Would you rather be feared or respected as a leader?

My Marines are fiercely loyal to me, and fearful of my platoon Sgt. We are both SSgts I think that a solid mix of fear/respect is great. The Marines in my platoon will break their backs for us. Personally I would rather be respected than feared, but a fear of disappointing a leader is what drives me. I don't want to let anyone down. So I think that having the respect to the point you are scared to let someone down is the ultimate sign of a good leader. Someone that you respect so much it isn't them that you fear, you fear letting them down.

Interesting comparison you bought up by using two Historical Characters from Band of Brothers. Captain Sobel and Lt Winters were looked at and portrayed as being at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Sobel was an extreme disciplinarian and Winters was the epitome of leadership by example.
What the series doesn't cover is that the unit at one time was in it's forming stages. Captain Sobel's style of leadership, pushing for excellence and demanding attention to the smallest chickenshiit detail is the style that initialy produced results. Sobel's inflexibility to adapt to his unit maturing ( and perhaps his lack of tactical skills) lead to his being replaced by his XO Lt Meehan (KIA on D Day) and sent to instructor duty and Division Staff.
When you read through the History of Company every single man credited Capt Sobel in training Company E to be as good as they were. He forged the Company that did so well.
Major Dick Winters was an exceptional officer. He was a citizen soldier and gained men's respect through his common sense and willingnessness to lead them in battle.

Do you think someone who uses fear to lead would knowingly admit they use fear to lead? Those who use fear to lead, should not lead, period