Something Old, Something New Army Leader Development in a Dynamic Environment

by Leonard, Henry A.; Polich, Michael J.; Peterson, Jeffrey; Sortor, Ronald E.; Moore, Craig S.

• ISBN13: 9780833038876
• ISBN10: 0833038877
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-19
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Changes in the world over the past two decades have created a dynamic situation--volatile, unpredictable, and novel in many respects--making the conduct of military operations more complex and varied than in the past. This report examines the nature of demands on Army officers in the contemporary operating environment and their implications for leader development. How will the Army prepare its future leaders for the new demands that will inevitably be placed on them?

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxi
Glossary	xxiii
Introduction	1	(4)
Background	1	(1)
Focus and Content of This Report	2	(2)
Sources and Methods	4	(1)
Military Leadership: From the General to the Specific	5	(20)
The Army Construct: Be-Know--Do	6	(2)
Persona: What the Leader Should ``Be''	7	(1)
Knowledge and Skill: What the Leader Should ``Know'' and ``Do''	8	(1)
Other Perspectives on Leadership	8	(7)
Military Professionalism	8	(3)
Skills Needed for a Changing Environment	11	(4)
The Structure Above the Foundation: Skills for Operational Command	15	(10)
Focus on Decision Making in Battle Command	15	(1)
Models of Decision Making	16	(5)
Summing Up: Decision Making in Today's Environment	21	(4)
Key Leader Competencies for the Contemporary Operating Environment	25	(28)
Features of the Environment	26	(5)
Wide Variety of Potential Threats	27	(1)
Increased Unconventional Threats	28	(1)
Enhanced Enemy Capabilities in Regional Conflict	29	(1)
Wide Range of Terrain Types	29	(1)
Increased Stability and Peacekeeping Operations	30	(1)
Increased Use of Information Technology and Networks	30	(1)
Leader Skills	31	(8)
Understanding the Enemy Situation	32	(1)
Understanding the Physical Environment	33	(1)
Understanding Own Capabilities and Requirements	34	(3)
Understanding Social and Cultural Features of the Environment	37	(2)
Scenario Analysis	39	(8)
Understanding the Enemy Situation	40	(2)
Understanding the Physical Environment	42	(1)
Understanding Own Capabilities and Requirements	43	(2)
Understanding Social and Cultural Features of the Environment	45	(2)
Summing Up: Challenges for Leader Development	47	(6)
Upper Panel	49	(1)
Middle Panel	50	(1)
Lower Panel	50	(1)
Implications	51	(2)
Experience Gained Through Operational Assignments	53	(34)
Analyzing Experience of Junior Officers	53	(1)
Types of Positions	54	(8)
Four Categories of Positions	54	(2)
Battalion Commanders' Background	56	(3)
TOE Versus TDA: Army Requirements for Operational and Institutional Positions	59	(3)
Modeling Officer Careers Through Key Positions	62	(7)
Number of Positions for Armor Officers	62	(1)
The Development Paradigm: Career Segments	63	(2)
Sequences of Assignments	65	(2)
Rules Governing Selection for Positions	67	(2)
Analysis Results	69	(14)
Base Case: Emphasis on Operational Background	69	(4)
A Comparison Case: The ``Legacy'' System	73	(2)
Developing Experience in ``New'' Units	75	(3)
Maximizing Repetitive New-Unit Experience	78	(2)
Increasing the Number of New Units	80	(1)
Requiring More Senior Grades for New-Unit Leadership	81	(2)
Implications	83	(4)
Achievable Levels of Operational Experience	83	(1)
Providing More Opportunities to Gain Operational Experience	84	(3)
Balancing Breadth and Depth	87	(16)
Specific Operational Skills	88	(5)
Proliferation of Skill Requirements	88	(1)
Prioritizing Skills and Selecting Development Venues	89	(3)
Using the Army's Institutions for Leverage	92	(1)
Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities	93	(4)
Recognitional Decision Making	94	(1)
Education: A Key Venue for Developing Decision-Making Abilities	94	(1)
Steps to Enhance Decision Skills	95	(2)
Breadth of Cultural Knowledge and Perspective	97	(6)
Perspective Beyond the Army	97	(2)
Making Enough Time for Broadening Experiences	99	(4)
Conclusions and Recommendations	103	(8)
Implications	103	(5)
Specific Operational Skills	103	(2)
Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities	105	(2)
Breadth of Knowledge and Perspective	107	(1)
Recommendations	108	(1)
Summing Up: The Need to Blend Broad Practical Experience With Intellectual Development	109	(2)
Appendix: Modeling Assignments and Experience	111	(12)
References	123