Colin Powell: Military Leader, StatesmanThe question "What makes a great leader?" is without a single answer. Effective leaders in the business and political arenas deserve praise, but due to the nature of their work, military leaders are arguably more complex and intriguing. “Military leadership qualities are formed in a progressive, sequential series of training, education, and experiential events, much more time-consuming and expensive than similar training courses in industry or government. Second, military leaders tend to hold high levels of responsibility and authority at the lowest levels of our organizations. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, military leadership is based on the concept of duty, service and self-sacrifice; we take an oath to this effect. “There is no formula for leadership as great leaders have different leadership styles. When it comes to military leaders and what makes them great success stories, their personalities range from flamboyant and bold to reserved and cautious in battle. Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem in the spring of 1937. After an unremarkable childhood and adolescence, Powell entered City College, New York, where he found a position in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Then, after rising to the rank of cadet colonel, the highest rank obtainable in the corps, Powell graduated at the top of his class. His background as an underprivileged African American makes him an intriguing military leader as he had to work hard, remain patient, and look racism in the eye every day. Powell's start to his career was quite ordinary as he was not set up for success like some great leaders. Since graduating, Po... center of paper... has taken care of countless times, from his days as a cadet colonel at City College, to the invasion of Iraq, there have been situations where he has shined and handled with grace. The pages of history books are filled with ordinary people who became unlikely heroes or leaders. His concepts of duty, service, and personal sacrifice appear to be what segregates him among elite leaders. Colin Powell overcame many situations that would have been seen as an obstacle and an ignored reason for not accomplishing what he did; however it is a very important part of the development he has undergone to get to where he is now in life. As a product of all his character traits, personal values, including his demeanor, sense of honor and thorough preparation, Colin Powell developed from a leader, into what some might say is the greatest leader of the 20th century..