[April 25, 2024] Today, it is rare to see great leadership anywhere. From the highest office in the land to the lowest, leaders are failing and failing spectacularly. Why is that the case? A recent article by Travis Eddleman and Meagan van Harte attempts to answer the age-old question of how to lead in an environment of significant internal and external threats to the homeland. It begins with the forgotten primer on leadership.
“The Army missed 25% of its recruitment goal during fiscal year 2022, and in the last two years its size has decreased by 7%.” – Travis Eddleman and Meagan van Harte
Eddleman and van Harte’s example of why the U.S. military is experiencing a severe recruiting challenge and links that to “multiple reasons,” including physical and mental health, enlistment challenges, lack of incentives, and surveys showing those eligible to join “could not connect” with the Army.
“When the pendulum swings from favoritism to near rejection of the military due to national experiences that stir dissent, protest or anti-military clamor-and it will-the only choice for the military officer corps is a visible rededication to the precepts of honor, integrity and trust.” (p. 3) of The Armed Forces Officer. revision of 1988
They note that the authors of the 1988 revision of The Armed Forces Officer faced similar problems in the post-Vietnam War era, plagued with dwindling interest in the military among younger age groups and falling public support. While that may be true to some extent, this era did not see senior public elected officials denigrating the military.
Like the authors of this article published on the War Room: U.S. Army War College website (see link), many of us believe that the American Armed Forces have drifted away from the basics of leadership and should rededicate themselves to the ideals of honor, integrity, and trust. This “drift” is the result of an insidious clamor for social justice, woke ideology, gross ignorance, inexperience, and politicization of the U.S. military.
The authors note that more recent revisions of The Armed Forces Officer forgot many of the key principles of the 1988 version. Brigadier General S.L.A. Marshall first published this officer guide in 1950, and newer versions have strayed from the original precepts.
“The Armed Forces Officer inspires leaders to continuously seek knowledge, accept responsibility commensurate with their rank and position, and, above all, practice self-discipline while exhibiting high moral standards.”
The 1988 version gives officers three points to consider. Use available opportunities and training, encourage and promote honor and integrity, and provide simple and direct solutions to problems, even if they are difficult or complex. With a decline in those interested in the U.S. military, it is time to reject the current Woke ideologies of the current political pro-Marxist bent and rededicate ourselves to the basics of officer leadership.
These are timeless leadership principles and build the bedrock for leadership of the future.
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Please read my books:
“The 1988 version gives officers three points to consider. Use available opportunities and training, encourage and promote honor and integrity, and provide simple and direct solutions to problems, even if they are difficult or complex. With a decline in those interested in the U.S. military, it is time to reject the current Woke ideologies of the current political pro-Marxist bent and rededicate ourselves to the basics of officer leadership.”
Leadership skills are falling in military and non military communities. Gen my friend your article address that well.
A wise man told me a leader are to lead and feed. We as followers must follow and swallow.
Wow, very nice.
Couldn’t have said it better, ijore. I couldn’t resist downloading the PDF version (a side note that the US military allows you to download a lot of stuff for FREE). Take advantage of these downloads and start to read the documents. Pretty soon, you’ll be in the know from a military leadership perspective. I want to thank Gen. Satterfield for his serving our country and for making me aware of these freebies, that are actually VALUABLE for all of us. You don’t have to spend money or tell the government who you are, just get a copy and read read read. Simple, but too hard for snowflakes, feel sorry for them.
And like today’s article on Art of Manliness, this series should be getting the attention of all of us. If you know a young man, then send him to this site to read over and help him understand what is here.
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” —Ronald Reagan …….. HOOAH
Ronald Reagan, great man, great president, only now wish we had him in charge of the country.
Army Captain
Excellent comments
BAM … spot on observation:
“When the pendulum swings from favoritism to near rejection of the military due to national experiences that stir dissent, protest or anti-military clamor-and it will-the only choice for the military officer corps is a visible rededication to the precepts of honor, integrity and trust.” (p. 3) of The Armed Forces Officer. revision of 1988
Gen. Satterfield is being good to us this past week or so with a number of articles that deal with how to become a better man or better leaders. Today’s article is based on an old military office primer that does a good job of laying out what it takes to succeed. Today, we have a problem following that advice, much to our own chagrin.
Hi RED, great to see you are still here and thanks for what you do. I look forward to reading future articles from you. I’m one of your biggest fans!!!!! 😁👍❤👀😎🤷♂️✔😊
Yep, I do think we are all big fans of Sadako Red. I cut my teeth on many of his past articles and I look forward to more of them in the near future. I want to thank Gen. Doug Satterfield for giving RED a place to publish.
Red
You are so right we need this to shared with family and friends to help our young men
Wow, thank you, Gen. Satterfield for this article. I’m beginning to see that there are many good people who write about professional leadership, and this “primer” is one of them. I found some of these old primers on eBay and Amazon, and I think that I’ll order a few of them for entertaining reading this year. I’ve always liked to read older books and magazine articles because you (and me) can eek out some important ideas that are overlooked today. Keep up the great works you are doing Gen. S., and BTW, I love your long series “Letters to My Granddaughter.” I’m sending these links to my daughter-in-law and she loves the too.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield for another article highlighting good info on leadership.
Nothing like the old stuff to make us sit up and take notice.
Yeah, surprise surprise surprise … what people have been saying for the past thousands of years might actually have some value, Go figure. ha ha ha ha …. love this website by Gen. Satterfield. 👀 I’m new so, I just want to say HI to everyone here.
pigpen larry (funny moniker), welcome to my leadership blog. I hope you enjoy these articles.
Thank you, sir.
Welcome pigpen larry
Pigpen Larry welcome aboard