Does the Army teach Leadership?

1SG Eric Rice — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 11:14:40 -0500

We have professional schools that must be attended to progress through the ranks but do we really get the necessary tools to be effective leaders. We have seen phrases thrown out such as "Toxic Leadership" over the past few years and that seems to be the only thing discussed. In order for the Army to reach its potential we must give the required tools to accomplish this. For instance the fundamental of Leadership, basic Psychology, and a course that drives efficiency such as Total Quality Management or Lean Six Sigma.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 19 at 2013 9:52 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 21:52:18 -0500

SFC R,
All do respect, this is nothing new, this question and/or debate has been going on for many generations before we came along, it has more to do with the quality of the Soldiers coming in, then becoming NCOs and whether or not they are being mentored or trained properly by their superiors on their way up the ranks. The schoolhouse is just the basic guidelines being taught from the books, their true leadership teaching and skills come from their first line supervisors. 1SGs, CSMs, and so on, if it not being done at those levels, they are being failed by their leadership more than any schooling they could receive. It is just like the old adage, the discipline starts at home for our youth of today and tomorrow, the same applies to the NCOs of today and tomorrow, the leadership training and skills begins with 1st line supervisor at the unit level.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 20 at 2013 6:39 AM

CSM Mike Maynard — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 06:39:33 -0500

I would have to say that there is no mechanism in place to teach Leadership institutionally.

NCOES does not do a sufficient job of teaching leadership at all.

Now, the one thing we do well though is put folks in positions of leadership and give you Soldiers and let you "practice" and learn on the job.

Practical experience is great, but we do need to build an educational capacity prior to the experience and this is what our NCOES should be about.

Interestingly, I just sent one of my Army SSGs to an Air Force PME for their TSgts. He said that the course was primarily about leadership. Maybe they are getting it right.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 7:50 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:50:07 -0500

Leadership can be taught but it cannot be perfected without practice in a realistic environment. I don't see a short course in a school house as offering enough opportunity to turn learned concepts into action.

NCOES does not create leaders directly, it is part of a trinity of professional development that includes self-study and operational experience.

The real problem is one of identifying and grooming those with the best leadership potential early on. It makes little sense to train each Specialist in the basics of written communication, situational leadership styles, TQM, and other such subjects if we know that the majority of them will complete only their initial contract. You can slip the cracks and become a Staff Sergeant before the next level of NCOES is supposed to scoop you up.

Maybe the requirement for reenlistment or promotion to grades above E-5 should be a mentorship compact through a system like ACT, just that said system should not suck?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 11 at 2014 10:46 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:46:25 -0500

Yes the Army teaches leadership skills. It has some of the best schools around. However, like the old saying goes: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". Just because you've attended a top leadership program doesn't necessarily mean that you have integrated the lessons effectively or that you have the skill or capacity to execute what you have learned. There is still the human factor involved. This isn't the Matrix.....yet.... ;o)

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Apr 28 at 2014 1:46 AM

SSG Mike Angelo — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 01:46:03 -0400

Yes, the military is all about leadership training. The army was doing TQM and Six Sigma way before Motorola took credit for its invention. Alot of stuff started in the military way ahead of the civilian sector. People got out and worked for these companies and brought these models forward. Right after WWII, for example, in 1946 Sears wrote a policy for Disabled Employee Rights and affirmative action 20 years before US Civil Rights was mainstream. That's because in 1946 the US Army became desegregated.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Oct 22 at 2014 7:09 PM

SFC Stephen Hester — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 19:09:00 -0400

The Army teaches leadership but I think we spend less time on developing leadership skills than we do on MOS skills. I considered myself a pretty good leader (just like every other NCO) but I didn't know what I didn't know. What I have learned about leadership outside the Army has really opened my eyes. Perhaps the Army should bring in retirees and veterans from the corporate world to help revamp the program.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 14 at 2014 12:45 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:45:19 -0500

I fully agree with LTC Paul Labrador and while this post is over a year old I feel that it is important to highlight what he said. The military does teach leadership SKILLS but it's up to the individual to take those skills and actually USE them! How many times do you show a child a skill but they still refuse to do it? Having the skills and knowledge is one thing; actually putting them to work is another.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Feb 24 at 2015 1:06 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:06:25 -0500

The Army doesn't really teach leadership per se...the Army just talks about "leadership" in Death-By-PowerPoint slides. Good leaders teach leadership both directly and by example.

I know that BCT, AIT, OCS, and OBC taught me diddly about leadership. Deploying to Iraq and working with a good CO and a very patient combat-arms PSG taught me more in 1 year than my other 7 years in the Army.

Response by SFC Eric Stoneburner made Jul 8 at 2015 2:32 PM

SFC Eric Stoneburner — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:32:08 -0400

As some others have already posted, the Army doesn't exactly teach leadership so much as it pushes the ideal. The NCOESs that I attended gave some of the basic tools but were short on practical application. My various mentors over the years did more to educate me on good leadership than any of the manuals or classes ever did (although reading those does give you a better knowledge base to work from). The "bad/toxic" leaders were a fine example of what not to do as well. There are some people who are percieved as "natural leaders" but I've seen that they are only charismatic and able to convince people to act on their direction, not that they were necessarily capable leaders.

And then there are those who should not be in leadership positions. Whether by choice or ability. The Army system should never be in a position to attempt to force someone into a leadership role.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 4 at 2019 4:58 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:58:13 -0400

Yes it does?