Adapt and Overcome
by Nick Ryan
Senior Advisor
US Army (‘12 - ‘16)
As an Infantry Officer, there’s a mantra drilled into you from day one of basic training: adapt and overcome. You’re taught that no plan survives first contact with the enemy, and thus, should prepare yourself and those in your charge accordingly. I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit in recent days. In many ways, adapt and overcome has been an American mantra in 2020. As we approach the end of the most turbulent year in recent memory, it’s worth noting that despite a global pandemic, a national reckoning with systemic racism, and a historically fraught election, more Americans than ever engaged in our democracy and took a stand for their principles.
It’s been truly inspiring to watch veterans across the political spectrum choose the hard right over the easy wrong, even as so many others settled for the path of least resistance. No matter what social media or the nightly news would have us believe, there’s still a helluva lot of decency in politics.
Here at the New Politics Leadership Academy, we make a point of working with folks who embody servant leadership. In all of our programming, we talk about the significance of being cleareyed about one’s mission, vision, and values.
These conversations are one of my favorite parts of the job. Getting to hear what inspired members of our community to continue serving our country through politics grounds me in the importance of the work we do. Whether it’s a parent whose child suffered a health crisis or a veteran who realized they couldn’t tell their Soldiers what they were fighting for, these stories are deeply moving.
Above all, being able to engage in this work has given me a sense of purpose that reminds me of my time in the military. While I’ve traded out late night guard duty for late night conference calls, the camaraderie, urgency, and weight of the work is the same.
Seeing the integrity, drive, and perseverance of the veteran servant leaders I’ve gotten to work with this year reminds me that we will indeed pull through these crises and come out stronger on the other side.
We are so appreciative of you continuing to be a part of the NPLA family and supporting the next generation of servant leaders. I hope that this Veterans Day provides you the opportunity to reflect on not only the sacrifices veterans have made in uniform, but also the work that they continue to do in the public service arena.