Faith and Leadership

Captain Lakeatta Tonge is an active duty service member, wife, and mother of four! Her children range from 24 down to the newest edition at age 5 months! Lakeatta is a licensed minister and has been for 2 years. She loves to pray, encourage, and mentor to anyone who God places in my path. There is a cliché that says “some leaders are born and some are made”. Lakeatta believes that she was born to lead as she feels it is in her blood. She does it without thinking. She believes many people are unaware of the simple acts of leadership and one that she feel’s is vital to any leader…leading from behind. Lakeatta is also a registered nurse, working in the labor and delivery field. Currently she serves as the nurse manager of the OB/GYN clinic. Her plate is full with management, leadership, and mentoring…and she loves it! A great leader will always find ways to help out, encourage, and make a difference. She thinks she has learned from the best!  Lakeatta Tonge can be reached at lakeatta.tonge_02@yahoo.com

I left home and headed for the military after losing my son to a terminal illness. The military was not a place I ever saw myself joining or becoming a part of. However, after such a tragedy my faith was all I had to lead and guide me. I was raised by my grandparents who taught me my greatest life lesson; how to trust God above all things.

Genesis 12:1: The Lord said to Abram, “go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you”.

In 1996, I found myself embarking on a journey that I was not familiar with. I entered basic training alone, all I had was my faith and life lessons imparted to me by my grandparents. The road ahead was long and the tasks were tough. I couldn’t quit, even when I wanted too. The alternative to return home was not an option. My mentors were scarce but the few I did acquire were absolutely amazing. My first duty station landed me in Landstuhl, Germany; clearly out of my country and far away from home. I knew God did this on purpose. I knew He wanted me away from distractions where He could speak and I could listen, “loud and clear.” One of my first supervisors was an Army SNCO who had no clue of what I needed for training, competency or career progression. That’s when my First Sergeant stepped in to lend me the helping hand I needed. I was a hard worker and didn’t take “no” for an answer. I won my first quarter award as an Airman First Class that was submitted by my First Sergeant because my supervisor was unskilled in preparing an awards package.

I changed positions after 9 months, which wasn’t the norm during that era. We were required to stay in one job/section for at least 18 months. I was given an extraordinary opportunity to be the assistant to an Army Lt. Col in a group level program. Her name was Lt. Col Lee. She was more than a supervisor; she was a mentor and the leader I needed for this season. She taught me how to manage my bank account. Her guidance helped me purchase my first brand new car as a Senior Airman. It was amazing because she taught me basic life skills I had not been exposed too. She literally forced me to go back to college. She gave me goals until I made my own. This was the first time I saw the impact of having great leadership and knowing firsthand how important leaders are to our careers. At the time, SMSgt Gadditis was my superintendent; he introduced me to Aeromedical Evacuation (AE). After 4 years, I contemplated separating from the Air Force when SMSgt Gadditis asked if I would consider giving the AF just one more assignment. He asked me to try AE. AE has proven to have been the assignment which turned my career into this awesome journey I’m currently on.

God told me to “leave home to a place He would show me” and He did just that. My first assignment was the only assignment I did not “choose.” When I prayed about my AE assignment, God gave me one location: Ramstein, Germany. I was instructed to submit more than one location to the personnel center making my options broader. Stepping out on my faith, my list consisted of the only location I believe I was instructed to submit and I got it. Trusting God is a challenge when others around you don’t have the faith you have. I knew from very early in my career God places me where He wanted me to be, the place where I can make the greatest impact fulfilling the purpose He has given me. When it was time for me to leave Ramstein, I knew I wanted to be a “teacher.”

I was fascinated by the thought of impacting others careers in the way the leaders in my career had helped me. I remember having four choices and I placed them in a folder. I took this folder to prayer one night at church and prayed over them. I asked God to close every door but the door He wanted me to go through. I applied for a very competitive assignment as a technical school instructor at the AE school house in Brooks City Base in Texas. I wasn’t an AE instructor or an evaluator at my current assignment and the others who applied in my unit were. To my surprise and the surprise of others, I got the job. The explanation was “you were the least qualified.” Imagine that.

Psalms 37:23; “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way”.

I didn’t know what lay ahead at Brooks City Base for me, but God did. Being an instructor did a number of amazing things for both me and my career. It forced me to go back to school and complete my associate’s degree. Can you believe this was the first time I had ever “walked the stage?” I remember the officer’s in my unit being so excited for me; it took me a while to understand. Once again I had two great mentors who had a huge impact on my life and career. Majors (at the time) Campbell and Baer insisted I complete school and apply for my commission. This was the farthest thing from my mind. The more they spoke to me about it, the more of a reality it seemed. Once again I was at a cross road and needed to choose my career path. Was it going to be physician assistant or nursing?

God chose nursing. I knew it was God because the PA door closed and closed hard. I submitted my commissioning package at the half way mark of my assignment. Not sure if I was going to get accepted the first time, I was nervous. However, God knew it was either commission me or separate me. I was one of 50 airmen who were accepted to the first round of the Nursing Education Commissioning Program. It was a great day in the AF!

Luke 12:48; “when someone has been given much, of him much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required”.

Being an officer in the Air Force has changed how I look at people and how I interact with them. At this point in my life, I live to mentor, impart, encourage, and up-lift everyone who crosses my path. This is why I believe God allowed me to be a clinical Nurse Manager as a First Lieutenant. Not knowing anything about outpatient clinic; not to mention how to run a clinic, God knew He could trust me with much. I wouldn’t change anything about my career; the people I have met (good or bad), my assignments, jobs or all that I have learned along this 19 year journey. My career is a true reflection of my faith.

Romans 13:1; “all of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God.

Lastly, I have learned how to be a leader from the back seat. All leaders were not groomed to lead. A great mentor once told me “the best leaders are those who know how to follow others lead”. As a junior officer, even with over 19 years in the military I respect the leaders that are in position for several reasons. First, God said so. Every leader will teach you something different. Either they will teach you how to be a good leader, a bad leader or very few will teach how to be exceptional. Then there is the rule of “karma”. I do my best to be a great follower and to give suggestions along the way. I stray away from negativity and tearing down our leaders for one very powerful reason; I too will get a chance to lead. What I sew as a follower, I will reap as a leader. Sew wisely.

Leading with you,

Dean

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