Important Differences between Successful and Unsuccessful Senior Allied Army Combat Leaders

Abstract

Two successful and two unsuccessful senior Allied Army combat leaders are studied to discern whether there are important differences in the qualities and abilities they demonstrated in combat. The methodology used was to examine materials on the leaders for examples demonstrating courage, determination, coup d'oeil, presence of mind, strength of will, and sense of locality--qualities and abilities which Carl von Clausewitz thought important. Any other qualities or abilities which appeared important in the cases studied were also noted. The study, however, represents an initial exploratory look. It is qualitative and judgmental, not quantitative and empirical. It was found that the successful leaders demonstrated a balance of qualities and abilities while the unsuccessful ones either lacked a balance or demonstrated some fatal flaw. Further study by other researchers is recommended. (sdw)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 19, 1990
Accession Number
ADA222779

Entities

People

  • F. E. Morrison

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Air Supplies
  • Aircrafts
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Islands
  • Middle East
  • Personality
  • Public Relations
  • Ridges
  • Second World War
  • Terrain
  • Topography
  • Universities
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Theoretical Analysis.