The Drill Sergeant Major (DSM) is the second-in-command of the 254 King's-Edgehill School Highland Cadet Corps. Master Warrant Officer Fox Sullivan '24 serves as our DSM and is a prefect at our school. Today he shares leadership advice he has learned by taking an optimistic approach to leading others. Our Commanding Officer (CO), Captain James Skafte, sat down with Fox to chat. Here is the interview.
CO: Thanks for taking the time to meet today. We want to learn more about your leadership role as the DSM of 254 King’s-Edgehill School Highland Cadet Corps. We would love to find out from you what it takes to become a great leader as the second-in-command of the largest cadet corps in the province.
CO: Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. My first question is, do you have a driver's license?
DSM: Yes, I do! I just got my license in November.
CO: Do you enjoy driving?
DSM: I sure do. When I first began driving, I didn’t enjoy it very much, but it has certainly become important to me!
CO: Fox, you are heavily involved in sports. What are your favourite sports?
DSM: I’d say my favourite sport is snowboarding, but volleyball is up there with it! I used to snowboard for the provincial team but this year I decided to take a role with our varsity team. I started playing volleyball two years ago and I really enjoy it!
CO: What’s your favourite board game?
DSM: I’d say Risk! I’m a big Risk guy! I love the strategy.
CO: What evening snack do you love the most?
DSM: Any type of fruit around the house! I’m really big on eating fruit.
CO: What is your hometown?
DSM: It's just outside of town in Windsor Forks.
CO: Do you have any siblings?
DSM: Yes!
CO: When did you start at King’s-Edgehill School? Could you tell us about your early years here?
DSM: I started here in September of 2017. I have been here for much of my life and it shaped me into becoming the person that I am today. There are many life lessons that I’ve learned at KES. Being involved in so many extracurricular activities as well as being a part of the School has also shaped me as a person.
CO: We do a lot here to develop well-rounded individuals. Could you tell us more about the education that you receive as a student?
DSM: Every student has a part in arts, academics, sports, leadership, and cadets because you are thrown into it right from the start. It’s a great place to grow.
CO: Yes, it’s a very comprehensive education. You are a huge part of the cadet program as second-in-command of the 254. When did you decide that you wanted to pursue a senior leadership appointment in the corps?
DSM: In my Grade 10 year Greg Otto '22 was the DSM and I looked up to him and saw him as a very comprehensive leader. I decided that I would like to pursue the role of DSM because of the type of person who I associate that role with. Greg was definitely a great leader.
CO: That was Grade 10. What was your role the following year in Grade 11?
DSM: In Grade 11 I was the Drill Instructor Warrant Officer!
CO: Very well done. What responsibilities did you have in your leadership role as the Drill Instructor Warrant Officer?
DSM: I would start off the parade on cadet days getting everything in order before the RSM (highest ranking cadet) would march onto the parade, as well as supervising, teaching drill, and a lot of supervision.
CO: You are in Grade 12 and are now the DSM of the corps. In your senior leadership position, you set a very high standard for others to follow. What’s the best way to set an example for other students to follow?
DSM: It's about focusing on your individual skills and refining them so that you can be a great example to others.
CO: That is great advice to follow! Who are your role models?
DSM: My role models are definitely my parents. They set a very concrete foundation for who I want to be as a person. Both philosophically and how they pursue their own lives. I’d like to reflect that in my own life.
CO: Your parents truly have been a tremendous influence on you. Who are your role models at King’s-Edgehill School and how they have influenced your life?
DSM: I would say a huge influence on me has been past student leaders. There have been so many great leaders who I have looked up to over my six years here at KES. One leader who stands out was in my second year. It was Head Student, Nick Cheverie '19. He was a great leader, a friendly guy, my prefect buddy and I’ve always looked up to him. I try to emulate what I learned from Nick as what a great leader looks like.
CO: You have seen great leadership developed here. What leadership advice as a DSM can you offer others? How can someone become a great leader?
DSM: There are a few main things. It is very important to be optimistic. Having a positive outlook on a situation can bring up the morale of those you lead. It can help others to keenly want to be in a leadership position like you are one day. When they see someone in a leadership position being happy about where they are they are going to replicate it and feel better about themselves. Along with that, I would say adaptability. This is because you’re not always going to get the situation that you had thought out in your mind, or you were told is going to happen. You need to be able to change, understand the situation quickly, and make adjustments accordingly.
CO: Those are great words of leadership advice for us to follow. What are your future plans and where do you see yourself this fall?
DSM: Next year I am going to study at the University of King’s College to pursue the foundation program. Then after that, I’m going to major in classics and then academics. This will allow me to pursue my master's degree and possibly a PhD. It's not set in stone as I’m leaving a bit of a blank slate for my future dreams to come into effect. Ideally, I would like to become a professor but that’s a very competitive road to take.
CO: Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today and sharing great leadership advice.
DSM: Thank you very much!
Captain James Skafte
Commanding Officer
254 King's-Edgehill School Highland Cadet Corps
