- This event has passed.
From Cadet to Officer: Showing Up Ready to Lead
November 25 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Abstract
This leadership address challenges Royal Military College cadets to consider the legacy they are joining and the responsibility they are preparing to shoulder as commissioned officers. Opening with a reflective moment anchored in the College’s history, cadets are invited to see themselves within a larger continuum of service and to consider the impact they will make as leaders of Canada’s sons and <a href="http://daughters.
Drawing” target=”_blank” title=”daughters.
Drawing”>daughters.
Drawing on the speaker’s own Military Collage experience, the talk describes how life at the College — teamwork, enduring relationships across cohorts, the discipline of prioritization, and the sharpening of roles and responsibilities — prepares cadets for the realities of unit <a href="http://leadership.
The” target=”_blank” title=”leadership.
The”>leadership.
The session also draws from Burt’s Bullets, a widely read LinkedIn collection of lessons learned in leadership — insights gained through experience, reading, observing, teachings, and stories from the field that proved effective in <a href="http://practice.
Building” target=”_blank” title=”practice.
Building”>practice.
Building from these lessons, the presentation explores four essential ways young officers must “show up” in their first unit:
Show Up Grounded – Lead with humility, respect, and <a href="http://presence.
Show” target=”_blank” title=”presence.
Show”>presence.
Show Up Authentic – Build trust through character, consistency, and <a href="http://honesty.
Show” target=”_blank” title=”honesty.
Show”>honesty.
Show Up Accountable – Earn respect through daily responsibility and <a href="http://integrity.
Show” target=”_blank” title=”integrity.
Show”>integrity.
Show Up Curious – Cultivate the mindset that accelerates learning and builds <a href="http://credibility.
Blending” target=”_blank” title=”credibility.
Blending”>credibility.
Blending lived experience with practical guidance, the session equips cadets with clear, memorable principles to help them navigate the transition from student to officer and closes with a call to embrace their commission with purpose, courage, and lasting <a href="http://impact.
Bio
COLONEL” target=”_blank” title=”impact.
Bio
COLONEL”>impact.
Bio
COLONEL (ret) GREGORY D. BURT, OMM, MSM, CD
(Integral Master CoachTM, MPA, MA, BAdmin, CRM)
Colonel (ret’d) Gregory Burt, originally from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, joined the Canadian Forces in 1980 and received his commission from the Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean in 1985. Over a 35-year military career, he served in a broad range of operational, regimental, staff, and strategic leadership roles across Canada and <a href="http://internationally.
His” target=”_blank” title=”internationally.
His”>internationally.
His early career included platoon command and duty officer responsibilities in Cyprus with 2 R22eR, followed by service in Lahr, Germany with 1 R22eR as platoon commander and reconnaissance platoon commander. He later joined the Canadian Airborne Regiment, deploying to Somalia as Second-in-Command of 1 Commando, and subsequently served as Regimental Adjutant and Officer Commanding Combat Support Company. He returned to 2 R22eR as a company commander on operations in the former Yugoslavia then upon his return over the following two years commanded a rifle company and Combat Service Support <a href="http://Company.
He” target=”_blank” title=”Company.
He”>Company.
He commanded the Land Force Quebec Area Training Centre from 2001 to 2004 and, in 2009, deployed to Afghanistan as the Commanding Officer of the Operational Mentor and Liaison <a href="http://Team.
His” target=”_blank” title=”Team.
His”>Team.
His staff appointments included roles at the R22eR Battle School, British 3 (UK) Division Headquarters in Bosnia and the UK, Director Land Strategic Concepts in Kingston, and multiple senior positions at National Defence Headquarters. Promoted to Colonel in 2006, he became Director Defence Strategy Management, later Chief of Staff of Land Force Québec Area / Joint Task Force (East), and concurrently served as Director of Infantry for the Canadian <a href="http://Army.
He” target=”_blank” title=”Army.
He”>Army.
He also held senior intelligence and strategic planning roles before becoming the first Commander of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Group in 2013, leading its creation and establishment until his retirement in 2015.
Since leaving the military, Colonel Burt has worked as a consultant specializing in leadership of complex operations, strategy formulation, strategic planning, risk and change management, organizational design, and capability development. He has supported global defence capacity-building programs, intelligence coordination initiatives, and future C2 concept development for Defence Research and Development <a href="http://Canada.
He” target=”_blank” title=”Canada.
He”>Canada.
He became an Integral Master Coach™ in 2023, transitioning into executive and professional development coaching. His coaching philosophy integrates four decades of leadership and strategic experience to help clients navigate complexity, take ownership of their professional growth, and lead with clarity, confidence, and <a href="http://impact.
Colonel” target=”_blank” title=”impact.
Colonel”>impact.
Colonel Burt holds degrees from CMR, King’s College London, and the École nationale d’administration publique, and is certified as both a Risk Manager and Integral Professional Coach. His leadership has been recognized through the Order of Military Merit (OMM) and the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).
Bldg: RMC Cadet Mess, Kingston, Ontario, Canada