Has technology had a negative effect on your ability to lead in the military?

My soap box, opinion:

The biggest issue I've noticed as we continue to move forward with technology
is we have taken away the ability of our junior leaders to make decisions on their
own. I remember a time with no email, cell phones, pagers, and any other
instant communication devices. There was a time when we would sail down on Army
Watercraft to Panama from VA with nothing but a High Freg radio sometimes went
days without communication with the command. Any changes, issues we had to solve
them right there and then. Warrant
Officers, NCO"s and Officers made good common sense decisions that allow
for a mission complete status in the end with little or no contact from there
higher commands until after the fact.

Warrant Officers, Squad leaders, PLT SGT's, PLT Leaders, Company Commanders
had to make decision base on the info at hand to include utilizing what was
discussed in the previous mission briefs, weekly command and staff meetings,
and most important understanding the mission and what is to be accomplished in
the end “The Desired Outcome of the
Mission”. In this process our junior leaders were able to build up their confidence
and learn to trust in their abilities to lead and make critical decisions that
they could build from as they matured and moved up through their career.

We don't allow our leaders at the lowest level to make real decision
anymore. Leadership at all levels now wants to be immediately informed and as
other have mentioned; those above each level want to be the decision maker or
have input in everything that falls under their direction/supervision. A lot of
this is out of fear of some kind of failure or worried about how his/her
superiors would handle it or want.

We must strive to break this cycle. Leaders and all Soldiers tend, for the
most part lead as they see/saw others before them. We can preach it in the
school houses and we do, but until we practice it for real in the squads,
Platoons, Companies etc we are going to produce leaders that serve in critical positions
that won't or can't seem to make a decisive decision in a time to affect the
desired outcome. And in my opinion I'm already seeing way too much of it now.

Look we do have some great junior, mid and senior leaders out there working
hard and doing great things. But I do believe we are at a critical junction in
our Army. We have to get back to letting our junior soldiers grow and develop
without holding their hands in everything we do. I could keep going but I'll
stop my soap box.