[January 28, 2021] My first evaluation as an Infantry Company Commander said that I was ‘resistant to delegating authority.’ It was an insult, in my mind anyway, and an embarrassment as well. I knew that the art of leadership is not about ordering people around but finding the right people, delegating tasks to them, and giving them the… Read More »
[January 27, 2021] Long ago, as an Infantry Platoon Leader, I lead a convoy on a route that I did not explore in advance. My task was simple, “Take your platoon to the barracks on a pre-determined route.” I skipped the step, got my unit lost (temporarily), and was late arriving at my destination. I simply did not… Read More »
[January 26, 2021] I’m a positive kind of guy. I seem to always see the glass as half full rather than half empty. I take every person I meet with the attitude that they are good people who will not lie, cheat, or steal. I always look for the upside to every event and learn from even dire… Read More »
[January 17, 2021] Military officers are educated throughout their career that the military should stay out of partisan politics. Yesterday, in part 2 of this two-part series (link here), I argued there is a contradiction between this idea and the fact that what we do can be politically important. Thus, not everything political is off limits. The U.S.… Read More »
[January 16, 2021] The idea, instilled in all incoming U.S. military officers, that we should stay out of politics has always puzzled me. On the one hand, we are told that our behavior can have strategic effects, yet we keep our mouths shut about the political element of strategy.1 Like other publications,2 I was asked to comment on… Read More »
[January 12, 2021] The world is unimaginably complex, dangerous, and unpredictable. Events happen quickly, unexpectedly. It can kill you. While we want to feel we are in control, and we are in some ways, we are often not in control. This is why we must face the danger that inevitably appears. “He who learns but does not think,… Read More »
[January 11, 2021] It was late Autumn of 1989 when my Infantry company was involved in one of the most extensive U.S. Army training exercises of the year. After two weeks in the field, we were cold, wet, tired, and beat mentally. Yet, our spirits were high as the exercise ended, and our unit was first to hit… Read More »
[January 6, 2021] Working with great leaders brings many advantages, not all of which are directly related to learning how to think and act appropriately. First, as an enlisted soldier and then as an officer, I was able to see leadership from two different perspectives. In my opinion, the U.S. military is the best place to observe and… Read More »
[January 5, 2021] I am fortunate to have worked with, as well as worked for, some of the worst officers that the U.S. Army ever produced. I’m happy for the opportunity because, as Army senior leaders often note, you can still learn much from a poor leader. Some of the worst leader traits I found in new U.S.… Read More »
[January 3, 2021] In 1978, I was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Part reward, part professional development, several sergeants from my unit toured the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. We were impressed. Standards of ethical behavior were clear in their Cadet Honor Code. “A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal,… Read More »