Our articles are written by leaders from all walks of life on topics applicable to the development and success of junior officers in the Army.
Mental models are the conceptual frameworks that we use to explain how parts of reality work.......
Articles
As a junior military officer, I know information is important. When I’m scrolling Instagram and watching videos of Ukrainian SOF ambushing Russian armor columns or …
The Captain’s Career Course is an amazing experience, and you can learn so much from it. To be successful you need to start preparing before you enter the door. Take …
“Share the hardship.” A phrase often used by leaders to inspire subordinates in tactical training and operations such as live fires, ruck marches, and physical training. But in the most …
Volunteering, while no panacea, may be one of the best activities junior officers can do outside of duty hours. Let’s talk about how this often-unexplored …
A common theme for new company commanders is uncertainty surrounding the tools at their disposal to correct behaviors in their formations. The use of UCMJ is ultimately a tool to …
To many of those currently serving, what stands out as most confounding about suicide in the ranks is not its prevalence, but a wholescale denial of how the military lifestyle …
So, you’re considering Civil Affairs as a career path in the Army. You’ve perhaps talked to peers about the branch or have heard of others that attended selection before. Also, …
The Army has a strange relationship with words. On the one hand, precision means everything: the term “seize” means something very different to a ground forces commander than the term …
While the Army won’t change overnight because of a few wise words from a new officer, you can still be part of the intellectual process, sharing experiences and knowledge, developing …
The smallest lapse in discipline or unaccomplished task may result in mission failure. No matter how big or small the contribution, every member of the organization relies on every other …
AR 600-20 addresses other issues between Soldiers of different grades, but social and dating scenarios are typically the riskiest and most likely to occur for …
Eventually, this incident and my reflections since have led me to consider the importance of inclusive mentoring. Inclusive mentoring means mentoring across demographics that are …
Similarly, what follows are some common sense leadership lessons illustrated in experiences from online gaming. It describes the leadership failures (and some successes) of leaders in an MMOG –
Represented by the recent FY2020 data, the reported number of sexual harassment and sexual assaults in the military and specifically the Army has continued to increase....
It is over, just like that. You spent four years at your commissioning source, dreaming of being the next Dick Winters as a Platoon Leader and it was over in …
What follows are some lessons learned from a Rifle Platoon Leader in an Infantry Battalion and an Assistant Operations Officer/Battle ‘Captain’ in a Cavalry Squadron.
As the son of an immigrant from Zimbabwe, I have always been interested in how culture influences the way people think and how it is created.....
Army Officers are called to lead courageously. But we don’t always associate courage with vulnerability.
What follows is a collection of interview questions answered by lieutenants across the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The aim of the article …
The ugly stepchild of promotions, the blink and you miss it moment, the one that was almost guaranteed to happen; these phrases and more have been used to describe the …
Whether you were specially selected for this duty, eagerly volunteered, or were “voluntold” to host at the last minute, this checklist can help you provide …
This checklist will help you make the most of this incredible opportunity. It is by no means an all-inclusive list of things to do, but it should provide you a …
It’s as clear to me now as it was then that CTLT was specifically developed for the benefit of future officers like her, but I think it’s negligent to claim …
In two short months, cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs across the nation will graduate and commission as …
This is Part 3 of a Series, view the series intro here and Part 2 here. Note: Quotes and feedback have been anonymized and modified for clarity.It has …
Congratulations! You made it to your last 100 days. While you are in your final stretch, the work you’ve done to make it to graduation is far from complete. The …
Golf can be a valuable leader development tool – and we are NOT talking metaphorically. Playing golf can help you develop actual knowledge, skills, and …
During my OER outbrief for my first evaluation as a Captain, my Senior Rater began with words that shook me: “CPT Lightsey, the Army isn’t interested in how fast you …
Carl’s insubordination was not limited to a single instance – and it did not appear out of the blue. His behavior began somewhat benignly but, unchecked, increased in intensity and …
The role of an executive officer has manifold dimensions. Some of them, like resourcing training, are easier to grasp than others, like property divestment......
Military meetings, in particular, can become more about color-coded slides and stats than predicting and tackling the projected problem on the horizon.......
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is one of the most vital assets available to Army leaders; however, its cultivation often takes a backburner to other elements like …
The US Army is losing pilots at an alarming rate. About 10% of its active force per year exits the service for other opportunities, far beyond what it can hope …
Junior officer leader development programs often have a strong focus on things like character, emotional intelligence, or the interpersonal skills necessary to lead formations or serve on staffs.....