Theirs Is to Reason Why
By Major Donald Vandergriff, U.S. Army (Retired)
Deciding when and how to close with an enemy may be the least important decision leaders make on an asymmetric battlefield.
The challenge the Army faces today is not one of over-thinking situations, rather it is the failure to think clearly in situations that require sound judgment at junior levels, and leadership's hesitation to believe that juniors can or will think clearly. Soldiers and junior leaders who are trained or conditioned to look at the situation - to assess, exercise judgment, and make a decision - are more decisive, deliberate, and correct in their actions. This is particularly important in the complex environment of full-spectrum operations. The most important capability needed for the future Army of 2030 and beyond are thinking Soldiers and junior leaders who seek the "why" of a situation, task, or directive. They are interested in this primarily to understand and make better use of the purpose behind it. But the future is now.
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Major Vandergriff is a senior analyst in leader and Soldier development at the Army Capabilities Integration Center Forward in Crystal City, Virginia. He served 24 years on active duty as an enlisted Marine and Army officer and has written 50 articles and four books including Path to Victory: America's Army and the Revolution in Human Affairs (Presidio Press, 2002).
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