Introduction
General Norman Schwarzkopf was born to be a leader, and he worked his way up to becoming a celebrated Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army Central Command. He attained major milestones in his career in the military and showed the ability to work with a diverse group of people. Throughout his career, Schwarzkopf showed his capacity to lead a team to victory despite the challenge.
One of the most distinguished hallmarks of his career is the assignment and the lead commander in the Gulf War. He was well prepared for the assignment, having led successful engagements in other war actions, such as in Vietnam and Grenade. He implored his gift of leadership to craft a well-organized plan that led to the defeat of the Iraqi army in a short period and with minimal casualties and injuries. During the war, General Schwarzkopf demonstrated exceptional strategic acumen, adept coalition-building, and decisive decision-making, leading to the successful liberation of Kuwait and solidifying his stature as a remarkable military commander.
General Schwarzkopf’s Background
Education
General Schwarzkopf was born to a military father and had close interaction with his nature of work from a young age. According to Guzman et al. (2022), Schwarzkopf developed the desire to join the military at a young age. He embarked on that journey by enrolling in an engineering course at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a multi-talented individual as he engaged in various activities, using sports and music. Upon successful completion of his studies, General Schwarzkopf was ultimately awarded a degree in Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.
Career
General Schwarzkopf started his military career as a second lieutenant. Throughout his service to the U.S. Army, General Schwarzkopf served in Germany, Vietnam, Georgia, Grenada, and Iraq. In research by (Olsen and Blyth, 2022), General Schwarzkopf was devoted to his job and rose through the ranks from a second lieutenant in 1956 to a full general in 1988. As a major general, General Schwarzkopf was the commander of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Upon becoming a full general, Schwarzkopf was appointed to be the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army Central Command, which is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida. The command center handled operations across the Horn of Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Leadership in Repelling the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
By virtue of his position, General Schwarzkopf was called to duty to lead the coalition forces in pushing back the Iraqi forces from invading Kuwait. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq had instructed his forces to carry out an invasion and occupy the territory of their neighbor, Kuwait, in early August 1990. This raised the stakes of the conflict from Desert Shield to Desert Storm, which raised alarm among other Arab powers, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The U.S. army was called upon alongside other Western powers to intervene. Efforts were made by the United Nations Security Council to implore Hussein to withdraw his troops from Kuwait. However, he remained adamant, and by mid-January 1991, Operation Desert Storm started in earnest, led by the U.S. forces. The relentless attack on Iraqi troops was carried out for about 42 days until the enemy was weakened as some surrendered (Olsen and Blyth, 2022). A cease-fire was declared by U.S. President George H.W. Bush, and the Western powers assumed victory on the battlefield.
General Schwarzkopf embarked on the mission and implored on his military background and his acquaintance with the region. He took the assignment head-on and led the designing of a distinctive plan that proved not only to be practical but also highly effective. According to Hrab (2021), General Schwarzkopf exercised command troops drawn from 28 countries totaling over 765,000, out of which about three-quarters were American. He managed to coordinate several hundreds of warships and thousands of planes and tanks. The operation was successful thanks to his leadership, as the defense forces suffered minor casualties and injuries compared to the Iraqi forces.
Leadership in the Military: Gulf War
Effective Management
The Gulf War underscored the leadership power of General Schwarzkopf. He emerged as an astute organizer based on his knack for managing a large military contagion that was engaged in the Gulf War, spanning the air, ground, and navy forces. In this respect, the General showed his ability to manage people to achieve the intended objective, which involved defeating Saddam Hussein’s army to the point they were overpowered and some had to surrender. This goes along with his people management skills, which is an essential leadership quality in the military.
According to Olsen and Blyth (2022), a commander should be able to manage people effectively, considering that the military comprises people from diverse backgrounds. The individual has to be managed with a high level of care to ensure they put their best effort on the battlefield. The Katz model of leadership identifies people skills as necessary to be able to influence the power of a group. General Schwarzkopf may not have been the most brilliant tactician on the team, but he implored human skills to ensure gifted members of the group contributed their best ideas to enhance the overall plan of attack on the battlefield.
Strategic Planning
General Schwarzkopf also demonstrated his quality as a strategic planner and thinker. He has a clear understanding of the military objectives in the Gulf region and developed a comprehensive plan to achieve them. He formulated a strategy that involved a massive coalition force to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. His vision included deploying forces from different nations, coordinating air and ground operations, and targeting key Iraqi military assets.
The troops were managed through an effective communication approach (Guzman et al., 2022). The modern-day General managed to convey complex military plans in a clear and concise manner, ensuring that his subordinates understood their roles and responsibilities. His ability to articulate the mission’s purpose and rationale fostered unity among the coalition forces.
Decision-Making and Humanism
The General also acted with a high level of decisiveness throughout the Gulf War, even in the most critical situations. One notable example was during the “left hook” maneuver, a flanking movement that encircled the Iraqi forces in Kuwait. He swiftly made the decision to initiate the maneuver, which led to a significant victory for the coalition.
Els and Meyer (2022) indicate that despite his commanding presence, General Schwarzkopf was also known for his empathy towards his troops. He cared deeply for their well-being and ensured they received the necessary support and resources. For instance, he prioritized providing adequate food, shelter, and medical care for the troops in the harsh desert conditions. He demonstrated adaptability and flexibility in response to changing circumstances during the Gulf War. When faced with unforeseen challenges, General Schwarzkopf adjusted his strategies and tactics accordingly, ensuring the coalition forces maintained the upper hand in the conflict.
Team-Building
Furthermore, General Schwarzkopf manifested strong leadership by showing the ability to build effective teams. Teamwork and camaraderie among the diverse coalition forces were facilitated by his ability to forge strong relationships with allied commanders. He managed to foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust that proved crucial to the success of the campaign. Guzman et al. (2022) indicate that the General also leads by example and acts as a role model for his subordinates, setting high standards for professionalism and discipline. His hands-on approach and willingness to be at the front lines earned him the respect and admiration of his troops.
General Schwarzkopf developed the character because he interacted with people from diverse locations while growing up. He developed a high level of cultural competence as he lived in different locations with his father, who served in the U.S. Army while Schwarzkopf was young. His father established diverse networks, and Schwarzkopf accompanied him such that he was able to appreciate the different cultures and views people had based on their upbringing and environment.
Cultural Competence
Building cultural competence in leadership is not an easy task, as a person has to be deliberate in understanding and appreciating different people’s perspectives. Hrab (2021) indicates that people are ethnocentric, which means that they believe that their language or culture is superior to others. Some may consider that they have stronger and better belief systems and may consider others as odd.
However, General Schwarzkopf emerged as a great leader as he was able to appreciate the different cultures and managed to work with forces from many other countries leading to the feat realized during the Gulf War. He then oversaw and commanded a battalion of soldiers from Great Britain, Australia, Portugal, Canada, France, Spain, Netherlands, South Korea, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. He stood up to the task and showed a high level of organizational performance in managing a disparate group of officers and soldiers.
Active Listening
At the same time, General Schwarzkopf demonstrated a high level of sensitivity in handling different issues and conflicts that could arise during the war. He demonstrated the ability to listen to his subordinates during planning to enable the team to overcome their struggles collectively. The members could freely express their feelings, views, and ideas regarding a particular objective, showing that they cherished the values other people brought to the team (Hrab, 2021).
He also trusted his subordinate officers and implored their capacity to develop plans during the Gulf War. Even though the approach may have led to problems in role clarity, General Schwarzkopf understood the importance of considering the general positions, which made it easier to defer to other people’s perceptions if he believed that concession would not jeopardize the mission.
The General also ensured that the compromises were justified and would lead to the successful attainment of the objectives. He walked the military alliance and ensured that they focused on the primary objective of defeating Saddam Hussein, who had proven to be the enemy of freedom and democracy. He understood that purpose and managed to ensure the forces overcame the temptation to serve their national interests.
Transactional Leadership
Additionally, General Schwarzkopf displayed a transactional style of leadership based on the approaches he used and his victory that were established on the support for group performance and compliance. During the Gulf War, the Modern-day General developed a strategy that was centered on achieving specific results within a specific period such that different factions of the allied forces worked as one cohesive unit.
Given that General Schwarzkopf had to deal with commanders and generals with strong personalities, compliance was an important tool in the battle (Olsen and Blyth, 2022). He had to work with people who were great military leaders in their nations and had the right to make certain demands. Therefore, the modern-day General’s approach to leadership was a powerful tool to help generate significant results that contributed to his decoration as a great military leader.
Motivation
General Schwarzkopf had the gift and leadership quality through which he would connect with his forces to inspire confidence and ensure the enemy was defeated. Motivation is an important component of transactional leadership because it inspires people to contribute to the overall success of a team. General Schwarzkopf inspired his troops, and they felt compelled to give their all as their efforts were recognized and rewarded. General Schwarzkopf, as a transactional leader, persuaded the coalition members that they needed to fight as a unit.
Els and Meyer (2022) state that aside from General Schwarzkopf’s expectation that his troops would combat the Iraqi army, he also recognized that they needed to be recognized for their effort while others looked forward to a promotion. Leaders with a high level of people management abilities value every member of the team, which fosters the motivation to give the best of their abilities. He helped to motivate his troops to achieve their goals by recognizing the accomplishments of other generals and military leaders. General Schwarzkopf made the crew believe that the success of the war was dependent on their efforts and dedication to the objective.
Conclusion
General Norman Schwarzkopf fulfilled his ambition of working in the military. Not only did he achieve that ambition, but he also exceeded his expectations as he earned promotions up to the level of commander-general. Soon after he was awarded the top position, the modern-day General was tasked with leasing a major attack against the Iraqi forces following their invasion of Kuwait. As the leader in charge of forces from different nations, General Schwarzkopf exercised adept leadership established on decisive decision-making, strategic acumen, and the ability to manage a diverse team toward attaining a common objective.
The general implored meticulous planning and coordination, combined with a keen understanding of the geopolitical landscape, leading up to the coalition’s victory in a short span. The application of Schwarzkopf’s leadership principles in the military holds valuable lessons. His transactional style of leadership can serve as a blueprint for military leaders to ensure the humane treatment and recognition of forces during conflicts. Future military leaders can draw upon his legacy in being better equipped to face the complex challenges of modern warfare with success and integrity.
Reference List
Els, R.C. and Meyer, H.H.W. (2022). ‘Leaders’ attitudes towards, and commitment to quality management of training within the military’. The TQM Journal, 34(7), pp.1–17. Web.
Guzman, R., Parker, M., Gano, B., Mishra, M. and Ferguson Shaw, T. (2022). ‘Military Experience and School Leadership Development in North Carolina.’ Journal of Veterans Studies, 8(1), pp.98–109. Web.
Hrab, D.-E. (2021). ‘The contribution of modern military leadership in implementing the sustainable development objectives.’ Security and Defense Faculty, 17(1), pp.309–319. Web.
Olsen, M.L. and Blyth, D.M. (2022). ‘Everyday leadership can be life changing.’ Military Medicine. Web.