Of Craig Mullaney's 'The Unforgiving Minute : A Soldier's Education'

Outstandingly, American Non-commissioned officers have performed commendably in their discharge of their duties worldwide. Every soldier is entitled with NCO who ensures that all soldiers get good and professional training from experienced and qualified experts. NCO is also mandated to identify leaders from soldiers who can effectively perform in small-units. Hence it is very essential for the non commissioned officer to be empowered with knowledge and technique on how to carry out these duties effectively asserts that excellent leaders understand their soldiers' strength and weaknesses Basically, it is the role of non commissioned officer to employ knowledge and skills they have acquired through the many years of service in planning and decision making stages in the Army. In line with this, the US government is taking initiatives to empower the non-commissioned

Stewardship of the Army Profession is the last of the Five Essential Characteristics of the Army Profession, but in terms of importance, it is just as, if not more important than the other four. The United States Army’s ADRP-1, or Army Doctrinal Reference Publication 1, even defines stewardship as “the responsibility of Army professionals to ensure the profession maintains its five essential characteristics now and into the future”. Such importance is placed on this characteristic because Stewardship of the Army Profession is the one that ensures the other four are maintained. I sought out the definition of stewardship because despite having spent almost three and a half years and West Point, I was not entirely sure what the doctrine behind Stewardship was. In doing this, I felt like I was better prepared for both this paper and ensuring that the corrections I made were stewarding the profession. With this newly acquired knowledge, I set out to make my corrections.

Army leaders must balance the link between the Army’s culture and it’s climate and institutional practices. When there is a proper balance it has a huge impact on the mindset of the Army’s Soldiers. Their actions or inactions impacts the five key attributes of the profession, and the four fields of expertise, and have long term effects on the Army’s culture and climate. These actions influence Soldiers’ perceptions that they are serving professional who have answered the call of service to the republic, it is important that Soldiers understand that their role is a calling and not just a job.

This paper on Leadership will compare the primary differences and characteristics between the tactical leader and the organizational leader. I will provide you with the basics for development, characteristics, and the fundamentals that help guide and influence each leader’s style and how they influence Soldiers to follow them. Leaders at all levels demonstrate their values, knowledge, skills, and abilities in many different means and methods in

Former U.S. Army Captain Craig M. Mullaney writes this book, “The Unforgiving Minute”. It is about his honest biography on his education as an U.S. soldier where he learned different lessons throughout his life and his Army career. Mr. Mullaney attended West Point where as a cadet he learned to be respectful, how to look sharp, and how to pay plenty of attention to detail, even when it came to the way of folding underwear. Mr. Mullaney also attended the U.S. Army Ranger School and there he says that he learned how to do land navigation through difficult physical terrain and talks about the tests he had to endure during that time that require a lot of courage, spirit, and valor. Mr. Mullaney was abroad in New Zealand when the terrorist attacks

Though serving in a highly disciplined, well trained, and well equipped force, I faced mental and physical adversity, a numerically superior enemy, and a dynamic battlefield. I served with fellow Noncommissioned Officers and leaders with vast tactical combat experience, but we were operating in highly restrictive terrain behind enemy lines. As we worked to create breathing room for the Battle Space Owner and defeat the insurgents on their own turf, we took several casualties and would be tested in our ability to remain equally dynamic to the battlefield, bring every asset to bare to accomplish the mission, and adapt our common tactics in order to survive.

Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., wrote: “The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” With the all volunteer military, more and more americans are being disconnected with their peers, and fewer are choosing to serve. The divide between these two americans is wider than ever before. When Veterans try to share their experiences, many people might not be able to offer empathy. Tim O’Brian in “How to Tell a True War Story” constantly reiterates that war stories could be shared in perspective of the fire fights and theatrics, but a more effective one sheds light on the soldier’s ability to make sense

A Reflection According to Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts (BrainyQuote).” A man is not defined by his failures, but the number of times he gets back up, wipes the dirt off his sleeves and tries again. The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education by Craig M. Mullaney, dives into the transition from boyhood into manhood. The author’s descriptive writing style brings me back to the times I was in active duty and engages the reader all the way through.

He states that Professions have four common tendencies: they generate uniquely expert work, they require years of study and practice, they earn the trusts of their clients through their Ethic, and they motivate their laborers through extrinsic means (Dempsey, 2010, p. 2). The paper establishes that the Army is a Profession of Arms due to our work being combat operations. The Profession of Arms is defined as a craft consisting of experts in applying lethal force, or “land combat power” (Dempsey, 2010, p. 4). The Professional Soldier is defined as “an expert, a volunteer, certified in the Profession of Arms” (Dempsey, 2010, p. 4). These definitions help characterize the conditions needed to create Army leaders.

Roles and responsibilities of leaders on the battlefield have been around as long as war has. As found in our Ranks, the two most prominent leaders are the Commissioned and

The main points of this article relate to the changing nature of warfare (think terrorism and advancements in technology) and the adjustments military leaders are obliged to make. Hence, according to the article, leaders must: a) be trained in critical thinking skills; b) be "committed to life-long [and self-directed] learning"; c) be willing to take the initiative to "diagnose" their goals, needs,

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!

As proper education is essential to succeed in life, so is the adaption to social apprehension. Students within the M.U.S.D. are almost destined to have relation to someone active in military involvement. The reading of B.H.D. gives and understanding of what people in the military do for our country. “Americans watched on television an angry mob drag the body of a dead U.S. soldier through the streets of Mogadishu” (Matray). Having personal ties with soldiers active in battle allows M.U.S.D. students to connect to the intensity of the event in Black Hawk Down. Bowden’s book covers the primary importance to stay humble. Arrogance is a key to failure. As seen in B.H.D., “the over-confidence of the Americans ultimately led to more casualties” (Anderson). One must “count the cost” before going into battle with an arrogant and confident mind. Examination of all perspectives in all situations is another essential factor to success. With Bowden’s fluent change of perspective throughout the book, students

Commissioned officers need to be capable of challenging poor behaviour or practice. They need to be resilient when dealing with pressures from peers and supervisors of their position. Arbinger (2002) highlights the importance of leaders being able to acknowledge staff as people and not just objects and the importance for leaders to recognise that when things don’t go right it’s not always another’s fault.

Rarely are we able to have face to face contact with great leaders let alone have enough time to hear their stories on the battlefield and what secrets lead them to success. A young future military officer may not have the opportunity to meet such great leaders or have the time to interview them but what they do have is time to read. Pete Blaber’s “The Mission, The Men, and Me” exposes his on the ground account of the operations he has commanded and further explains the many guiding principles that lead him to much success in all his endeavors, personal and military. Future officers