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UTAPAO, Thailand – Brig. Gen. Russell A. C. Sanborn has been a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps since May 1986. Starting with earning his wings in October 1988, to becoming the commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in July 2015, he has a decorated career filled with many accomplishments.
Yet these accomplishments have come in the face of much diversity.
On Feb. 9, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, Sanborn was shot down over southern Kuwait on his 17th combat mission with Marine Attack Squadron 231. He was captured and held as an Iraqi POW until his release on March 6, 1991. Many would guess this experience would be his career defining moment, but Sanborn disagrees.
Instead he attributes his most career-defining moment to the dedicated leadership from the commanding officer and executive officer of VMA-231 during Desert Storm.
“What I learned from those two gentlemen was all about Marine Corps leadership” said Sanborn, a DeLand, Florida native.
Sanborn realized then that he wanted to embody the same leadership traits he witnessed from those two gentlemen throughout his career, sharing that he still keeps in contact with them to this day.
From hosting professional military education classes for all his Marines and sailors, to constantly going out and meeting the service members under his charge, it is by consistently honing his leadership skills that led Sanborn to become the deputy commander of the multinational force for Exercise Cobra Gold, now in its 35th iteration.
Despite this being his first year participating in the exercise in his current position, Sanborn has an overall vision for Cobra Gold this year as well as for moving forward.
“We already have strong bonds and partnerships with our allies and I hope when we leave Cobra Gold [2016] that those same bonds and partnerships are…stronger. Just in case you ever need to pick up the phone and need help and need support, that we know each other, really know each other, and have worked together in the past.” said Sanborn.
This vision and realization of the importance of these relationships has transcended throughout Exercise Cobra Gold 2016. Although Sanborn says his defining moment wasn’t his time as a POW, it does influence some of his expectations for the exercise.
“The future may hold where a joint coalition combined force is put together that may have to come rescue you. I want to make sure they’re just as well trained as the ones that attempted to get me” said Sanborn.
When asked about the legacy he wanted to leave from his career, or from his time at Cobra Gold, Sanborn added, “It isn’t about me, but did we make a difference… did I bloom from where I was planted? I’m not looking for a long term legacy, just to do well where you are.”
His advice to those participating in Cobra Gold, and all service members is, “it’s about those challenges of rising up and being a leader, demonstrating mission success and doing something bigger than yourself.”
The exercise is only as strong as those who do their part. The ideologies Sanborn has are a real testament to his core values and have paid tribute to the overall success of Exercise Cobra Gold 16.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2016 02:09 |
| Story ID: | 188852 |
| Location: | UTAPAO, TH |
| Hometown: | DELAND, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Brig. Gen. Sanborn defines leadership in Cobra Gold, by SPC Tyler Main, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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