Military Leadership

Added November 02, 2012

Beyond the Battlefield: Institutional Army Transformation Following Victory in Iraq

Authored by Lieutenant Colonel G. Scott Taylor.
Learning lessons from past conflicts is essential to avoid repeating the same mistakes in future wars. Even more important, it is critical to apply those lessons to institutional change to inculcate the lessons of the past conflict–this Paper highlights some of the author’s observations on changes that should be integrated into the institutional Army to ensure that the hard-earned lessons of counterinsurgency fighting and stability operations achieved in the sands of Iraq and hills of Afghanistan are not lost over the years ahead as we withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Added October 12, 2012

A "Hollow Army" Reappraised: President Carter, Defense Budgets, and the Politics of Military Readiness

Authored by Professor Frank L. Jones.
For more than 30 years, the term “hollow army” has represented President Carter’s alleged willingness to allow American military capability to deteriorate in the face of growing Soviet capability. The true story is more complicated than the metaphor suggests.

Added September 21, 2012

Finding "The Right Way": Toward an Army Institutional Ethic

Authored by LTC Clark C. Barrett.
This monograph suggests the U.S. Army profession’s most worrisome cultural shortcoming is the lack of a codified institutional ethic and a means of peer-to-peer self-governance. This paper describes the problem, provides a review of the literature, and supplies and justifies a proposed institutional and individual Army Ethic.

Added August 01, 2012

2012-13 Key Strategic Issues List

Edited by Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II.
The purpose of the Key Strategic Issues List is to provide military and civilian researchers a ready reference for issues of special interest to the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.

Added February 08, 2012

Once Again, the Challenge to the U.S. Army During a Defense Reduction: To Remain a Military Profession

Authored by Dr. Don M. Snider.
The exact shape of the recently initiated Department of Defense reductions and the defense strategy that our down-sized land forces are to execute in the future are only now becoming clear. How can the U.S. Army best meet these challenges?

Added December 16, 2011

Real Leadership and the U.S. Army: Overcoming a Failure of Imagination to Conduct Adaptive Work

Authored by Colonel John B. Richardson, IV.
This is a case study of a cavalry squadron struggling with operational adaptability. Through this struggle, the study provides a means for analyzing the complexity of organizational leadership in the contemporary security environment. The case study provides an example where hard fought lessons learned resulted in a more holistic approach to leadership, because the leader transcended that of simply being an authority figure, and instead, become a real leader who provided a safe and creative learning environment where the organization was able to tackle and solve complex problems.

Added July 08, 2011

The New Aztecs: Ritual and Restraint in Contemporary Western Military Operations

Authored by Dr. Zhivan Alach.
The Western way of war has come full circle. After centuries, indeed millennia, of evolution toward increased totality and brutality, it has turned back once again to the ritualistic and restrained methods of primitive warfare.

Added June 08, 2011

Defining Command, Leadership, and Management Success Factors within Stability Operations

Authored by Major Dave Fielder.
Stabilization operations have been present across the globe for centuries in many forms. But how have the command, leadership, and management of these operations manifested themselves, and what are the success attributes within this field of study?

Added April 08, 2011

Army Strong--Really?

Authored by COL (R) Charles D. Allen, COL (R) Charles D. Allen.
The author outlines the past, present, and future of the Profession of Arms.

Added March 29, 2011

Resolving Ethical Challenges in an Era of Persistent Conflict

Authored by Colonel Tony Pfaff.
In this provocative monograph, COL Tony Pfaff argues that the challenges of combating irregular threats have fundamentally challenged the traditional “ethics of war,” and he offers a number of measures and policies that the Army must adopt if it is to not only successfully, but ethically, respond to these challenges.

Added March 28, 2011

Junior Leader Professional Development — Who Has the Time?

Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the April 2011 newsletter.

Added March 10, 2011

Profession of Arms Study Trust Review

Authored by COL (R) Charles D. Allen.
Since trust is the coin of the realm for an Army in a democratic society, it is important that as the Profession of Arms study proceeds that it includes a broad exploration of just what exactly the Army as profession means by the concept of trust.

Added March 10, 2011

Should ROTC Return to the Ivy League?

Authored by LTC Ernest A. Szabo.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the March 2011 newsletter.

Added March 01, 2011

Civilian Skills for African Military Officers to Resolve the Infrastructure, Economic Development, and Stability Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authored by Diane E. Chido.
Military retirees in many African countries face uncertain futures. The author suggests that USAFRICOM should include robust engineering programs as a part of its training approach for the region, thereby providing valuable opportunities for retiring service members, improving civil-military relationships, and enhancing economic development and stability.

Added September 10, 2010

An Army Transformed: The U.S. Army's Post-Vietnam Recovery and the Dynamics of Change in Military Organizations

Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Suzanne C. Nielsen.
Drawing on the literature on military innovation and reform, the author examines an important case of military change: the transformation of the U.S. Army in the 2 decades preceding the Persian Gulf War of 1991. The findings of this study have significant implications for how the U.S. Army should think about implementing changes needed today to meet new strategic, economic, and technological challenges.

Added September 02, 2010

Is the Organizational Culture of the U.S. Army Congruent with the Professional Development of Its Senior Level Officer Corps?

Authored by Dr. James G. Pierce.
In this study of the organizational culture of the U.S. Army, Dr. Pierce has reviewed a previously assumed but unverified connection between organizational culture and professional development. The study has uncovered a lack of congruence between the dominant type of organizational culture of the U.S. Army and the professional managerial/leadership skills of its senior level leaders. This observed lack of congruence may be inhibiting performance and unconsciously perpetuating a cycle of caution and an overreliance on stability and control. The data indicate that the U.S. Army is illustrative of an organization that emphasizes stability and control, and one that attempts to comprehend the ambiguity of the future through an unconscious reliance upon the successful solutions employed in the past.

Added September 02, 2010

Lessons Learned – 13 Months as the Senior Military Advisor to the Minister of Interior

Authored by COL Kevin J. Palgutt.
In recounting his experiences as a senior advisor to the Afghan Minister of Interior, COL Palgutt indicates that it is a shame that many senior advisors will go on to new duty assignments that will have nothing to do with the experiences that were learned during their 12+ months of senior advisor duty.

Added August 05, 2010

Organizing to Compete in the Political Terrain

Authored by Dr. Nadia Schadlow.
The degree to which military forces can and should shape the political landscape during war--that is, who rules contested terriroty--is at the root of several ongoing debates about how to restructure the U.S. Army. Decisions about the military's appropriate role in shaping political outcomes in war are fundamental to resolving these debates and will determine the degree of organizational and educational changes that the U.S. Army must make to meet current and future security threats.

Added July 20, 2010

Got Vision? Unity of Vision in Policy and Strategy: What It Is and Why We Need It

Authored by Dr. Anna Simons.
Having the right "who" to devise strategy is critical to success in counterinsurgency or any asymmetric, cross-cultural encounter. This monograph contends that if we do not get the "who" right, none of the "whats," in terms of what we do, matters.

Added July 08, 2010

Enter the Era of Persistent Competition for Talent

Authored by COL Carolyn F. Kleiner.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the July 2010 newsletter.

Added May 10, 2010

Untangling a New Gordian Knot: Don't Ask, Don’t Tell, and Alexander’s Sword

Authored by Dr. Leonard Wong, Professor Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr..
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the May 2010 newsletter.

Added May 05, 2010

Towards a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy for Success: Employing Talent

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
Historically, the U.S. Army has employed its officers to good effect, but is there need for improvement? Does its current assignments paradigm lead to optimal career satisfaction and productivity? Does it allow officers to develop the depth and breadth of talent the Army needs? Perhaps most importantly, does the Army really know enough about the officer talent it possesses, as well as the requirements for that talent?

Added March 29, 2010

Towards a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy for Success: Developing Talent

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
The U.S. Army is almost universally acknowledged as an organization that powerfully develops talent in areas such as leadership, teamwork behavior, work ethics, adaptability, fitness, and many others. Employers know that the Army invests substantially in its people, and that this investment translates directly into enhanced productivity. Despite this well-earned reputation, however, are the Army’s current officer development programs equal to tomorrow’s challenges? Does it suffer from a growing imbalance in talent supply versus demand? Perhaps most importantly, is there an effective relationship between its developmental and employment strategies?

Added February 19, 2010

Accessing Talent: The Foundation of a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
Organizations often focus their recruiting efforts on high-payoff markets--how does the Army identify the right market in which to focus its officer accessions efforts? What role does education play in officer accessions? How does the Army identify and go about meeting its officer diversity requirements? Why is establishing the proper ratio between commissioning sources so important?

Added February 03, 2010

A Death Knell for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Authored by Professor John R. Martin.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the February 2010 newsletter.

Added February 01, 2010

The Army Officers' Professional Ethic--Past, Present, and Future

Authored by Colonel Matthew Moten.
Do you think the Army officer corps needs a clear statement of its professional ethic? Colonel Matthew Moten does, and he has written it in one page. Join the debate.

Added January 28, 2010

The Effects of Multiple Deployments on Army Adolescents

Authored by Dr. Leonard Wong, Dr. Stephen Gerras.
Frequent U.S. Army deployments increase the burden on children who must face the stress and strain of separation and anxiety. The authors take a much-needed, detailed look at the effects of multiple deployments on Army adolescents.

Added January 15, 2010

Towards a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy for Success: Retaining Talent

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
Why have Army junior officer retention rates plummeted since 1983? Are the root causes truly understood? What are the long term consequences of failing to retain talented young officers? What steps has the Army taken to meet this challenge, and how effective have they been? What must the Army do to restore junior officer retention rates to previously healthy levels?

Added November 25, 2009

Leadership and National Security Reform Conference

Authored by Dr. Joseph R. Cerami, Dr. Jeffrey A. Engel, Lindsey K. Pavelka.
The need for significant changes in leader development and government reform to improve the alignment, coordination, integration, and interoperability among largely autonomous U.S. Government agencies was addressed. The two conference panels were challenged to discuss leadership in a broader sense rather than focusing solely at the top, or on presidential leadership.

Added October 28, 2009

Schools for Strategy: Teaching Strategy for 21st Century Conflict

Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.
Education in strategy is feasible and important. Few would-be strategists are beyond improvement by some formal education. However, for such education to be well-directed, it needs to rest upon sound assumptions concerning the eternal nature yet ever shifting character, meaning, and function of strategy, and the range of behaviors required for effective strategic performance.

Added October 28, 2009

Talent: Implications for a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
What is the difference between competent and talented? What is talent, and which people have it? What talents should the United States Army seek in its officers? Most importantly, what are the consequences of failing to create an officer talent management system?

Added October 06, 2009

The Army's Professional Military Ethic in an Era of Persistent Conflict

Authored by Dr. Don M. Snider, Major Paul Oh, Major Kevin Toner.
As the character of conflict in the 21st century evolves, the Army’s strength will continue to rest on our values, our ethos, and our people. Our Soldiers and leaders must remain true to these values as they operate in increasingly complex environments where moral-ethical failures can have strategic implications.

Added September 24, 2009

Iraq: Strategic Reconciliation, Targeting, and Key Leader Engagement

Authored by Captain Jeanne F. Hull.
Military commanders and diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan have been meeting with important local officials since the inception of those conflicts. These engagements have aided commanders and diplomats alike in furthering their objectives by establishing productive relationships with those who know and understand Iraq’s complex human terrain best—the Iraqis. However, these engagements frequently take place on ad-hoc bases and are rarely incorporated into other counterinsurgency operations and strategies. In some cases, unit commanders fail to see the utility of using these engagements at all--an oversight that contributes to deteriorating security situations and loss of popular support.

Added September 16, 2009

Baghdad ER--Revisited

Authored by Colonel Erin P Edgar.
The China Dragons of the 28th Combat Support Hospital deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from September 2006 until November 2007. Their service epitomizes the strides that have been made in military combat medicine.

Added June 25, 2009

2009 Key Strategic Issues List

Edited by Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II.
The purpose of the Key Strategic Issues List is to provide military and civilian researchers a ready reference for issues of special interest to the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.

Added March 31, 2009

Towards a U.S. Army Officer Corps Strategy for Success: A Proposed Human Capital Model Focused upon Talent

Authored by Colonel Casey Wardynski, Major David S. Lyle, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Colarusso.
The authors consider America’s continuing commitment to an all-volunteer military, its global engagement in an era of persistent conflict, and evolving changes in its domestic labor market.

Added February 27, 2009

Training for the “Political” War

Authored by COL Louis H. Jordan, Jr.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the March 2009 newsletter.

Added January 13, 2009

The Army's Ethic Suffers under its Retired Generals

Authored by Dr. Don M. Snider.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the January 2009 newsletter.

Added August 08, 2008

The American Military Advisor: Dealing with Senior Foreign Officials in the Islamic World

Authored by Mr. Michael J. Metrinko.
Using different weapons and different skill sets, the military officer serving as an advisor can win--or lose--important battles. His relationship with foreign officials affects overall American strategy, and can translate into long-term victory for the United States.

Added July 16, 2008

Key Strategic Issues List, July 2008

Edited by Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II.
The Key Strategic Issues List gives researchers, whether military professionals or civilian scholars, a ready reference of those issues of particular interest to the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. Its focus is strategic, rather than operational or tactical. Every year, the KSIL helps guide research efforts to the mutual benefit of the defense community and individual researchers.

Added July 15, 2008

Civil-Military Relations in a Post-9/11 World

Authored by Dr. Leonard Wong.
The participants in this colloquium sought to examine three general areas: the roles and responsibilities of military leaders and changes in the relationship between civilian and military leaders. Experts from the military, government, and academia presented their not-for-attribution assessments and recommendations for further increasing U.S. effectiveness in civil-military relations.

Added July 07, 2008

Expand the U.S. Military? Not So Fast

Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the July 2008 newsletter.

Added June 19, 2008

State of the U.S. Military Reserve Components

Authored by Ralph Wipfli, Dr. Dallas D. Owens.
On March 6, 2008, the 21st Century Defense Initiative and the Strategic Studies Institute held a seminar entitled “The State of the U.S. Military Reserve Components.” This seminar focused on the future mission sets and priorities, personnel policies, and deployment of National Guard and Reserve troops.

Added March 12, 2008

Drug Intoxicated Irregular Fighters: Complications, Dangers, and Responses

Authored by Dr. Paul Rexton Kan.
The presence of drugged fighters is not unknown in the history of warfare. Irregular fighters have found a ready supply of narcotics for a variety of combat purposes. Such consumption has led to unpredictable fighting, the commission of atrocities, and to the prolongation of internal violence.

Added February 19, 2008

Dissent and Strategic Leadership of the Military Professions

Authored by Dr. Don M. Snider.
Were the actions in 2006 by the senior military leaders who participated in the “Revolt of the Generals” justified? Or were there real costs incurred by the military professions they represented, costs that can only be seen when examined in terms of the critical trust relationship that empower such professions?

Added January 30, 2008

Transforming to Effects-Based Operations: Lessons from the United Kingdom Experience

Authored by Dr. Andrew M. Dorman.
The author evaluates the extent to which America’s principal military ally, the United Kingdom, has been able to transition to effects-based operations and the implications this has for the United States.

Added January 24, 2008

Women in Combat Compendium

Edited by Colonel Michele M. Putko, Dr. Douglas V. Johnson, II.
The topic of Women in Combat has been one of great emotion, but uncertain factual content until recently. The rules created to deal with the fact that women want to serve in the armed forces have ranged from silly to serious, but the factual bases have changed and the plea of all the contributors is to review the entire issue with objectivity and attention to the facts as they exist.

Added January 04, 2008

Intrepidity . . . And Character Development within the Army Profession

Authored by Dr. Don M. Snider.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the January 2008 newsletter.

Added December 05, 2007

Is it Time to Mandate Volunteerism?

Authored by Dr. Leonard Wong.
Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the December 2007 newsletter.

Added October 09, 2007

A Concept at the Crossroads: Rethinking the Center of Gravity

Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Rudolph M. Janiczek.
The author concludes that, in an effort to operationalize Clausewitz's signature concept, the U.S. military probably limited its utility. The Center of Gravity is best applied as an abstract, rather than as a practical, concept.

Strategic Studies Institute