[February 22, 2025] General Paul E. Funk II, a recently retired 4-star U.S. Army General, has gathered some real wisdom over the years and has shared it with us. In his Funk’s Fundamentals, GEN. Funk is saying that being part of a team requires self-motivation and teamwork. Through training, team building, and effective leadership, every leader can succeed. I truly like his work and that’s why I reference it here today.
GEN. Funk’s playbook fundamentals are worthy of our attention. They come from his 40 years wearing the uniform of an Army Soldier, never failing to add to the lessons that are a reminder of the cornerstones of his career. As the 17th Commanding General of TRADOC, Funk uses these fundamentals as watchwords, embodying his commitment to excellence for Soldiers, Civilians, and the Families that make up the winningest team in history.
“Find that one thing that makes your heart race and gets you up out of bed; mine happens to be being a Soldier.” — General Paul E. Funk II, U.S. Army (retired)
Here are the 40 Funk’s Fundamentals:
- Always secure yourself first
- If you can’t talk, you can’t win
- You can save your own life
- Simplicity is the most important principle of war
- Common sense is the most important principle of patrolling
- Talking isn’t fighting
- Never fight a fair fight
- Don’t accept NO from someone who can’t say yes
- Trust but verify
- Never be unreachable
- Never waste good coffee
- Never take anything for granted
- Never go anywhere without a knife
- Never pass up a chance to use a clean bathroom
- A good idea only becomes great when it is shared
- There is no such thing as a coincidence
- When in charge, take charge
- Good units do routine things routinely
- Great units master the basics
- Clean up your own mess
- PCC/PCI (pre-combat checks/inspections)
- Communication is established lower to higher
- The higher up the flagpole you go, the more your ass shows
- Ten pats on the back for everyone kick in the ass
- The Army is people business
- Humans learn two ways: significant emotional experience and repetition
- There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance
- Nobody cares how much you know until they know you care
- Screamer – folks will turn the other way to avoid you. Unpredictable – your team will be confused. Calm and resolute – your Soldiers will look for the disappointment in your voice and seek to avoid it
- Live the one you are with, whatever unit and job you have; it is the best in the Army. If not, make it so.
- Balance and moderation- don’t confuse enthusiasm with capability
- High standards, positive outlook, and excellence are contagious
- You are a professional, a professional athlete warrior, in a profession of arms, carrying your national colors – be proud, train, and act like one
- If you think you are important, try ordering around someone else’s dog
- TOPS – Take Other People’s Stuff
- Don’t let analysis cause paralysis
- Training schedules are priorities of work tied to a timeline
- Training is a journey, not a destination
- Leadership is a contact sport; it requires daily interaction
- Leave the jersey in a better place than you found it.
————
Please read my books:
Nice. Not much to write except this is another list ill be putting on my refrigerator.
Lots of good sayings here that I’m familiar with. #s 7, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, and others, but you get the idea. Some of these are a rewording of common military principles. I like the way these are laid out.
SWEET
Excellent, thanks I’d never heard of Funk’s Fundamentals before.
All thumb’s up on this article. I see some of the lessons are military-centric and that is okay. You just have to look them up to get a better idea of what Gen Funk is saying. For example, #21 PCC/PCI (pre-combat checks/inspections). This means that a leader has to check and inspect for what they expect. They cannot “assume” that things will go their way.
Right Navy Vet … “inspect what you expect.” This an old saying, at least, in the army. It means several things and one of them is that it is human to do as little as possible to get by. And if someone is checking on you, you’ll do more. That’s what we want … to do more. I always like it when Gen. Satterfield gives us a summary of what other Flag Officers say.
Army Vet, thanks. I’m sure you are familiar with these ideas already. 👀
And, as well thank you for showing us that you read our comments. 🕷🕷🕷🕷
Lots of parallels between GEN Funk and Gen Satterfield. Both US Army, both Generals, both great men. Thank you, sir for publishing this list of Funk’s Fundamentals. 👍