commander in Iraq. A terrorist with explosives in his car approached Smiley’s vehicle in Mosul in 2005. When confronted, instead of surrendering the man committed suicide and exploded his car. Smiley was commanding the Stryker and had his head out of the commander’s hatch. He took shrapnel in both eyes and the front part of his brain.
“I’ve seen his X-rays, the entry and exit wounds,” Van Antwerp noted.
Doctors had to remove a portion of his frontal lobe that supposedly controls one’s emotions. Yet, Smiley has made a remarkable recovery.
“I believe God rewired him. He’s absolutely the same guy as before the injury, except that he can’t see. When he was injured, it was pretty early in the war and we were trying to figure out the policies for handling wounded warriors. The Army hadn’t really solidified what we were going to do with those injured this severely. Could he even stay in the Army?” Van Antwerp relayed.
The general became a personal advocate. “I called the Human Resources Command, requesting that they move Scott Smiley into my command. I told them I knew he could contribute and that I want to bring him in to watch over him as ‘Support to Wounded Warriors’ matured,” Van Antwerp reflected.
Smiley and his wife moved to Fort Monroe, Virginia., where Van Antwerp was serving as commander of United States Army Accessions Command, responsible for recruiting and training thousands of young patriots. Smiley recruited for the Army, became an inspirational speaker, and took on life’s challenges, giving God the glory for his recovery. After climbing Mount Rainier, Smiley received ESPN’s 2008 ESPY and is an inspiration to us all.
Van Antwerp also intervened to help Smiley reach his dream of teaching at the United States Military Academy. After contacting a longtime friend and dean at the Academy, the deal was done.
“I’m able to do some good things for others because of my position in the Army. In the case of Scotty, I was in a position to help,” Van Antwerp explained.
Advocacy is much more than just advocating policies and positions. Moral leadership requires personal advocacy as well.
Provide me an opportunity to be an advocate on someone’s behalf.
“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
April 26
UNSEEN RECOVERY
