A Military Leadership Notebook by Walter F. Ulmer Jr

Author:Walter F. Ulmer Jr. [Ulmer, Walter F. Jr.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781532026744
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2017-10-16T04:00:00+00:00

• Speeches to mass audiences have their place in leadership. Everybody wants to hear the news from the horse’s mouth. When the commander-in-chief, service secretary, or service chief broadcasts to the troops it can be an uplifting and clarifying, not undermining anybody’s authority. When the brigade commander has an inspiring message to deliver to the assembled troops, that might be worth the cost. Routine announcements of policy in mass formation, however, have high potential for damage. While administratively convenient, they bypass and weaken leaders’ role as the primary conduit for organizational information. What are sensible guidelines here?

Policies and plans passed down through the chain of command strengthen it. When the platoon leader and platoon sergeant hear the news the same time their troops do, that may be a lost opportunity to reinforce authority. How do we best communicate non-tactical, nonemergency information to the troops about new directives on physical training standards, new guidelines on wearing the uniform, or a change in unit deployment date?

• Unit coherence and leader sense of responsibility are enhanced by minimizing training by committee and maximizing training by members of the chain of command. One expert explaining to the massed battalion or company how to activate the new encryption device or strip the new machine gun should be a last resort. Instead, leaders should be trained by the expert so they can reinforce their authority by demonstrating their expertise. What are the criteria for determining whether subject-matter experts or members of the local chain of command conduct training?

• At every opportunity, pass the baton to the lowest unit that can execute. Do things by unit, not by roster. A conspicuous opportunity is morning PT. (By the way, why do we start it at 0600 or 0630 in garrison? This probably began in early WWII when time was of the essence and all soldiers—mostly unmarried—lived close by in barracks. To meet an 0630 formation today, some one-car family a few miles away got the baby up at 0530 to deliver the soldier. We once at our installation moved the voluntary start time to 0700. The sky did not fall. A few battalion-level leaders complained about cutting into maintenance time. But I digress.) While a battalion two-mile run now and then probably has merit (we did it for years in boots before running shoes were invented and thoughtfully authorized), this is a splendid opportunity to let platoon or even squad/section leaders take charge, instruct, set the example, and use initiative in creating a challenging, team-building event. They of course would also be responsible for their troops passing the PT test. Some organizations do it that way. Others still have mass formations with everybody in the same color shoestrings.

The general should often be present to praise some, to criticize others, and see with his own eyes that the orders … are observed exactly. Frederick the Great, 1747

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