On Nov. 5, 2015, I spoke as part of the Gen. Lyman Lemnitzer Lecture Series sponsored by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Institute of Land Warfare. I was opposed to the 2003 Iraq War. But I set out in my talk to explain why Iraq had descended into civil war following the 2003 invasion; why it came out of civil war during the Surge; and why it has gone back into civil war.De-Baath-ification and dissolving the security forces collapsed Iraq’s already weakened state in 2003. In the power vacuum, gangs and militias flourished. U.S. policies inadvertently accentuated the divisions in society and...
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
Man Behind the Scope Sees More Than Crosshairs
It goes without saying that many people are driven to be successful, and those in the military are no different. The Army’s professional development schools, promotion system, and mentoring and leader-development programs speak directly to striving for success and “up-or-out” improvement and learning.But success can be like a drug—a powerful drug. Some people have unwavering ambition and will go to any length to get ahead. Ambition is a key to being successful, but unchecked ambition can be problematic. Stories of success going to people’s heads and affecting their behavior are numerous. We...
It goes without saying that many people are driven to be successful, and those in the military are no different. The Army’s professional development schools, promotion system, and mentoring and leader-development programs speak directly to striving for success and “up-or-out” improvement and learning.But success can be like a drug—a powerful drug. Some people have unwavering ambition and will go to any length to get ahead. Ambition is a key to being successful, but unchecked ambition can be problematic. Stories of success going to people’s heads and affecting their behavior are numerous. We...
My first real experience with the Army was as an ROTC cadet at the U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., in 1987. There, we received information about training schedules, off-limits areas and formation times one of three ways: in person, through written documents, or by notices posted on bulletin boards (the old-fashioned kind). Several times a day, seven days a week, we would have formations solely for passing and sharing information. Flash-forward to today; the use of social media has transformed the speed, effectiveness, reach and accuracy of how the Army communicates with soldiers...
A behavioral science experiment often cited in the business world supposedly involved 10 hungry monkeys, a ladder, a bunch of bananas, a hose connected to an ice-cold water source, and a not-so-nice scientist.The monkeys were split into two groups. As each monkey in the first group attempted to satisfy its hunger, all were sprayed with cold water until they no longer tried for a banana. The monkeys were replaced one at a time and as the replacements reached for a banana, they were disciplined by the others. The monkeys quickly learned: Don’t eat the bananas.True or not, this story is often...
Army awards to noncommissioned officers were presented at the Annual Meeting’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon by Gen. Mark Milley, Army chief of staff,
right, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, left.
2015 Army Drill Sergeant of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jacob Miller, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
2015 Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year: Staff Sgt. Mark Mercer, 95th Division,
108th Training Command.
2015 Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Platoon Sergeant of the Year: Sgt. 1st Class
Samual Enriquez, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
2015 United States Army Recruiter of the Year...
New legislation for peace and security, which passed the Japanese Diet in September, presents changes in future cooperation between the U.S. and Japan. In the past, our governments kept with the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation, which focused on cooperation during contingencies in Japan and situations in areas surrounding Japan. However, after entering the 21st century and with the aggravation of the global security environment, we all now face new and tangible challenges that jeopardize the international order and stability that was developed, in large part, by our tremendous...
During 14 years of war, the Army’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) and conventional forces have been forced to work closely together.
During a question-and-answer period at an Institute of Land Warfare Contemporary Military Forum on how the government and industry can balance their essential perspectives and priorities, held during the 2015 AUSA Annual Meeting, representatives of both sides of the equation acknowledged their unique differences while agreeing on various solutions to most efficiently address the best interests of both.
Panel moderator Mary J. Miller, deputy assistant secretary of the Army (research and technology), fielded questions to lead speaker Heidi Shyu, assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition...