Ataturk’s Leadership Traits

 

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, illustrated all the important facets of being an outstanding leader, guiding the nation through some of the darkest times. It is his lead that helped the people of Turkey believe that the goal of independence is real and attainable if believed by all.

A true leader empowers people around him so that they have the motivation needed to keep them working hard against all odds. Ataturk’s efforts to congregate the Turkish people who stood against the occupation and make them believe that they have the will and power to repel the enemy off is strong proof to this leadership trait. His quest throghout Anatolia united the Turks for one common goal while unleashing a strong desire for freedom.

Good leaders tend to lead by example. They never act behind the scenes. Instead, they always step onto the stage and show what needs to be done to his followers. Likewise, Ataturk did not prefer to lead from the command center idly; he descended into the field in order to fight alongside his fellow soldiers, orchestrating the charges on the enemy. Thereby, he made an example to follow, whatever the cost.

Being a good leader requires being a good listener. He cared about what others have to say about any decision he makes. Ataturk also made a habit of holding meetings where everybody’s opinion is counted for and discussed about. To him, letting people known that their voices are heard is of utmost importance to any democracy.

With the help of Ataturk’s wisdom and leadership, Turkey emerged victorious from its struggles as a democratic and sovereign country, ready to develop into a modern nation.

Tanks Are Still Relevant?

 Gone are the days when massive rows of tanks filled the battlefield to launch an armored attack. Recent developments in shoulder-launched anti-tank missile technology has demonstrated that the survivability of tanks diminishes rapidly.

Tanks are thought to be the spearhead of any infantry strike, softening enemy defenses with their firepower. World War Two has witnessed the heydey of tanks, when armored assaults with precise tactics proved decisive. A coordinated tank attack had a good chance of wrecking havoc in the enemy’s ranks.

Today’s battlefield has changed a lot compared to the days of World War Two thanks to advancements in warfare technology. We have stronger radars and UAVs to precisely detect the enemy’s whereabouts. A big column of tanks ready to strike will immediately sound the alarm for the opposition. Attack helicopters boasting a diverse range of anti-armor weapons have the capability to hunt the tanks from afar.

The war in Ukraine has shown that tanks fall victim to Manpads (shoulder-launched missiles) often. These missiles can lock on tanks from miles away. All the operator needs to do is push the trigger and forget. The missile guides itself to the target pretty much automatically. These missiles hit the tanks from above, where the armor's strength is weakest.

These and similar gadgets reduce the survivability of the tank dramatically. However, tactics and strategies on the battlefield are known to adapt to changing threats and conditions. A winning tactic can always be met with a counter-tactic that could potentially nullify the other. There is still room for the tank in today’s warfare theory. It only takes time for tactics to evolve and triump over each other.