How a Decade of Conflict Affected Junior Logistics Officer Development
Abstract
Over the last decade, the Army experienced many changes while fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The more transformative changes were demands placed on Soldiers and leaders to resource the war effort, introduction of the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) process and reorganizing operational units to a modular force structure. These changes created demands on personnel and leader development systems. As a shortage career field, junior logistics officers in Ordnance, Transportation and Quartermaster were particularly stressed as Army requirements outpaced its inventory of junior logistics officers. Challenges such as missed opportunities for broadening assignments, fragmented command relationships, disjointed unit deployments, multiple "in-lieu of" missions and filling MiTT requirements disrupted normal professional development timelines. As stewards of the Army, senior leaders should understand that junior officers had different developmental experiences. Although battle hardened, junior logistics officers may require guidance transitioning to garrison operations and expect senior leaders to balance opportunities for education, training and broadening experiences outside the Army to prepare them for senior leader positions in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA542855
Entities
People
- Rodney Fogg
Organizations
- United States Army War College