Rat Line Lessons and the Value of Self-Reflection: An In-Depth Interview with 2nd Lt. Derek Shockey, ’22

2022 first battalion executive officer and international studies major 2nd Lt. Derek Shockey is interning at the center through October 10th and making major contributions to three of the active learning sessions for the Annual Leadership Conference titled "Principled Dissent: Navigating Moral Challenges." His academic research for his national security and Asian studies minor was great preparation for the work he's doing, which we will discuss during this interview. We will also talk in-depth about how his rat year focus, which for every cadet is on followership, became a foundation for his leadership journey at VMI.  More specifically, learning how to be a courageous follower. We will hear about an incident that involved a leadership failure and how he recovered from that to become the First Class battalion executive officer and now an assistant tactical officer advising and supporting the 2023 First Class officers. Shockey does a great job relating his own personal journey to the VMI's prescribed leadership development journey. During our conversation, you'll hear some great insights on the differences and learning outcomes, too, of pursuing leadership opportunities in both the class and regimental systems at VMI. In short, it's a powerful interview full of leadership insights and a preview of the center's programming for the upcoming academic year. This interview and our conversation are part of the center's year-long look at "The Courage of Convictions." For more information, please visit our VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics departmental website.