[November 17, 2017] Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Ia Drang (Vietnam) which pitted elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division against regular North Vietnam troops in a bloody battle. The unit’s commander, Hal Moore, and the only journalist at the battle, Joe Galloway, wrote the book We Were Soldiers Once … and Young (2002) that… Read More »
[November 16, 2017] A couple of months ago I started a new blog thread because I simply could not write about all the topics of leadership I wanted. This clearing the spindle1 post today focuses on morality and our failures to live up to rudimentary social values. U.S. military personnel and veterans across the world were dismayed recently… Read More »
[November 15, 2017] The passion surrounding talk over racism is hard to dismiss. Every leader, especially politicians, seemed to be caught up in the spirit of the times and are beating their chests with indignation and lecturing us about race. One thing, however, that the U.S. military warns its senior officers about is the downfall of getting ahead… Read More »
By guest blogger Sadako Red [see disclaimer] [November 14, 2017] When I was a young man, back in the day of tube radios and black rotary telephones, my friends and I spent a lot of time appreciating the fine ladies we dated. We never obsessed over their race, religion, or even their sexual orientation (it never came up)… Read More »
[November 13, 2017] Recently I wrote about ethical traps that leaders are caught-up in and gave some advice on how to avoid them; mostly through knowing the rules and being focused on what you are doing. One of those traps involved receiving gifts and is a common way for a professional to end a good career because of… Read More »
By guest blogger William Grigsby [see Biography] [November 12, 2017] This article is for people who have lost all hope. Read this article if you are feeling a little burned out, and not if you are a fresh-faced and looking to take on the world. Most of the advice you read in this article was specially created for… Read More »
[November 11, 2017] A few days ago Boy Scout Troops from across the rural area where I live, gathered at a local Veterans Cemetery to plant American flags on each grave. Yes, that’s what we call “old-fashioned leadership” and it works like it has always worked. Communities throughout the world have relied on small-town leadership since the beginning… Read More »
[November 10, 2017] My commander’s Kevlar helmet went flying across the tent, bouncing off a table, and rolling onto the grass outside. He’d thrown it out of frustration; his tactical center not getting him the analysis of the “opposing force” battle formation. Something I had learned long before this event was that there was something you should never… Read More »
[November 9, 2017] It is being called the “biggest scandal in U.S. Navy history;” over 60 admirals and hundreds of officers under scrutiny for a scandal involving alcohol and prostitutes.”1 The hype is overblown but nevertheless raises the important issue of dangerous traps for leaders. “Every leader has the responsibility to hone his or her integrity. Many times,… Read More »
[November 8, 2017] Written in English and Arabic above the door entering the Tactical Operations Center for Coalition forces occupying Iraq in 2004 and onward, were the words Who Else Needs to Know.1 Our commander, like so many of us, had a number of bad experiences when members of our unit failed to inform him of important events. … Read More »