[August 26, 2017] In the run-up to the U.S. presidential election last year, candidate Donald Trump said on several occasions that America should pull out of Afghanistan. Earlier this week, during a prime-time address to the nation, now-president Trump announced a new strategy to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. Studying how strategy is made and its component parts… Read More »
[August 25, 2017] In Part 1 of this series, I wrote that each of the military services has a boot camp (called by different names) that has one mission; to successfully turn civilians into military members.1 The methods they use are similar and the preparation one should undertake are, therefore, also similar regardless of which branch of the… Read More »
[August 24, 2017] This is a “senior leader” blog and how to improve upon leadership skills necessary for success. However, the most common request I get from readers is how to get ready for military life … specifically enlisted boot camp and the officer basic course. In the past I wrote about the 10 things you should know… Read More »
By guest blogger Maisie Acton [see Biography] [August 23, 2017] Abstract: Being a great leader in today’s world is just not enough. Not only do you have to be great yourself, rather you have develop your team too. Having good leaders is a key to success for any organisation in today’s tough world. The market has become so… Read More »
[August 22, 2017] All accidents in the U.S. military are taken very seriously and large accidents are investigated thoroughly. Safeguards are so advanced that the U.S. Navy has brought ship safety to a new level. Yet collisions between ships, as recently occurred between the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and an oil tanker, are rare; often the result… Read More »
[August 21, 2017] It was a gloomy, dark night when we moved into a hide position west of Baghdad from where our unit was to await the approach of a “courier” with suspected nuclear material in his possession. Our mission, hastily assigned, was to intercept the courier and take him and all his possessions into custody. Unfortunately, our… Read More »
[August 20, 2017] It has been said that the German Army during World War II was tactically superior to all Allied forces. Therefore, it is worth the study of how those tactics were taught and how leaders reinforced good tactical decision-making. Insight into WWII German tactical procedures is a worthwhile endeavor. However, it has also been said one… Read More »
[August 19, 2017] There’s always a lot of talk about bad leaders … toxic managers, bad bosses and incompetent commanders. Found in common among those folks who betray us is a general disregard for people and the habit of not living up to their commitments. Even as children we learn quickly who can be relied upon to never… Read More »
[August 18, 2017] It has been more than a year since I added a “characteristic” for senior leaders. How I overlooked this one – an important one at that – is still a mystery. Being consistent as a leader is crucial for a number of reasons that I will address below. In the Deep South back in the… Read More »
[August 17, 2017] Speaking with soldiers over the past few decades, I’ve heard most of them say that their Commander is tough but fair. It was always good news to know rank-and-file soldiers believe their commanders were doing the right things. Good leadership depends upon it. But what I wasn’t prepared to hear was what they considered “fair”… Read More »