Should a leader be skilled?

I have noticed that in many other countries the way that you earn a high political position, or considered for something like that is to be acknowledged in war. Years ago, our leaders were generals leading brigades in and out a serious situations. Now though, our leaders sit at a desk, and have the help of other people to write and think for them. I believe that the heads of state should show skill in war because that would make the citizens of the chosen country feel better because they know that if they were in a serious situation, that the person they are relying on would be able to help defend the country they are leading. In England, they are sending the two princes off to fight in the British army for a certain amount of time because the parliament believes that their possible future leaders should understand what each soldier goes through. In the future if there is a war the leaders should take lead of group of soldiers and take on the job they should be assigned. I know a few soldiers that are fighting in Iraq, and while they are happy to be fighting for their country, they are angry that the president does not understand the conditions that they are living in because he is so many thousands of miles away, safe from the harm of what is happening. The war we are experiencing in this era is not similar to the war’s in Machiavelli’s era because the kings of their era would be living in the tents, and getting wounds while in battle. Every captain or general would respond to the head of state, and that way the country would know that their leader is helping with the problem of war. I also agree that a leader should be able to discuss the possibility of not having the option of war because of how many people we are losing everyday. Our head of state should have the power to mend the problems fighting a verbal war rather than a physical war.