Amid the “Sea of Goodwill”

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder and president of Give an Hour

Special to Veterans Advantage

Most Americans are unaware that Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and our highest ranking military official, spends a considerable amount of time visiting communities across the country and engaging our citizens in conversation about the issues affecting the men, women, and families who serve our country. I had the pleasure of attending two of Admiral Mullen’s “conversations” with my fellow citizens on a recent trip to Boise, Idaho.

The Admiral made the trip despite all that is piled on his global plate. Operations in Iraq may be winding down, but there are still nearly 50,000 U.S. troops deployed to that country and the heavy lifting of nation building continues. By the Admiral’s own account, Afghanistan remains the most dangerous region in the world. It is difficult to imagine that we will be able to leave that war-torn country any time soon. Furthermore, our armed forces are now engaged in the conflict that recently erupted in Libya—for how long and to what extent is still unclear.  And, at the same time, thousands of our service personnel have been deployed to Japan to assist our ally during this time of crisis and need.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his wife Deborah during a town hall meeting with the families of Boise

So while much of Admiral Mullen’s time is spent advising our President, testifying before Congress, consulting with other world leaders, and developing strategies to respond to the ever growing demands on our military, he somehow found time to listen to the citizens of Boise. He found time to hear the concerns of the mother of an injured marine and respond to a global policy question from a college student.

Admiral Mullen is in the final months of what has been a long and challenging tour of duty. He is expected to step down from his position as Chairman—a position that he has held since 2007—at the end of this year.  Admiral Mullen doesn’t need to prove anything , and he doesn’t need anyone’s vote. The work he is doing across our country is barely noticed by the major media, and it is probably not appreciated by the lawmakers who regularly grill him on questions of foreign policy and strategy.

Watching Admiral Mullen, one clearly sees the reason for his efforts. He is a man who cares deeply for the men, women, and families who are in his charge.  He is a leader who realizes that we must do a better job of caring for those who bear the burden of war if we are to maintain a strong military presence. And he is a problem solver who knows that the only way we can effectively care for our military is by engaging the civilian community to step up, fill gaps, and more comprehensively support the sacrifices of those who serve our country. Admiral Mullen understands that there are no shortcuts in this effort. We must raise awareness and harness the “sea of goodwill” that he so often refers to in speeches, one community at a time.

The Chairman is not alone on his mission to raise awareness and facilitate community engagement. His wife, Deborah, often accompanies him into communities. Indeed, Deborah Mullen is an active participant in the campaign to raise awareness and create a comprehensive system of care for those who serve. She is articulate, knowledgeable, and impressive in expressing her perspective on the strengths of military families and the challenges they face during deployment and reintegration. She is highly regarded within the military community, as well as within the community of organizations working to address these issues.

Admiral Mullen has also gathered a staff of compassionate and dedicated men and women who travel the country identifying efforts and individuals that reflect the Chairman’s vision and message. This remarkable team not only identifies programs that are making a difference in the lives of service members and their families, but also connects these programs and community leaders to like-minded individuals in other states and other communities. By engaging in this national networking effort, Admiral Mullen is creating a collection of the willing, interested, and able: visionaries who see the needs in their own communities, who share a concern for returning troops and their families, and who have stepped up to create solutions and opportunities.

So what do Admiral Mullen’s conversations with communities look like? The two that I attended were similar in structure, though the audiences differed. The first event was a lunch for civic leaders, featuring Admiral Mullen as speaker. The room was filled to capacity, with about 650 attendees excited to hear what the Chairman had to say. The second event was a Town Hall gathering held at Boise State University. The audience was a mixture of students, community members, and veterans and family members.  As I wandered through the crowd at both venues, I heard snippets of conversations. People wondered why the Admiral had chosen Boise, and they wondered if he would respond to the tough questions that might be asked.

For each event, Admiral Mullen took the stage and spoke for a few minutes about his own journey through the military. He spoke about the differences between current military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and prior engagements like the Vietnam War. He reflected on the character of the current force—how they are the finest men and women he has ever served with—and his certainty that these men and women will continue to lead our country long after they come home from their mission. He spoke about how those who serve and their families deserve our appreciation and support. And he spoke about the visible and invisible injuries that come home from battle.

Admiral Mullen is a wonderful speaker who is very easy to listen to. He has a gentle style and a nice sense of humor. His presentation immediately feels more like a conversation than a lecture. He invites the audience to share their thoughts and concerns. It is clear that he will attempt to answer their questions. It is equally clear that he hopes to inspire those who listen to do more for those who serve.

The audience then posed many , often challenging, questions. I was impressed with the depth of knowledge and sophistication reflected by the questions. The citizens of Boise came prepared. They were eager to listen and eager to be heard. I was equally impressed with the respect they gave their guest. Everyone began by thanking the Admiral for his attendance or by commenting on the honor they felt in his presence. Even those who expressed a disagreement with Department of Defense practice or policy conveyed their disagreement with civility and respect. One gentleman—who had served in the army—was especially moved by the opportunity to share his thoughts with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He talked poignantly of a prior era when those in uniform were discouraged from speaking truth to power.

 Admiral Mullen responded to the audience with dignity and grace. His answers were thoughtful, courteous, at times funny, and always respectful. He took all questions and inquiries seriously. When a veteran or military family member shared a difficulty he or she was having with either the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs, Admiral Mullen listened carefully and then tasked someone from his staff to follow up on the issue.

Toward the end of a very long day of questions and answers, one member of the audience asked how we might keep the momentum going once Admiral Mullen leaves his current position and his voice no longer leads our way. Admiral Mullen was humble in response, declining credit for the progress or the momentum. Rather, he expressed certainty that there are many who will continue to push these issues forward. He also hinted that he and Deborah may continue to lend their energy and their voices to this important mission.

I left Boise feeling proud. While there is much that remains to be done, we are making progress in caring for those who serve and their families. We have impressive and effective leaders—like Admiral and Mrs. Mullen—who can inspire those who seek support and direction. And we have hardworking and creative citizens—who will do the heavy lifting required to ensure that this mission succeeds.

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