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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.

An Organizational Psychology Approach to Improving Unit Effectiveness

Micah Klein

A topic that I’ve wrestled with a lot lately is the Army’s push to get “back to the basics.” When I say “back to the basics”, I don’t mean an …

How to Speak Doctrinally Without Putting Soldiers to Sleep

Chad Plenge

When Platoon Leaders brief Operations Orders (OPORD), their briefing styles typically fall into one of three categories: a doctrinal style, a layman’s style or a teaching style...

Strategic Broadening Seminar- Defense Academy of the United Kingdom

Curtis L. Radoff

I was part of a group of US Army Officers, 24 Captains & 5 Majors who were selected to attend the FY2016- HQDA Strategic Broadening Seminar Program; a 6 week …

There’s No “I” In Command Part II: Fostering a Culture of Trust

Scott Nusom

If understanding your role in the larger organization sets the foundation for a successful command (Part I: Connecting to the Larger Organization), then building a …

There’s No “I” in Command Part 1: Connecting With the Larger Organization

Scott Nusom

For new company commanders it is a normal urge to jump right in, eager to pull the unit in the direction we think it should go. We spend a lot …

Serving and Leading…Servant Leadership

Robert Williams

How to be a good leader? It’s a recurring question with no clear answer. Leadership is an incredibly difficult topic to address in a book, let alone a Medium post. …

Functional Designation Part 1: Choosing a New Career Path

CoCMD & PLT LDR

The purpose of this article is to provide insight into three U.S. Army Functional Areas from three separate officers who recently assessed into them. The respondents answer some very basic …

Giving Control

The Stable of Leadership

What are those things that cause you to maintain control within your own organization? How do you let the horses out of the stall without a lead rope? This week …

“Get off your phone, sir” – Leadership in the Digital Age

Angry Staff Officer

By: Angry Staff Officer It goes without saying that the digital age has brought both pros and cons to being an Army leader. It has streamlined reporting requirements and given …

Adaptive and Agile

Robert Williams

I write for the past. Every year I write a reflection on the past year to learn from my successes and failures. The past provides the foundation for officers to …

My Inspirational Leaders

Gary Klein

A recent CCLKOW piece encouraged us all to share a “story about the leader who influenced or inspired you the most in your career decisions.” Like most, I have been …

Reflecting and What it Means to Learn in the Army

Micah Klein

From June 2012 through April of 2014 I was privileged to have commanded a Transportation Company in the Army. Some days were harder than others and some days left me …

That Buzzing Sound is the Coming Swarm

Christopher G. Ingram

“Hey Sir, you hear that?” “Yeah, can you tell where it’s coming from?”

Cheers to the Stable Call

Christopher Telle

The “Stable Call” is a traditional gathering of cavalrymen to drink, to discuss, and possibly to brag of their exploits and professionalism. Today it serves as an informal forum for …

Memorial Day: what it means to me

The Stable of Leadership

Memorial Day weekend has significantly changed in meaning throughout my life...

My Year as a Cavalry Troop Commander

Paul Guzman

Troop-level command, for me as a prior service NCO, has been the professional highlight of my 14 year Army career. I just want to share a few simple lessons after …

The “US” Button: What we wear says a lot about who we are

The Stable of Leadership

In Hogan’s Heroes Season 4, Episode 5, Carter loses a button off his uniform while sabotaging the Dorfmann Bridge. The button, discovered by German patrols, makes its way to the …

Tackling Cultural, Regional Expertise, and Language Education Effectively

CoCMD & PLT LDR

Since the Chief of Staff of the Army’s prioritized the Regionally Aligned Forces policy, company commanders have been addressing the best way to tackle Cultural, …

Of Leadership, Sailboats, and Mission Command: An Unconventional Metaphor

The Stable of Leadership

I have a confession. I enjoy using doctrine in ways it isn't intended. Doctrine Man is one of my personal heroes. I like metaphorical story telling. Don’t understand? Let me …

Company Command Changes Who You Are

Tiara Walz

I relinquished command on March 27th, 2015. What a momentous, exciting, bittersweet day. That’s actually a good description of a lot of days in command, though. Below are some of …

Brigade Support Battalion Leadership Lessons: Observations

Ryan Cornell-d'Echert

I would like to share some leadership lessons, based on the challenges faced by some of the organizations that my OC/T team and I are currently observing and coaching. These …

Building Leadership

The Stable of Leadership

I was fortunate tonight to address the Wake Forest/Winston-Salem State ROTC Battalion at their Spring Ball. While I still don’t believe I’m old enough to address a group formally (my …

What’s in a Leadership Philosophy?

The Stable of Leadership

Nearly every leader has written a leadership philosophy and distributed it to their organization to provide insight to their thoughts on leadership. Some are pithy …

Emotional Intelligence & Mission Command

Jonathan Silk

This past week I was at the 2015 Leader Development Rendezvous hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Leader Development and Organizational Learning (CALDOL) where MAJ Ryan Kranc gave a …

Why “The Stable of Leadership?”

The Stable of Leadership

A stable is a dwelling and storage place for livestock, particularly horses. In the Cavalry, a stable is a nickname for the headquarters organization. In sports a stable refers to …

The Self-Developing Leader

CoCMD & PLT LDR

Self-development is one of the three pillars of leader development (ADRP 7–0). What do you do for Self-Development? What is your self-development battle rhythm?

Emotional Intelligence…Leading Self

Jonathan Silk

Emotional intelligence is our aptitude for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions effectively in ourselves and …

Labeled: The Limits of Personal Branding

Mandi Rollinson

The recent blog entitled “Branded: Why Personal Brand Matters” describes a scenario where a leader fails to practice self-reflection to the point that the leader …

Lifelong Obligations

Darrell Fawley

Across the nation and across the world many a young officer is preparing to take charge of his or her first platoon. Shortly behind them, many a cadet is waiting …

The Domestic Enemy

CPT Brandon Bettis

Staff Sergeant Thaddeus Montgomery was a decorated combat Infantryman who died on January 20, 2010 in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. He was one of the finest Infantrymen that I have …

The Mindful Leader

Jonathan Silk

Have you ever been in the middle of an important conversation with your subordinate and while they are speaking your mind wanders, or you look down at your mobile device …

Leadership in Action Story #2: Team Leader Under Fire

CoCMD & PLT LDR

SGT K was a very good young leader, but he had not quite put himself “over the edge” yet. He had the confidence of his leaders, but his soldiers had …

Leadership in Action Story #1: “ Men, That’s the BEST Live Fire I’ve ever seen!”

CoCMD & PLT LDR

From a leader in B/1–87 IN, 10th MTN Division who shared it while recovering at Walter Reed from wounds suffered in Afghanistan.

Military Writing: The “Lieutenant” Problem

Don Gomez

Company-grade officers are typically younger than their field grade counterparts and often have a burning flame inside of them to make an impact. They are …

How Do You Reward Leader Self-Development?

CoCMD & PLT LDR

The Army has the three leader development domains (operational, institutional, and self-development). Our efforts are well documented in the operational and institutional domains based on …

Taking Charge- Earning Your PSG’s Trust

CoCMD & PLT LDR

On his first day as a platoon leader, the lieutenant sat down with his platoon sergeant to give him his initial counseling. He had spent the past two months in …

Counseling Training for New Leaders

CoCMD & PLT LDR

Counseling is always something we talk about getting better at, but often what we are referring to is getting better at actually sitting down and doing it. When we train …

If you could start over with your Platoon Sergeant

CoCMD & PLT LDR

The CC/PL Team asked “What would you do different if you could start your relationship over again with your Platoon Sergeant or a new one?”

The most important task you do as a Commander each day

CoCMD & PLT LDR

The CC/PL Team asked company commanders “What is the most important task you do as a Commander each day [or week] as part of your personal battle rhythm?”

Advice for New Leaders

CoCMD & PLT LDR

Last week the CC/PL Team sat in on a VTC with the MG Townsend “Mountain 6”. He had this advice for new platoon leaders...

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