Introduction
Any military branch that operates with the premise of servicing the country they are to protect refers to the legal and ethical premises of the nation which built the force. However, the premises are to be tough, communicated, ensured, and facilitated. This is why leadership is an effective tool not only in managing the force but also in creating precedents in which the said entity is able to change and adapt to new environments. Through leadership, the army is united, cooperates with the government, operates based on the preinstalled concepts of security, and does not engage in actions that go against the law or moral principles. When it comes to the foundation of the army leadership, there are several concepts that have established a well-organized system in which leaders guide, inspire, and install values in their subordinates. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the historical background, the leader’s traits, ability to maintain resilience, and values as the elements that have constructed the foundation of leadership in the army.
History
As with the foundation of most concepts, the establishment of the army leadership starts with the establishment of the army itself. Thus, history has not only played an essential part in how military leaders operate today but is a representation of the system that has been in place for centuries (Figure 1). Namely, the resolution of the Continental Congress led to the formation of a united fighting force in 1775 (National Archives, 2022). Since then, the military force has been serving the interests of the nation under the guidance of the leaders who were the ones ensuring the processes that the fighting entity participates in do not contradict the premises of the country it serves. It is certain that the army has gone through major changes and has gradually adapted similarly to how society has shifted. However, one of the concepts of the foundation of army leadership is history, the previous leaders who have paved the way for current ones, and the concepts that have been installed previously in regards to the military hierarchy, task delegation, and operation strategies. Needless to say, historic leadership does not imply the presence of a single person managing the extensive fighting force. However, the current leadership system that exists now in regards to the actors within the hierarchy, such as privates, sergeants, lieutenants, and generals, has been established through the years of the existence of the united army force.
Personal Traits
Leadership, while a concept that can be managed, learned, and altered, is interconnected with the personal traits of the leader. Specifically, leaders have the ability to impact their subordinates not only through the actions they portray but also through their character, personality, and example. According to researchers, the positive traits of a leader directly affect organizational potential in various environments, including in the army (Nazri & Rudi, 2019). It is important to highlight that the army itself is based on several elements, including devotion to certain ideas, the ability to follow orders, and belief in the leaders that give the said orders. Thus, individuals who are responsible for the lives of their subordinates have to be respected and trusted. Thus, traits such as responsibility, confidence, charisma, and strength are fundamentally vital in regard to army leaders and leadership strategies aimed toward the establishment of a professional connection between soldiers and commanders.
Resilience/Values
While including resilience and history as the concepts that build the foundation of leadership in the army may appear to be counterproductive, the two elements are interconnected. The army as an entity has been historically resilient due to the fact that the country was changing in regards to its economic potential, social changes, political life, and various additional environmental shifts. According to researchers, an army leader who is resilient is able to operate under circumstances that would otherwise undermine the potential success (Martinsen et al., 2020). A fundamental trait of army leadership is the ability to adapt to new environments, both internally and externally. Thus, leadership implies shifting how the force operates both in relation to soldiers, approaches, and policies. Furthermore, the establishment of well-defined values is another foundation of army leadership (Figure 1). As mentioned prior, the foundation of the US army itself was based on the value of protecting the colonies from British influence and involvement in the internal affairs of the regions. However, besides the complex values such as democracy, security, and freedom, military leadership also establishes the elements of the personal value of each individual within the army. Namely, researchers mention the importance of leaders when it comes to the value of self-purpose among soldiers (Trachik et al., 2020). Thus, both individual values and national ones are at the foundation of army leadership.
Conclusion
The foundation of army leadership includes elements such as the historical background of the military force as a whole, the leader’s traits, the ability to change based on the environment, and the installment of certain values. The aforementioned concepts have formed the leadership system that exists today in the military realm and facilitated its evolution. The presence of strong leaders who are able to consider past experiences, individual approaches, the environment, and the values they promote are at the core of all the processes that occur within the army. By basing their policies on these elements, it is inevitable that both individuals and the actions they partake in are highly organized while operating with a clear purpose and under the efficient guidance of those in charge.
References
Martinsen, O., Fosse, T. H., Johansen, R. B., & Venemyr, G. O. (2020). A new perspective on military leadership. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2020(1), 17616.
National Archives. (2022). Lee Resolution (1776). National Archives and Records Administration.
Nazri, M., & Rudi, M. (2019). Military leadership: A systematic literature review of current research. International Journal of Business and Management, 3(2), 1–15. Web.
Trachik, B., Tucker, R. P., Ganulin, M. L., Merrill, J. C., LoPresti, M. L., Cabrera, O. A., & Dretsch, M. N. (2020). Leader provided purpose: Military leadership behavior and its association with Suicidal Ideation. Psychiatry Research, 285, 112722.