04/29/2022
Followers, today we are introducing you to 1/c Logan Tobias of Golf Company who is majoring in Government. Continue reading to learn about 1/c Tobias’ most formative leadership development experience and his advice to the underclass cadets.
I grew up in Long Island, New York with my parents, older brother, and a tiny-but-mighty Boston Terrier. I spent my time trying to keep up with my brother Blake and his friends around town and on the playing field, playing Lacrosse and Football with my friends, and enjoying family movie night in our living room. Both of my parents were police officers, so they kept Blake and I squared away, but some of my fondest childhood memories are being shown around the precinct or being driven around in a patrol car. I absolutely HATED going to Hebrew School and later private tutoring lessons, but in hindsight I am unbelievably grateful to have had that opportunity and a strong Jewish culture to be a part of.
Describe one or two leadership development experiences you have had at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and how did you grow from them?
The most formative leadership development experience I had at the Academy took place during my 2/c Cadre Summer. As a Platoon Commander, I was responsible for the Swabs of Golf Platoon and my classmates who worked alongside me. One day, it was revealed to me that some Cadre, my classmates, had not conducted an evolution the way we had planned. Tired, hungry, and angry, I asked if the 3 of them (also tired, hungry, and angry) could meet with me so we could debrief. Being incompletely informed of what had happened, failing to prepare before the meeting, and acting emotionally, it was the worst and most unproductive conversation/shouting match I have ever had, and everyone left feeling worse off. The only good decision I made during the whole ordeal was cutting our losses, having everyone agree to leave and go get lunch, and planning to return to the conversation after. After taking a breather, we were able to have a productive meeting and eventually, although not for a couple of days, we made amends.
I have returned to that abject failure of a leadership experience repeatedly over the past 2-years. From it, I learned 1) never to make a decision before you have to, 2) to get as much information as you can before making any judgment, 3) to check your ego at the door and keep your personal emotions out of it (to a healthy extent), and 4) to make sure your people have enough sleep and full stomachs. Those classmates and I laugh about it to this day, but reflecting back on it there is always more to learn. The Academy is such a unique free-to-fail environment, and I am happy I took advantage and messed some things up.
Tell us about your goals during your last year at the Academy and future U.S. Coast Guard service:
As my last year at the Academy comes to a close, my primary goal is to lead my Lacrosse team to our first NEWMAC Championship. We are currently 3-1 in conference and are getting better every day. As I prepare to join the fleet, I want to transfer that team first mentality over to the USCGC MIDGETT in Honolulu, HI. I understand that I am joining an operational unit, so my ambition is to find out what they need to make their team more complete and flex to fill that role. Long-term, I am interested in PATFORSWA, black hulls, or maybe Law School. More than anything, I want to feel good about what I am doing.
If you had one piece of advice on leadership for underclass cadets, what would it be?
One piece of advice I want to leave behind for underclass cadets is to actively identify spaces where someone is needed and become that someone. When cadets talk about leadership, we often restrict the conversation to formal roles (Guidon Bearer, Company Commander, Regimental Staff, etc.) We too often forget about being a role model 3/c to your 4/c, leading by example on the lacrosse field, and those other informal spaces. Having filled my share of formal and informal roles, I contend that those informal spaces often provide more utility and offer more growth than those formal positions. Challenge yourself to find a space where you can better our collective CGA team.
How are you “Leading Self or Leading Others” and taking care of people during these challenging times?
As the challenges of COVID-19 appear to be making way for new challenges, I identify the stress of returning to the normal rigors of Academy life as the primary challenge facing cadets today. As a member of the only current pre-COVID class, I am trying my best to leverage my 4/c experiences to help navigate my teammates and company mates through balancing academics, athletics, and military obligations. As the Lacrosse team captain, the biggest area of focus for me is showing our 4/c, through my words and actions, that the Academy should be challenging and time consuming – and if it is not you are doing something wrong - but you need to allow yourself time to relax with your classmates and build those relationships.
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***Founded in 2005, the Admiral James M. Loy Institute for Leadership (IFL) both complements and supplements leader development at the Coast Guard Academy through trainings, co-curricular programs, research, and publication efforts. The Loy IFL posts cadet profiles each week to highlight our cadets and showcase some of the cadet leader development taking place at the Academy. Follow us to learn more about the Loy IFL and leader development at the Coast Guard Academy.***
