My favorite Fourth of July memories go back to when I was a kid. Each year, we’d head to my grandparents’ house for a full day of grilling out, laughing with cousins, and lighting fireworks and sparklers once the sun went down. It wasn’t fancy. Just family, friends, and a cul-de-sac full of simple celebration, and that was more than enough.
Back then, before I spent a career in the military, I wasn’t thinking about the meaning behind the holiday. And maybe that’s okay at that stage in life. But now more than ever, I believe it’s important to remember what the Fourth of July truly represents and to never lose sight of the fact that freedom has a cost.
Independence Day marks a turning point in world history. It commemorates the moment our founders took a stand, risking everything to declare independence from England. What followed was war, bloodshed, and hardship. The men who signed that Declaration weren’t playing politics. They were stepping into the unknown with full knowledge of the weight they’d carry – mentally, physically, and spiritually. And every generation since has had to carry some version of that same weight.
That’s what leadership requires.
Freedom always comes with a burden – and someone has to carry it.
In every arena of life, real leadership costs something. It might cost you comfort. It might cost you popularity, convenience, or even safety. And in nearly every case, it will cost you your ease – because leadership and adversity go hand in hand. No one ever grew stronger or more resilient by taking the easy road. True leadership is forged in challenge, pressure, and resistance.
We live in a time when cultural leadership – chasing likes, applause, and self-promotion – gets far more attention than freedom-based leadership, which is rooted in sacrifice, service, and a vision beyond self.
Can you imagine George Washington pausing to film a selfie after Yorktown, even if the technology existed? Of course not! The victory wasn’t about him. It was about the men beside him, and the future ahead of them. And that’s the kind of leadership we need more of today.
As we wrap up the celebration of America’s 249th birthday, we’d do well to remember that we cannot expect the fruit of freedom if we forget the root of sacrifice.
So what does freedom-leadership look like today? At Freedom Ops, we build it on five timeless principles we’ve learned through the F3 Nation – the 5Cs of Virtuous Leadership:
- Candor: Speak truth, even when it’s costly.
- Commitment: Stay the course when it’s hard.
- Consistency: Lead with integrity, not convenience.
- Contentment: Lead without ego, entitlement, or the need for recognition.
- Courage: Step up when others shrink back – and be willing to sacrifice for something greater than yourself.
These aren’t just ideas – they were the way our founders lived and led. And they should guide every man who wants to lead well in his home, his workplace, and his community today.
You don’t need a uniform or a battlefield.
You need a backbone and a mission. A Task and a Purpose!
At Freedom Ops, we train men who don’t take freedom for granted. We carry heavy things. We embrace responsibility. We overcome adversity. Because we know: freedom isn’t just a right – it’s a responsibility.
So this year, don’t just celebrate freedom. Live like someone who would fight for it.
By: Jim (Major Payne) Gregory, GTE Cadre & Trainer
Written: 4 JUL 2025