The Well of Fortitude
Abstract
The Well of Fortitude (WoF), introduced by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman in his book "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society," is the spark of a greater concept that needs to be taken further. The WoF serves as the metaphor for self-development and the development of subordinates. Grossman articulates, "emotional stamina on the battlefield [is] a finite resource... [under stress] each man draws steadily from his own private reservoir of inner strength and fortitude until finally the well runs dry." Missing in Grossman's concept is what makes up the private reservoir of inner strength and fortitude of an individual. Taking this metaphor further, consider the WoF to consist of an individual's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual deepness or capacity. Stress of any kind pulls from one or more of these capacities, and when one capacity is drained the others are affected. What is worse, when one capacity runs dry the individual will break, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. This concept applies not only to combat, but to all aspects of life: in school, in training, on a forced march, or in dealing with one's spouse and family. Just as a gem has many facets, a whole-person has multiple facets. Dr. Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and "The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness," developed the model of the four intelligences. These are physical intelligence, mental intelligence, emotional intelligence, and spiritual intelligence. The four intelligences serve as dimensions of the WoF. Leaders should aim to incorporate the deepening of these intelligences within every training evolution.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA511262
Entities
People
- J. L. Schiller Ii
Organizations
- Marine Corps University