#53: Green Beret Leader “Chuy” Almonte Shares Lessons About Keeping His Family Strong and Close

I recently met SGM Jesus “Chuy” Almonte at a leadership conference in Fayetteville, NC. He was asked to sit on a panel of military leaders advising chaplains on how to more effectively care for Soldiers and Families. As I listened to Chuy, two things became immediately clear to me. First, this guy is serious about good leadership, and second, this guy loves his family. As a senior Green Beret, I was curious to know how he and his wife have navigated the challenges of raising a family of 5 children, with 1 on the way, while serving under the rigorous demands of leadership inside Special Forces. I asked Chuy if he’d be willing to sit down after the conference and share some of his thoughts about that journey. In this conversation, Chuy shares about how his faith plays a central role in equipping and empowering him and his wife as they raise their kids within the challenging context of military service. He also shares some of the leadership techniques he and his wife have learned along the way that help keep their family strong and close. I asked him to explain how he views success for his children, and how he is teaching his sons to become men. There’s a special bonus included in this conversation: the consummate military professional, Chuy sings a classic old school double time cadence for us. You’re going to love it.