@chris_s – Here’s my 2 cents. For me, leadership isn’t strictly the military aspects of the Army, but how we interact with people, why things are so, and applying lessons others (mil and civ) have learned in their own experiences. So, for me, it’s a very wide lens to try to pick up TTPs. That in mind, here’s my list of pods that I keep coming…[Read more]

Thank you for your great input.I’d like some trends you mentioned.

1- It sounds simple but to do well immediately taking the guidon, you have to adequately preparing and having a tentative plan. Some implied tasks are having administrative requirements complete, asking the outgoing commander for priorities / upcoming events, and asking the state…[Read more]

• How do junior officers inspire discipline in their organizations through their personal example?
•  – This is a very interesting question as based on others opinion there is the ideology that Junior Officer do not know much about the Army and we make a lot of mistakes. Although this could be true, I strongly believe that giving people the…

[Read more]

“Leadership must be positive.” I believe that LT McDonough was getting at the deeper truth when the going gets tough, the tough get going. As my grandmother used to say to me, “If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it.” When the village was destroyed, one could ask what was the purpose of it all? As the platoon leader, he did not ponder the…[Read more]

I believe if LT McDonough had gone to beach, he could have prevented disaster. His decision was logical and could have benefited Soldiers’ hygiene. As LT McDonough recounts his duty as pay officer where a jeep is flipped and its four occupants drowned, Vietnam was a very dangerous place. I am not surprised by the lack of consequences for his…[Read more]

While LT McDonough expresses his quote in Chapter 16 in regards to threatening a farmer, I believe the more remarkable case study within the chapter is of the platoon using the buddhist sanctuary as a kill zone. Tactically, LT McDonough understood that the Temple’s light system acted as key terrain. Whoever controlled the signaling within the…[Read more]

I’ll second that about iPERMS! Brock, I’d say it’s a great Army practice, regardless of COMPO. Between boards and continuty of service and, eventually, records compilaiton for future generations, I’d suggest records of the like are very important to file as soon as you can. It’s always easier to do a little bit of work at a time instead of doing…[Read more]

This is a fascinating idea, good question! In short, I would say that officers have the role of “planners” and enlisted have the role of “doers”. Now disclaimer – that is a gross oversimplification (even if stereotypes are mental shortcuts) and very watered down. It’s kind of a rephrasing of @spatelis – if you’re constantly trying to plan into the…[Read more]

@murphys_law – I’ve never seen it, what resonates with you about it?

@chris_s that is a great point about legal.  Here is my advice for those commanders who do not get a chance to attend a CCFSPCC or do get a slot a year into command because they are backlogged.

1. As chris_s and others state, get a legal briefing. Visit your JAG! Get a sense of the UCMJ trends in your unit and what the processes are for subm…[Read more]

@brock.j.young– this is a great post and quote.

“Everything we do is training”

This is important because it gets back to doing what your purpose is. My old commander advised I focus on what the company brings to the fight. Everything else should support that purpose. Equally important, are the doing the things that sustain that purpose like…[Read more]

In Chapter 11 LT McDonough’s patrol base is attacked and forced to respond. What sticks out to you as he describes his actions during the defense of his position? How does LT McDonough bring all available resources to him into the fight? During the battle LT McDonough is again faced with a tough situation while working with two Cobra gunships.…[Read more]

Steven, @spatelis,

Great question and input. I think mission and environment dependent, we will have to slowly become more familiarized with  implementing cyber and ew effects at the tactical level. There are great AARs from NTC that demonstrate how company commanders are being affected by cyber and EW. At the very least, we should encourage cyb…[Read more]

@logisticus Plain and simple I totally agree and think you are on to something. This is exactly what I did as a CPT and plan to do the same as a field grade.  Unfortunately, I don’t think our system, personnel and culture specifically, are set up that way. For one, branch managers and senior leaders are always pushing to “knock out” KD early.…[Read more]

Jeff,

This is a killer thread because of killer contributions, such as yours and others before you!  My hope is that new commanders read this thread so we can get further feedback.  I like how we are all building on information that has been provided.  Here are my thoughts on building what you mentioned.

1. Leader book. This is definitely ne…[Read more]

One that I keep coming back to again and again is “Imitation Game” (2014). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I saw this film after an assignment in INSCOM and it really resonated with me just how much dialogue strikes the nitty-gritty of intelligence work. I think most people focus on the cool guy persona with having a higher…[Read more]