Leadership for the Future Battlefield
Abstract
This monograph discusses the adequacy of U.S. Army leadership doctrine for preparing officers to lead on the future battlefield. Current leadership doctrine focuses on command climate, unit cohesion, and team building. While important, these areas may not be sufficient for the battlefields of tomorrow. Many analysts predict that future military leaders will face a more complex array of problems than those faced by leaders in the past. In that light, this monograph examines the concomitant leadership requirements for future battle and suggests improvements to our leadership doctrine to satisfy those requirements. The monograph first examines the leadership theories of Carl von Clausewitz, Ardant du Picq, S.L.A. Marshall, and Anthony Kellet. The purpose is to determine which theories are reflected in our current leadership doctrine and which, if incorporated, could prove beneficial. History will then be used to offer insight into the leadership traits of past battlefield leaders. The monograph will then scrutinize current leadership doctrine and its adequacy for future battle. The conclusions show that current leadership doctrine ignores valuable lessons from both theory and history. Additionally, our doctrine neither contains a vision of the next war nor adapts to the probable realities of future battle. Our doctrine needs more focus in the area of imagination, initiative, an flexibility. While our doctrine is simple and concise, we must recognize that it is also incomplete.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 17, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA233512
Entities
People
- Philip S. Thompson
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College