Post by Devon Robinson, MSL, BSL, ASL

This article explores a powerful leadership principle shared by CSM Keyon Cummings: “The icon must do what the icon is designed to do.” Through a personal deployment training story, it illustrates how mission success depends on every Soldier mastering their role; not trying to do someone else’s. The article also warns leaders against using relationships, likership, or favoritism when assigning roles, as this creates misalignment, burnout, and organizational weakness. True leadership means aligning people with positions based on skill, purpose, and design so the entire team can operate with trust, precision, and unity.