Who’s Got Your 6?

Originally Published on LinkedIn 18 December 2025

You probably have heard the term "Got your 6"... It started out as a military term, originated with American fighter pilots in World War I, using analog clock positions to mean "I have your back" or "I'm watching your vulnerable rear (6 o'clock)" against enemies, evolving into a broader military and civilian expression of loyalty, protection, support...

I learned early on, after leaving the military, Got your 6, unfortunately, looked more like CYA in the civilian community!

We often celebrate sponsors who speak our names in rooms we are not in. We’re told that is how doors open and careers move forward. And that matters.

But there is another role we really don't ever talk about. Who is willing to defend your name when you are not there to defend yourself?

Praise is easy when it is convenient or advantageous. Defense requires COURAGE. It means interrupting a narrative that is drifting toward misrepresentation. It means correcting a half-truth, challenging quiet character erosion, or refusing to let silence become consent. That kind of advocacy carries risk, and not everyone is willing to take it.

Sponsorship brings visibility. Defense protects credibility. One helps you rise. The other ensures you are not diminished along the way.

In systems shaped by power, bias, and politics, reputations are often negotiated rather than earned. The people who matter most are not just the ones who celebrate your work publicly, but the ones who anchor conversations back to truth when your work is minimized or your intentions are questioned.

As leaders, mentors, and colleagues, this is a moment for reflection. Courage to speak in defense of others unable to defend themselves when others remain comfortable in silence is a rare gift and that distinction is not subtle. It is the difference between influence and integrity.