Enabling Disciplined Initiative: An Experiential Lesson

Abstract

Ulysses S. Grant's early career demonstrates a correlation between learning agility and the mission command principle: exercise disciplined initiative. Application of experiential learning theory during historical analysis of operational commanders that served in the Pacific Theater during World War II (WWII) provides a means to prioritize education and training experiences that enable the exercise of disciplined initiative. Chronological study of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher and General Walter Krueger's preparation before WWII, and each leader's actions after December 7, 1941 identifies how each officer developed and leveraged mental agility, people agility, change agility, results agility, and self-awareness. As their cases show, experiential learning that takes place during large-scale military exercises, diverse assignment opportunities, balanced military education, and rigorous self-study enables the continuous growth of learning agility and the exercise of disciplined initiative.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 26, 2016
Accession Number
AD1022294

Entities

People

  • James C. Wiltse

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Birds
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Military Education
  • Military Exercises
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.