Articles

View popular content

The views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Government, the U.S. Army, or the United States Military Academy.

The XO’s Two Jobs

Michael Carvelli

Manage the Programs and Lead the Headquarters An executive officer (XO) has two linked responsibilities: manage the commander’s programs and lead the headquarters sections that …

Great Commanders Ask Great Questions

Michael Everett

I was sitting in another routine meeting. My commander sat at the head of the table, quietly absorbing the brief and jotting down the occasional note. Because I already knew …

Brace for Impact: When Your First Unit Isn’t What You Expected

Gene Thagard

“Who the f*** are you?” Surprised and a little taken aback, I calmly explained to my future Warrant Officer that I was the incoming PL and had been assigned as …

“Yes, And?” The Art of Embracing the Suck

Nate Mattera

The Army loves its aphorisms. You’ve definitely heard “hurry up and wait,” or “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” These phrases are the connective tissue …

Stop Guessing: Use Doctrine to Develop Leaders

Oren Rosen

While many believe that physical training is the most important event the Army does every day, I actually believe that developing future leaders is the most important event we do …

The Secret to Higher AFT Scores: Improve VO2 Max

James Boyle

To succeed as a junior officer, mastering the basics of soldiering is crucial. You must excel at the tasks you expect from your team to lead effectively. This fundamental principle …

Finding Faith before the Foxhole: Spiritual Readiness in the Profession of Arms

Dr. Ryan Erbe & Dr. Matthew Arbogast, LTC (Ret.)

At the 2025 Mission Command Conference at West Point, General Christopher Cavoli, USEUCOM commander and Supreme Allied Commander of Europe at the time, spoke to …

Supporting Soldiers Through Immigration Questions

Jeffrey Hilliard

Junior officers take on a number of roles when leading Soldiers: disciplinarian, teacher, mentor, and career counselor, to name a few. Most don’t realize that immigration-related questions can also …

Leave the Notebook Behind: Trust, Rapport, and Communication

Erica Esterly

The complexity of modern multi-domain operations presents unique challenges on today’s battlefield. While the integration of AI and next-generation command and control raise difficult ethical …

What Patches Teach Us About Leadership

Alex Willard

Leadership is an art, not a formula. The same action can be exactly right in one context and catastrophically wrong in another. Understanding the difference is what separates good leaders …

Late Nights Are a Signal to JOs, Not a Standard

Michael Carvelli

As a battalion S-3, I kicked people out of my office at 4:55 p.m. If someone needed to stay after 5:00 p.m., that required my approval. I used that rule …

Rock Steady Leadership: Learning Composure from General George Marshall

Kirk Ring

Leaders discuss the ideals of the modern Army officer in terms synonymous with aggressiveness, boldness, and decisiveness. As junior officers, our training encourages us to …

Build the House: How a Simple Drawing Conveys Mission Command

Rich Creed and Scott Pence

While every leader appreciates the intent of mission command, few can recite all seven principles at will. In an age where only our iPhones know our phone numbers, it’s …

A Staff Officer’s Guide to the Galaxy

Hunter Whitney

Far out in the backwaters of an unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the universe lies a small, unregarded door. Behind it lies an utterly insignificant office whose occupants still …

Leadership, Presence, and the Perception You Carry

Jakob Hutter

You’ve likely heard or used the saying, “Perception is reality.” In leadership, perception isn’t just about appearance, but how others perceive your actions, often in …

Yes, Clausewitz Still Matters for Today’s Lieutenants

Noah Jager

With modern conflict exposing the impact of drones, precision-guided munitions, and real-time intelligence, it can be tempting for young officers to believe that modern conflict …

Working the Marketplace, Not Hoping for It

Robert Beyer

The talent marketplace process is inherently exciting, as it allows officers to exert an unprecedented amount of control over their future assignments. However, the lack …

Video Adaptation FM 1: The Army – A Primer to Our Profession of Arms

Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate

FM-1 The U.S. Army Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate released a cinematic adaptation of Field Manual 1, The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms. The video is available …

Talent Management at Echelon: People are the Platform

David A. Beaumont

The U.S. Army invests in equipment, networks, and doctrine to maintain a competitive advantage against its adversaries. But those are not the most important factors; …

JAG: A Junior Leader’s Guide

Gage Dabin

Who are we? As Army Judge Advocates or “JAs”, we are fully licensed attorneys – meaning we graduated from law school and are licensed to practice law. For most JAs, …

Inside Recruiting Company Command: Leadership Beyond the Numbers

Tanner Cook

In the Army’s ‘War for Talent,’ a common misconception persists among peers: that a recruiting company command is a ‘tactical pause’ spent managing spreadsheets rather …

The Major’s Burden: Building Teams, Systems, and Leaders

Kyle F. McCarter

The promotion to major arrives like the best things in the Army: with ceremony, congratulations, and a quiet panic that sets in around 3 a.m. the night before assuming a …

Learning the Right Lessons in the UAS Fight

Michael Carvelli

The U.S. Army is gripped by a specific kind of fear. We watch video footage from YouTube showing Ukrainian and Russian drone attacks. We see a technological gap widening faster …

Coach, Mentor, Sponsor: Why the Difference Matters

Delonte Monk

As a second lieutenant, I was eager to prove myself and quick to label anyone who said something helpful as a “mentor.” Fast-forward to my initial counseling in my first …

Joint Logistics and the Best Ways to Make Coffee

Melissa A. Czarnogursky

Lessons from a Company Grade Officer on Deployed Joint Staff “You know how to spell joint, right? A-R-M-Y.” During my first few weeks working in the United States Central Command …

How Canceling PT Made Me the Officer I am Today

Erik Davis

This isn’t a story about skipping PT. The head of our ROTC program caught me flat footed when I’d been one of a handful of cadets who had campaigned for …

Diamond in the Swamp

Seth Lynn

The Value of Serving as an Observer, Coach, and Trainer at the Joint Readiness Training Center For officers who know the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) only through experiences as …

Army Junior Officer Counsel: Drive Tomorrow’s Solutions, Today

Chris Slininger

The Challenge and Opportunity Last year, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy George, challenged the force to prioritize its focus and only do what makes the Army …

Under One Flag: Multinational Lessons in Leading During Freedom Shield 25

Benjamin Backsmeier (U.S. Army) and George Lynch-Staunton (British Army) September 25, 2025 The following are hard-earned lessons we hope will serve as guideposts for junior …

For the Prospective Ranger Student – A Philosophy for Success

Jacob Woodruff

04 September 2025 Jacob Woodruff To the Future Ranger Student: The fabled 62-day crucible known as United States Army Ranger School is infamous for its grueling nature and high washout …

4 Essential Behaviors for Building Trust

CPT Jakob Hutter - 21 July 2025

Sincerity. Reliability. Competence. Care. No matter your role as a company-grade officer, trust is foundational to a team’s success. Trust connects a leader’s intent to …

Going Off Script, But Staying on Track: A Career Guide for Junior Leaders

COL Chaveso "Chevy" Cook - Published 10 July 2025

Intro I walked into LTC Tomi King’s office as a new 2LT in his formation. We discussed all the normal talking points in that initial counseling – family, where I …

Fighting as an Enabler Leader

LTC Michael Carvelli - 30 June 2025

(U.S. Army Photo by Cpl. Tomarius Roberts, courtesy of DVIDS) Enablers provide capabilities to commanders that they either do not have on their own or do not have in sufficient …

Defeating the Drone – From JMRC’s “Skynet Platoon”

CPT Joshua Cox, SSG Samuel Gordon, and SSG Eric Navarro

If you can be seen, you can be killed—and a $7 drone might be all it takes. JMRC's Skynet Platoon discuss their TTPs to defeat the drone.

3 Deployments Before Captain: Reflections From Down Range

1LT Melissa Czarnogursky - Published 05 June 25

Deployments challenge junior officers beyond their primary duties, often demanding adaptability, wellness management, proactive leadership, and moral integrity maintenance.

Check the Box or Check Your Compass

MSG Albert Keever

MSG Albert Keever explains how ethical fading erodes integrity and offers tools for junior leaders to strengthen ethical decision-making.

Leadership at Zero Meters: Combatives for Building Lethal Teams

CPT Dylan Van Sickell - Published 15 May 25

U.S forces close with and destroy the enemy. But how close? One kilometer, 300 meters, hand grenade range? How about close enough to hear your enemy’s last words?

Stop the Reading Lists: Why Leaders Need More Than Just Books

MAJ Sara Roger - Published 9 May 25

Junior Officers need more than reading lists. Reading is a tool, but not the only one—leaders grow through thinking, reflecting, experiencing, and engaging with others in meaningful ways.

Alone and Unafraid: Mission Command in INDOPACOM – CSA Article of May 2025

1LT Reilly Rudolph - Published Feb 25, 2025

An Engineer Platoon Leader recounts lessons in decentralized leadership and mission command in INDOPACOM - Published Feb 25, 2025

In All Things, Moderation: A Philosophy for Leaders

CPT Jay Carmody - Published 22 APR 25

Captain Carmody champions a philosophy of moderation for Army leaders. Through moderation, leaders can avoid the burnout of extremes, make wiser decisions, and model balanced, …

1 2 3 4 ›»