Suitability of Millennials to Lead the Profession of Arms
Abstract
The Millennial Generation will be entering the highest levels of military service in the coming years and will be the military's strategic leaders in 2025. The military must begin an examination of the generational profile of this cohort to match its characteristics with the skills required for the military's strategic leaders in the future, tempering those characteristics that might cause national derailment of the Profession of Arms and nurturing those that show positive synchronization with the future landscape. One must determine what skills separate the strategic military leader from the successful leaders at lower levels so as to focus the development of those Millennials who show the most promise. The most important characteristics for strategic leaders are as follows: Intellectual Sophistication, so that they can form a legitimate vision; Mastery of Communication, so that they can establish understanding and support for the vision; and Mature Self-knowledge, so that they do not cause their own failure. This paper attempts to provide practical advice to today's leaders concerning the development of this cohort.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA520115
Entities
People
- Rhonda D. Smillie
Organizations
- United States Army War College