Training and Selection of Small Unit Enlisted Leaders
Abstract
Success on the battlefield is directly related to small unit leaders. Lieutenants and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) have a huge influence in determining whether or not battles are won. Throughout the Marine Corps' history, it has consistently produced outstanding small unit leaders who have accomplished amazing feats and have been the deciding factor in victory. These small unit leaders continue to uphold the Marine Corps' traditions on today's battlefields even though the training of Lieutenants is quite different from that of NCOs. Lieutenants are required to go through a more thorough selection and training cycle than do NCOs in current training programs for small unit leaders. The new concepts of "Strategic Corporal," "4th Generation Warfare," and "Distributed Operations" ensure that small unit leaders' importance and challenges on future battlefields will continue to increase. To make sure that its small unit enlisted leaders are prepared for future challenges, a cultural change in the way the Marine Corps trains and selects its small unit enlisted leaders will be necessary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA503463
Entities
People
- J. C. Tamminen
Organizations
- University of Michigan