Senior Officer Conducts Leader Development Seminar with Royal Warrior Cadets

Colonel Mark A. Rado, who commands the U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade headquartered at Fort Knox, Ky., addresses the cadre and cadets of the Royal Warrior Battalion during a Leader Professional Development seminar Oct. 4 on campus.

The Royal Warrior Battalion conducted a Leader Professional Development seminar focused on leadership on Oct. 4 for cadets and cadre. The session, held in Brennan Hall’s Pearn Auditorium, was led by Colonel Mark A. Rado, who currently commands the U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade headquartered at Fort Knox, Ky. A native of Long Island, N.Y., and a 1980 graduate of Wilkes University, Col. Rado has 27 years of active duty service as both an armor officer and adjutant general corps officer. Earning his commission through the Officer Candidate School in 1986, Col. Rado has held a wide range of career assignments, including two tours in the Pentagon on both the Army and Join Staffs, time spent as aide de camp to the Commanding General of U.S. Army Accessions Command, as well as deployments to Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Over the course of two hours, Col. Rado spoke to Royal Warrior cadets about his own military experiences and how those experiences shaped him as a leader and influenced many of his career decisions. He shared with the battalion his leadership philosophy, which focuses on the following key areas: soldiers, training, readiness, ethic, sustainment and safety. He challenged cadets and cadre to “know their trade, stay focused on the mission, never ask a soldier to do something they would not do or have not done, and stay fit: physically, mentally and morally.” Col. Rado also addressed what he termed “Rado’s Rules,” reminding future leaders of such key points as “integrity is non-negotiable, set and enforce standards, do your best all the time, promote teamwork and admit mistakes.”

 “Col. Rado taught me that it is never too late to try something new,” said Carina Hanks, a military science level IV cadet. “He believes that before you ask someone to do something you have to be willing to do it or have done it yourself. For example, Col. Rado will be completing the parachute team requirements because he is in charge of recruiting soldiers for the team. He is truly a leader that I would model myself after because of the way he carries himself, leads others, and treats and respects his soldiers."

Colonel Rado’s military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School and the Command and General Staff College. He received a master’s degree in strategic resources upon graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and has also attended Airborne School, the NBC Officer Course, and the Junior Officer Maintenance Course.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (Six Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the National Defense Service Medal, the South West Asia Service Medal (three Bronze Service Stars), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, both Kuwait Liberation Medals, the Joint Meritorious Service Award, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.