Combat Leadership--Trouble in the Nineties?
Abstract
Today, the United States has effective combat leaders ready to successfully employ U.S. forces if required to achieve U.S. objectives. However, events taking place within the U.S. military and in several East European countries could result in a degradation of the combat leadership ability presently found in the U.S. military services. The current U.S. combat leadership strength is a result of three elements: the high quality of the individuals serving in leadership positions, experience in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and finally, the emphasis placed on realistic training in the 1980s. However, as we enter the last decade of this century, three things will challenge this combat leadership: the separation of many high quality, mid-level officers from military service, the retirement of the majority of the officers with combat experience, and the shift in budget priorities due to the enormous change taking place in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. To overcome the negative effects of these events, the development of combat leaders must have preeminent priority. This task is the joint responsibility of the individual and the military services. The individual through personal study and professional reading, and the military services through formal training programs and combat training exercises.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA249515
Entities
People
- David J. Semon
Organizations
- Air War College