Over the past year I’ve been working slowly towards expanding my own professional and self-development ideas. How do I improve as a Leader, as a Platoon Sergeant, as an NCO, as an Infantryman, and as a Soldier? Introspection has been the driving force behind my journey of becoming better and trying to make those around me better; that’s where writing comes in, it gives me a place to put thoughts to words and words to actions. The Last 100 Yards is a project that I hope will encourage more NCOs to occupy the written realm and help them extend their influence outside of the local unit level.
Category Archives: Self-Development
The Danger of “Should”
Guest Post by Capt. Benjamin Hockman
by
In 218 B.C.E., Hannibal crossed the Alps and invaded the Italian peninsula. It should not have been possible to bring a large army, including cavalry and elephants, along that route during winter. When the two armies met at Cannae, Hannibal’s elephants were long dead, and he was outnumbered 5 to 3. The Roman leadership assumed their standard tactics would be sufficient. What should have been a straightforward victory became one of the most famous massacres in military history; Hannibal slaughtered virtually all of the 50,000 Romans.
A 173rd Airborne Brigade Paratrooper gives directions to his troops while participating in Exercise Immediate Response at Pocek Training Area, Slovenia, May 15, 2019. Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces, and U.S. Army Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Henry Villarama)
Beware the Casual Clausewitzian
by
Major General Carl von Clausewitz’s On War sparks discussions in military classrooms across the world. However, German General Gunther Blumentritt cautioned against handing Clausewitz’s work to the military, as it is like “allowing a child to play with a razor blade.”[i] It is certainly not an endeavor to be taken lightly, as Clausewitz’s difficult writing style, which is full of metaphors and philosophy, is challenging and prone to misinterpretation to those not ready to wrestle with his ideas. Overcoming this requires serious preparation, repetition, and reflection to develop a personal understanding of Clausewitz’s insights on war.[ii] As growing professionals, it is important to understand the business of our profession–war–and wrestling with his ideas is a great place to start learning about war’s nature, despite claims to the contrary.
A grenadier with 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, strives for maximum lethality on the battlefield. Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, April 3, 2019. T (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Geoff Cooper)
You Can Lead, But Can You Fight?
Leadership as a Conduit to the Real Mission
by
The leader development space, especially within the military community, experienced massive growth in the last decade. We are dining at a leader and self-development buffet. The myriad resources range from Army sites like MWI and AUP to blogs like The Military Leader and The Field Grade Leader. We are discussing emotional quotient, social intelligence, and strategic communication – topics formerly reserved for academic journals and college classrooms. Leaders are learning about building consensus and motivating as opposed to the hierarchical and command/control crutches of Army generations past. But, is the pendulum swinging too far to the leadership art and science over the tactical? You can lead….but can you fight?
To Get Outside the Box, Start Inside the Circle
by
My first official duty as an Officer in the U.S. Army was a temporary assignment to Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), working for Cadet Command as Cadre for the ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC). I worked for a Lieutenant Colonel who was serving as the Professor of Military Science at Purdue University. He taught me a lot that summer, but one story sticks out. It was a humble parable that continues to resonate with me a decade later.
2018 In Books
A Review of 80 Books for Leaders
by
A move from coast-to-coast and a now long daily commute have combined to help in my 2018 book consumption. Audible has certainly been a game-changer too, making drives and PT hours double as “reading” time. Below is a list of the books I read this year, a top 10 list, and a focus on the books I highly recommend. In the interest of doing my part to further commercialism this holiday season, I’ve decided to cut-off my list and publish this post a little before the year is over. So whether you are looking to broaden your reading or put a book in the stocking of someone special this year, here is a post for you!
Tactical Decision Games (TDGs)
An Introduction
by
The worst time to prepare for war is when you find yourself in the middle of one. Tactical Decision Games (TDGs) – also called Tactical Decision Exercises (TDEs) – are, simply, situational narratives of a tactical scenario that provide leaders the opportunity to develop a plan based on abbreviated information and in a time-constrained environment. They are tactical/situational puzzles. They require little in resources and provide huge returns for decision-making and critical-thinking. TDGs are, in my opinion, an underused tool in the institutional, organizational, and self-development domains. Let’s fix that.
The Best Job I Ever Had
#BranchSeries - Armor
by
I knew from the moment that I joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) that I wanted to branch Armor. I can vividly remember the branch counseling session with my Professor of Military Science (PMS). He counseled the assessing cadets on filling out the branch and duty station preference sheets. He asked me for my first choice and I told him Armor, without hesitation. I was competitive across the branches and my PMS encouraged me to consider all options, including Aviation. He was trying to ensure I thought through all my options, but I was undeterred. In my mind, as a young and brash 22-year-old Cadet, my mentality was set. There was no other choice but Armor Branch.
From Fight to FLEP
The Army's Legal Education Program
by
It might seem odd to have an article about law school on a site dedicated to technical and tactical excellence. But, success at the company level directly correlates to a civilian legal education. While applying to the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), I couldn’t find helpful resources. I wrote this to give other company-grade officers considering the program some perspective on the decision. These lessons will be just as applicable for anyone considering law school as part of their transition to civilian life.
Learning Agility
by
The U.S. Army is in transition after sixteen years of conflict. Previously, the nation leveraged its industrial base to support a decisive edge over the enemy. Material solutions are not enough to maintain the advantage in a future of strategic uncertainty and rapidly adapting peer and near-peer threats. Leadership – the “L” in the DOTMLPF-P construct – is perhaps the most critical asset to our nation. The U.S. Army will establish overmatch by investing into its most valued commodity, the leaders of its irreplaceable soldiers. Learning agility provides the necessary framework to support leader overmatch in the future of conflict.
