My essay aims to discuss the foundation of U.S. Army leadership. Knowing the foundation of leadership in the Army is very important to being a leader. By its very nature, war is a place of chaos where nobody knows exactly what to do, where to run, or where to shoot. Therefore, throughout the millennia, a workable organization of army order has played a crucial role in military success. If the soldiers are not organized and do not follow a leader who knows what to do, they do not even have a chance of achieving the campaign’s goals. Moreover, in war, the lack of quality leadership affects whether fighters return home alive or not. A weak, untrained, and poorly educated leader increases the chances of failure for his squad. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the training of command personnel following the foundation of leadership in the Army.
The Foundations of Army Leadership is a system of knowledge, skills, and principles that have developed over the centuries in accordance with the values and laws of our country. The set requirements for leaders are the basis of this doctrine, and “the Army identifies three categories of core leader competencies: lead, develop, and achieve” (U.S. Army, ADP 6-22, 2019). “Lead” means to give direction and purpose to soldiers; “develop” is to help young soldiers gain competencies; “achieve” is to attain successful completion of tasks and missions. Commanders must be held to high standards because leaders are only efficient if they can influence their subordinates by example and trust them. The Foundations of Army Leadership requirements ensure the selection of competent and mature soldiers for management positions and provide guidelines for effective training (Munteanu, 2016). Thus, Army leaders are competent, dedicated, well-educated, and multi-skilled members of the military. Any person who goes from soldier to commander must acquire a range of competencies in various areas.
Some soldiers have a natural flair for leadership; others can undergo the training for it. For these purposes, military experts follow BE-KNOW-DO, a well-established formula for U.S. Army leadership. BE means having the values and attributes inherent in a leader and manifesting them in service. The commander must have the qualities of a good soldier (courage, responsibility, discipline, etc.) and inspire their subordinates with the example (Munteanu, 2016). KNOW means to acquire the necessary knowledge about the strategy and tactics of warfare, “technical systems, organizations, management of resources, and the tendencies and needs of people” (Munteanu, 2016, p. 4). In combat situations, it is vital to be able to make decisions quickly, relying on working knowledge, proven by time and practice, and not just on intuition or experience. DO means establishing a correspondence between your words and actions (Munteanu, 2016). If a leader tells a soldier to complete a task that they cannot complete, then the authority of such a commander will fall.
A big part of leader development is adapting and following the warrior code of ethics. Values are what shape a person, strengthen the core of their personality, and provide moral and practical guidance. AR 600-20 lays the basis for understanding and executing Army leadership; it includes soldiers’ selection, training, and education based on shared values and ethical standards. According to the ADP 6-22 Chapter 1, “the Army Values are the compass needle, always pointing toward what the Nation demands of its Army” (U.S. Army, ADP 6-22, 2019). This guide exists for all military professionals, from soldiers to senior officers, and lays down the general principles guiding warriors. First, to become a leader, you need to master and feel the fundamental values well – “integrity, loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, and personal courage” (U.S. Army, ADP 6-22, 2019). Second, the future leader must gain competency-based abilities to build trust, inspire, communicate and lead (U.S. Army, ADP 6-22, 2019). Ultimately, the role of a leader is to ensure that peers build trust, promote the professional and personal growth of subordinates, and ensure the success of missions.
An army leader is not just a rank or a high position; it is a significant responsibility for his subordinates and the implementation of national interests for the benefit of the country. Even if a person is a born leader, they will have to master military values at a high level, constantly acquire new knowledge and develop professionally and personally. The role of a leader requires considerable dedication, learning the art of war from a basis, the confidence to lead and inspire, and an impressive amount of internal discipline. American traditions, national values, and military guidelines have laid the foundation for understanding successful and effective leadership in the Army. Current and future leaders are expected to learn these high standards and implement them in their service. BE-KNOW-DO principle is a valuable and applicable outline to follow for future leaders. Understanding the role of a leader and effective leadership is essential to building a well-functioning army capable of achieving results and carrying out missions with the least possible casualties.
References
Army, U. S. (2019). ADP 6-22 Army leadership and the profession. Department of the Army.
Munteanu, A. (2016). Army Leadership. CEFME Students Conference, Romania. Web.