Introduction
It is important to note that the foundation of army leadership is critical to the organization and structure of an army. A disorganized army is no longer an army at its core, and organized behavior and cohesion does not appear on their own, which is why strong leadership is essential. Thus, it is critical to understand the fundamentals of army leadership and its functional manifestations.
The purpose statement: Army leaders have a profound influence not only on the army’s operational effectiveness but also on soldiers’ overall behavior.
The Importance of Army Leadership
Firstly, the leadership philosophy of an effective army leader is ‘Be, Know, Do.’ A leader must have a specific set of qualities, attributes, and competencies to influence others to undertake specific and appropriate actions. The ‘Be’ dimension of the leadership philosophy primarily refers to leader attributes, including identity through character, outward appearance and fitness, and intelligence (Clark, 2021). In contrast, competence is directly relevant to the ‘Know’ aspect of the army leadership philosophy. It is stated that the ‘Know’ “is as important as good character in your growth as an Army leader. Without it, your command will lack substance” (Clark, 2021, p. 7). The ‘Do’ dimension is about how an effective army leader ought to act, where brotherhood and unwavering commitment to the mission are essential (Clark, 2021). Thus, an army leader leads, develops, and achieves alongside his or her subordinates.
Secondly, it is essential to note that leadership is the process of influencing people. It is accomplished by providing them with purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish a mission and improve the organization (Clark, 2021). Effective leadership has been associated with improved behavioral health and organizational effectiveness, while a poor perception of leaders is linked to high behavioral health risk (Umbrasas, 2022). It is stated that “nothing speaks more clearly to your subordinates about your commitment to excellence and improvement than your ongoing assessment of the unit’s performance and your leading the way toward improvement” (Clark, 2021, p. 8). Therefore, military leaders must prioritize personal development and growth to acquire the essential qualities and skills required for effective leadership.
Thirdly, leadership in the army can be direct or indirect. Direct leadership is face-to-face, first-line leadership. It is stated that “subordinates of direct leaders see them all the time at the team, squad, section, platoon, company, battery, squadron, and battalion levels” (Clark, 2021, p. 10). In contrast, indirect leadership involves guiding an organization or soldiers without direct interaction. Indirect leadership is primarily exercised through mission command (Tolman, 2020). It is essentially a form of leadership art where trust and confidence are the most critical components to achieving the ultimate goal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the foundation of army leadership is vital to the organization and structure of an army. The purpose statement: Effective leadership has a significant impact not only on how the army performs during operations but on how soldiers behave in general as well. Effective army leaders adhere to the “Be, Know, Do” leadership concept, which places a high value on camaraderie and dedication to the cause. Leadership in the army can be direct or indirect, and subordinates’ perception of leaders is associated with their behavioral health risks. Therefore, army leaders should focus on self-development and self-growth to obtain the necessary attributes and competencies before they can lead others.
References
Clark, M. (2021). Introduction to army leadership [PDF document]. Web.
Tolman, F. N. (2020). Mission command: A senior enlisted leader’s perspective. NCO Journal. Web.
Umbrasas, K. (2022). Rediscovering leadership as an antidote to adjustment problems in the army [PDF document]. Web.