Welcome back to Five Questions for a General, a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. This series features specially selected cadet hosts who are given an incredible professional development opportunity—to sit down with senior military officers and ask carefully crafted questions about everything from leadership to their unique experiences while serving to their expectations about the future of war.

In this episode with host Cadet Olivia Hanson, retired Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead reflects on a remarkable Army career that began when her mother encouraged her to apply to West Point as the academy was first opening its doors to women. A member of the Class of 1981, Halstead discusses the challenges of being among West Point’s earliest female graduates, the perseverance that carried her through those experiences, and the lessons she later applied while leading soldiers from the company level through service as a commanding general in Iraq. She shares her belief that leaders must first lead themselves, explains why demanding high standards should never mean demeaning people, and describes her enduring STEADFAST leadership philosophy, built around values including discipline, accountability, teamwork, faith, family, and friends. Halstead also speaks candidly about the role faith has played throughout her life and leadership, including a powerful experience counseling a soldier grieving the death of a friend in combat. She closes with advice for cadets and young officers: Never stop learning, remain grateful and humble, develop others without worrying about whether they surpass you, be true to yourself, and measure your progress against the person you were yesterday rather than against everyone around you.