A Gentleman and An Officer
In 1983, a young twelve-year-old boy from Egypt immigrated to America with his family in search of opportunity. His initial impressions? “Big, vast, profound.” His father worked two jobs to support the family and young Sherif quickly took up a paper route to do his part to help. He was an average student who played sports and wrestled in high school.
There is nothing ‘average’ about this man today. Meet US Marine Corps Major, Sherif Aziz. A devoted family man, a focused professional, and an enigmatic leader. He grew up in a simple, humble, and disciplined home. The fundamental tenets of these values are apparent in this soft spoken, and quietly reflective Marine.
Much to the chagrin of his father, he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a young eighteen-year-old. Bootcamp was a bear. While physically exhausting, the mental part was a greater challenge. “They tear you down, to build you back up again,” he remarked. “Being a Marine is a calling not a job — it’s about selfless service,” he said with pride.
He rose quickly through the ranks, as his officers saw his understated potential. He married his best friend and went on to get his Masters and serve five tours of duty, primarily in Iraq, during the war. It was difficult to be gone, not knowing when he would see his family again. These are the sacrifices these proud men and women make so we can be safe at home. The sad part? We tend to take these sacrifices for granted.
It was remarkable that as we spoke about leadership, he spoke about the importance of being a good follower. Even though it was a paradigm shift in my mind, it is a key principle for all Marines. Fundamentally, he said, good leaders should be excellent communicators, fair across the board, and foster ideas. Good leaders should also learn from their failures — and the failure of others — and must intuitively understand people in order to bring out the best in them. At the end of the day, good leaders lead by example and inspire others to do their very best.
US Marines abide by a code that focuses on selfless sacrifice and a mental toughness that is not for the faint of heart. A glimpse of that toughness shone through as Sherif recently finished the Marine Corps marathon. “I hit a wall, about the twenty mile mark,” he stated. That’s when he had to dig deep to make it through the home stretch and manage his emotions as he crossed the finish line. After all, there is no ‘quit’ in a Marine.
I watched Sherif as he spoke in a quiet tone about his love for his wife, Angie — the wind in his sails — and his two beautiful girls. I have seen Sherif and Angie together on more than one occasion, and the dynamics of their relationship is very special. He knows that getting deployed is going to be harder now, as he stands to miss out on a phase of the growth of his daughters at a young impressionable age. However, when duty calls he will be up to the task. That’s the essence of the man, that’s the spirit of this Marine.
I walked away particularly impressed by this distinguished Officer and his twenty-plus years of service to this great country. I was personally touched by the essence of this Gentleman — Humble. Simple. Disciplined.
Thank you for your service, and for your many sacrifices, my friend.
Insights: 10 Questions
- What drives you?
New challenges: opportunities to lead, follow, learn - If you had to go to the moon and take a single piece of music with you what would you take and why?
The Black Eyed Peas: “Let’s Get it Started” - If you were a cocktail, how would you describe yourself?
Black and Tan - Who in the world would you most like to sit down and have a drink with — living or dead?
Abe Lincoln and Anwar Sadat - Single piece of advice to for young people?
Life is short, seize the day - Who’s career do you envy and why?
Nobody; I respect service personnel — Educators, Military, and others - When you were 16-years-old, what did you most often get in trouble for?
I did not get into trouble (Editor’s note: I find that easy to believe) - If there were one word to describe your family life growing up as a child, what would it be?
Simple. Loving. Humble - What is the most important thing you remember about your first love?
My ONLY love — she makes me fly - What would you like your legacy to be?
Loving father, committed husband, and honest friend
About Hemant Rustogi