MSG Nastvogel: The Army Leadership Requirements Model

When I arrived at my current unit, the first team lead that I was assigned to was an uninspiring guy. His only idea of leadership was going to the gym for a PT smoke session. Mentorship, improvement of technical skills, and career development weren't even on the radar. Fortunately for me, less than a year later, he moved on and I received a new team leader -- MSG Estefan Nastvogel. The change was like night and day. MSG Nastvogel not only could manage those PT sessions, but also brought a breadth of experience, and most importantly, a genuine interest in developing the soldiers on his team. Although he is no longer my team leader, his influence has remained with me. The Army Leadership Requirements Model, found in ADRP 6-22, enumerates the three key attributes of Presence, Character, and
The Warrior Ethos is second nature to him -- the mission always comes first, even when it comes at a cost to his private life. Last summer, an urgent requirement came up, and he was the only one available. Even though he'd only returned from his previous deployment less than two months previously, he heeded the nation's call, shouldered the burden and deployed yet again. He's never stingy with his time when he's home, either. Coming to this course, I was just coming off of a month's OCONUS leave, and therefore did not have an APFT on record within the previous 30 days. Time was growing short, and I was getting worried. I mentioned it via phone to my old mentor, and he immediately offered to help. In the middle of a four-day weekend, he gave up family time with his two young children to organize and administer an APFT for me -- and he's not even in my chain of command anymore. This sort of attitude and flexibility enable the Army to succeed despite daunting obstacles. His character inspires those with whom he serves to be the best soldiers that they can be, serving both the nation and each