My purpose for writing the essay is to inform you on leadership and the army profession. Leading an army is an exceptional role that requires a person to possess certain traits. Indeed, an army leader is a person that soldiers not only look for directions, but also seek inspiration and wisdom. The military leader also poses as a role model and embodies the core values of the armed forces. It means that army leadership requires a dynamic person who whilst still adhering to guidelines can come-up with out-of-the-box solutions. Such a mindset is important is important to counter today’s increasingly complex challenges and diverse landscape. To that extent, there are five pillars and 3Cs (communication, consistency, and compromise) of leadership that the army leaders should follow that guide them towards becoming exceptional leaders. These principles give Armey leaders a foundation for managing their troops and act as a guideline of how they should act and react to situations.
The first pillar is to lead from the front. Army leaders should motivate their troops to perform acts of heroism as well as sacrifice, which usually need a suppression of one’s inherent feelings like fear ( U.S. Department of the Army , 2012). To inspire the commando, leaders must have a persistent mindset to motivate their soldiers to preserve an unsustainable position. To achieve this, leaders must be present at the frontline of the battle so that their troops will follow their example while respecting their ability, leadership, tactical insight, and judgment. The second key pillar is to have confidence rather than a bloated ego. Whereas a platoon of troops is wary of venturing into battle with an inexperienced leader, an intelligent squad leader can avoid this issue by seeking mentorship and instruction from the platoon sergeant, a duty that non-commissioned officers have assumed since the advent of professional armies ( U.S. Department of the Army, 2012). Any leader, who believes in their abilities, has confidence; however, excessive egotism is typically a sign of a lack of assurance. A display of courage in advance of a mission in the midst of an enemy is fine; nonetheless, a show of cockiness is liable to signify a bad day for all parties involved. It means that while a leader should display confidence, they should not take it to the point that it appears that they have a bloated ego.
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Moral courage is another important trait of an army leader. Doing the correct thing, irrespective of the consequences, is a sign of moral courage. A good example is General George Washington. His legacy as the commander of the Continental Army and America’s first President remains among the greatest in the country’s history. Indeed, Washington was one of the most experienced army leaders in the thirteen colonies, and his display of moral courage as the Commander-in-Chief was outstanding ( Michelson, 2013) . He managed to maintain a strong coalition with the French to eventually lead the country to liberation. Such moral courage is important to inspire a successful mission. An army leader should also show physical courage. Since the life of a soldier is filled with danger, courage is a prerequisite for a leader. Soldiers, who perform their duties irrespective of risk to their life and fear, engage in acts of bravery at the battlefield. Nonetheless, it is critical to keep an acceptable level of confidence to gain the trust of soldiers. It means that teamwork is important in combat situations. The traits of moral and physical courage lead to another important trait – the ability to foster teamwork. When in a mission, teamwork is more critical than personal recognition. In the modern world, the military usually works in a joint operation, which is comprised of other branches along with coalition partners. As such, a seasoned leader cannot show bias; rather, they should encourage collaboration between the team members.
The 3Cs enable an army leader should also be brave and aggressive. Many of the most triumphant leaders in history like Fredrick the Great had these traits. In Fredrick’s case, he developed his army to become one of the most formidable on earth. He was a fearless general, and his rapid movements confused and defeated his enemies. By exhibiting these traits, he registered significant victories. Communication, compromise, and consistency give an army leader the ability to take care of the troops ( Gallagher, 2016) . A competent leader maintains combat by putting the needs of their soldiers at the forefront and doing the best to improve their situation. The leader will gain the trust of the soldiers by ensuring that they are well fed, rested, and equipped. The leader should strive to go above meeting their basic needs by being an advocate and ensuring they get the proper acknowledgment for their efforts.
To sum up, an army leader needs to possess certain traits in order to inspire the troops to success. In this increasingly complex world, it is important for a military leader to have an open mindset to enable them to adapt to perplexing situations. Hence, the aforementioned leadership characteristics show that the role of an army leader requires physical and mental strength.
References
Gallagher, C. R. (2016). Muddling Leadership and Management in the United States Army .
Michelson, B.M. (2013). Character development of US army leaders: A laissez-faire approach . Carlisle Barracks, PA: Army War College.
U.S. Department of the Army. (2012). ADP 6-22: Army leadership. Washington, DC: Department of the Army .
