Military Leadership Essay

642 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Leadership in armed forces

The purpose of this essay is to select two essential characteristics the United States Armed Forces must possess, in order to achieve operational success in combat. Conversely, evidence substantiates that the Armed Forces relies on several characteristics and collectively, they become the essential components in order to face the complexity of war. According to the ADP 1, United States Forces are organized, equipped, and trained for winning the Nation’s wars. Currently, the military is in the middle of a seven-year phase force reduction process totaling 562,000 Soldiers in 2010 to 450,000 Soldiers in 2017. However, during this transitional period the Armed Forces will apply lessons learned from recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in preparation …show more content…

Ultimately, the state of the military preparedness lies within our leadership. Military leaders are the most influential asset of an organization and their actions ultimately have the ability to transform and reinvigorate a ‘mediocre’ organization into a ‘great organization’. My personal example of ‘organizational transformation’ was during my third deployment in Kabul, Afghanistan. I worked for a toxic leader who yelled, used profanity and habitually degraded the staff. During the fifth month of my deployment, his behavior continued to escalate and eventually his was removed from the position. As I reflect back, during this ordeal he made me a better officer because I became the Subject Matter Expert on ‘all thing logistics’ in order to avoid the personal humiliation however, toxic leadership has no place in the military and must be eradicated from our formations. History proves no Army leader is irreplaceable. The Army will not stop functioning because one leader, no matter how senior or central, steps aside. In combat, the loss of a leader can be a shock to a unit, but the unit must, and will, continue its mission. Great leaders provide mentorship to their subordinates using their work experience and knowledge, gained through institutional training and education, organizational training and

Show More
Related

  • United States Army’s Organizational Structure and Culture

    3579 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Army’s history includes many unique global events such as World War I and II, the Vietnam War, the Korean conflict and most recently operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. An in depth study of these historical events is beyond the scope of this paper however, the origin of the Army is relevant in discussing the Army’s overall culture.

    Read More

  • Bad Leadership Skills in Black Hearts by Jim Frederick

    1242 Words  | 3 Pages

    Black Hearts is a great example of the reality on how severe bad leadership skills can ripple throughout a unit and impact its overall mission. This book serves as a guide for future leaders of America and will set the examples of what not to do in leadership positions. The lessons we can take from these soldiers can help us as potential leaders to become more competent and effective. The fact that this book focused on the hardships, poor decisions and sound judgment of the soldiers it helped emphasize on what was not the best choice of action and leaves a moment for you as the audience to think how you would of done it better. So right or wrong there was a lesson to be learned and the book did a good job including the reader. This book puts you in the shoes of a small group of soldiers from the 502nd Infantry Regiment and gives you an up close and personal take on the experience of the soldiers, from the bottom of the the ranks all the way up to the commander. 502nd Bravo Company 1st platoon deployed in the fall of 2005 into one of the most dangerous battle zones in Iraq known as the “Triangle of Death”. Thrown into the heartland of a growing insurgency, with undefined goals and a shortage of manpower, Bravo Company began piling up casualties at an alarming rate. They suffered many losses, as well as mental anguish. Because of the long and tragic deployment, a collapse in leadership began to unfold causing one of the most tragic, brutal, and infamous deployments in U.S Army history. There were many reasons that caused the deconstruction of leadership, and eventually, the actions of the soldiers accompanied by the lack of control, lead to the rape and murder of an innocent Iraqi girl and her family. This is a story about character...

    Read More

  • Ethical Considerations for Improving Army Enlisted Professional Education and Evaluation

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    After more than ten years of persistent counterinsurgency (COIN) conflict and multiple simultaneous responses to several natural disasters, the United States Army is at a crossroads regarding professional education for its officers and enlisted force. Considering overseas contingency operations in Iraq are due to conclude in December 2011 and by 2014 for Afghanistan, it is plausible that strategic planners are considering the future make-up of what will constitute the Total Army Force to include new educational criteria for what could be a smaller force than was needed for present day operations. While this may be “peace dividend” speculation, there is precedence for the Army to reevaluate its force structure and personal qualification requirements after every major conflict over the last century. . Even though defense budget reductions should redoubt army equipment priorities, training deferrals because of persistent contingency operations have inhibited enlisted professional development despite that counterinsurgency operations require refocused soldiers training to improve their sense of situational understanding and application of observable operational ethics through conceptual enlisted leadership evaluation efforts.

    Read More

  • Staff Sergeant Essay

    1728 Words  | 4 Pages

    Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Louis Moeller shaped me into the Recon Marine I wanted to be and the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) that I am now. By embodying the Recon Creed and always setting the example, he made me want to be an NCO that my troops would look up to and want to follow. Even when not in charge he was constantly the one peers and junior Marines alike, turned to for guidance and inspiration. To this day, I still find myself asking “What would Louis do?” when confronted with a leadership dilemma.

    Read More

  • Leadership Failures in Black Hearts by Jim Frederick

    1483 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book Black Hearts by Jim Frederick is an in-depth narrative about the 1st platoon, Bravo Company 1-502nd Infantry 101st Airborne Division deployed to Iraq in 2005. The leadership failures documented in this book range all the way from the general officer level down to the lowest private. LT general Ricardo Sanchez failed to understand the climate his command group was entering as they were deployed into Iraq. From then on the entire leadership failures continued to compound upon each other with improper time to plan. It is customary to have a six month lead time to have a proper battle hand off when preparing to take over an AO from another unit. To compound this problem, the entire time the 502nd was in pre-deployment training, they were preparing for the rigors of urban combat. In reality, they were given six weeks to recon their new area of responsibility and were going to a countryside crafted by the heavens for guerilla warfare. As Colonel Ebel said in the book, “It is not going to be an easy road. They are not even sure of what they have in the area. It just feels bad. We can expect a real fight.”

    Read More

  • I Am Staff Sergeant Eric Duty

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    While in the U.S Army I have encountered many leaders. When I reminisce on the past and try to remember all of the different leaders I have encountered, I realize they have all influenced my life in different ways. Although some of the leaders I have had made bad impressions, most have influenced my life positively. Throughout the years I have been in the U.S Army, one particular leader has helped me develop into the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) I am today. I am Staff Sergeant Eric Duty and I would not be the professional I am today without SGT Buchan’s leadership.

    Read More

  • The Role Of The HR Sergeant In The Profession Of Arms

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    We can identify three major cultural dimensions that help us to understand what leaders must focus on as they guide the transition of the Army. First, professional Identity, which is guided by Soldiers at all levels who are striving for excellence in their functional specialty, i.e., HR Sergeants. Soldiers who have goals and ideals of the Army to ethically put service and duty first. HR Sergeants are trained and well educated in their field. They are taught to put Soldiers first and have great customer support skills. Second, community, the sense in which Soldiers stop thinking about “I” and start thinking “we”. The bond among units who not only believe in cohesion with Soldiers, but their families too. The HR Sergeants are there to take care of Soldiers when financial issues arise with them or their families and don’t back down until the situation is solved. Last, hierarchy, which leads to order and control and provides Soldiers with moral reference and a sense of direction. The HR Sergeant has the mentality of mission first, knowing who to contact at the next level for assistance helps get the mission

    Read More

  • Combat Team Reflection

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sir, I am honored by the privilege to once again serve in 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). Over of the last 30 days, I had an opportunity to reconnect, and reflect on the current state of the Brigade. The 4th ABCT has a rich history of success and glory. It is my goal to put in place the systems and practices for this great organization to exceed all past and present accomplishments. As a result of my assessment, I identified three areas of focus that will improve our organization: a unit vision, a change in organizational culture and climate, and building organizational teams. I have no doubt that with the implementation of these three areas of focus, I will be the transformational leader that 4th ABCT needs as we prepare for the upcoming National Training Center (NTC) rotation and tackle the task of the Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) mission.

    Read More

  • Reflective Essay: Leadership In The Army

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    I wasn’t phased much at first , but then my fiancee decided she did no want to be with me. I sold cars for a short time and was very good but I got sick and with no health insurance and It was just too much to struggle through. I then was out of work for almost two years with exception of army reserve which earned me basically nothing with child support. My credit and all my bills went to straight hell and soon I was homeless. I slept in my car. I then decided to ask reserve for release to go full time active which was a chore in itself. This was a mass of red tape and paperwork. I got in best shape possible and finally at age 42 went back in the army, the infantry no less. For some reason the people in the army can be less than fond of a guy that age going to

    Read More

  • What It Means To Be An Army Leader Essay

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    For some time the Army has been using a certain expression to defines what an Army leader actually is. To keep it basic, the three words be, know and do explains it all!

    Read More

  • The Strengths and Weaknesses of Joint Warfare

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    Armed with numerous studies, and intensive public hearings, Congress mandated far-reaching changes in DOD organization and responsibilities in the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. This landmark legislation significantly expanded the authority and responsibility of the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Included in this expanded authority and responsibility was the requirement for the chairman to develop a doctrine for the joint employment of armed forces. As operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, and Desert Storm have vividly demonstrated, the realities of armed conflict in today's world make the integration of individual service capabilities a matter of success or failure, life or death. Furthermore, the operation Desert One demonstrated the need for a strengthened Joint Warfare Doctrine and the consequent change in Joint Warfare Employment. It is plain to see the benefits of having the greatest navy integrated with the world's greatest army and air force. However, even in the wake of a relatively successful joint operation in the Middle East (Desert Storm), certain weaknesses are evident in the current joint employment tactics and/or capabilities. By analyzing past operations such as Urgent Fury and Desert Storm, we are able to see sufficient evidence that the Joint Warfare Concept can be disastrous in one instance and virtually flawless in another.

    Read More

  • In Need of Good Leaders

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    As our forefathers before us stated, ‘‘No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army (“The NCO Creed writing by SFC Earle Brigham and Jimmie Jakes Sr”). These words to Noncommissioned Officer should inspire us to the fullest with pride, honor, and integrity. The NCO creed should mean much more than just words whenever we attend a NCO’s school. For most of us this is what our creed has become because we learn to narrate or recite. The military from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard has an overabundance of NCOs who fall under their pay grade of E-5, E-6 and etc. Yet somehow there still not enough leaders. I believe that the largest problem afflicting the military today is our lack of competent leaders, ineffective leader development, and how we influence our subordinates under us who are becoming leaders.

    Read More

  • Battalion Commander Essay

    178 Words  | 1 Pages

    The person that is next in command after the Battalion Commander is the Executive Officer (XO). The executive officer’s purpose is to help the Battalion Commander to run the whole program. The XO will also help the Battalion Commander send orders to the rest of the staff and cadets. The XO must be hardworking, well-rounded, firm, and responsible. I think that the position of XO would be a good fit for me because I possess these characteristics. I hope that I will be able to implement new ideas such as new clubs and programs to give cadets more opportunities to be involved in JROTC. I would also like to have guest speakers and recruiters come in and speak to the cadets about the different career paths that they can take. I think that obtaining

    Read More

  • Summary: 4th Outlined Brigade Combat Team

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    The critical leadership problem facing the 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) is disengaged leadership has created a unit culture tolerant of sub-standard and inappropriate behavior of and indifference. While deployed 4th ABCT’s leadership fostered an elitist unit culture, tolerant of, and indifferent to individual development and personal needs. The demands of the short notice deployment coupled with the SFAT mission change create a stressful environment and planted seeds of separation within the Brigade Combat Team (BCT). The change from offensive operations to security and stability operations negated the Mission Essential tasks 4th ABCT completed during their Mission Readiness Exercise and resulted in 4th ABCT not receiving

    Read More

  • Army Personal Statement

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Serving in the Army for the past fifteen years, as a Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, Cadet, and Commissioned Officer, I have gained a wealth of military leadership knowledge and experience. Since completing my undergraduate studies and earning my commission in the Army, I have held a variety of command and staff positions. I have led Soldiers in garrison, as well as on combat and operational deployments, each having its own unique challenges and rewards. Throughout the years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving on many great teams and with many outstanding Leaders.

    Read More

More about Military Leadership Essay

Open Document