TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-019-3. Leadership and Battle CommandCombat LeadershipCompetence, trust, loyalty, and empowerment are leadership imperatives that span a varietyof contexts, but nowhere are these qualities more important than in operations under conditionsof eminent physical danger where serious injury or death may result. How does leadership insuch high-risk, challenging and inhospitable situations, differ from leadership in more mundanecontexts? Observers have found that men and women who lead other people in places andthrough situations that most would find intimidating, if not outright horrifying, will often behavein ways that may provide insights into developing future leaders for the Army. Such leaders andsituations referred to as in extremis or, “at the point of death,” place a premium on leaders thatare passionately motivated to lead in such situations.These influential leaders and others like them areauthentic. Followers are attentive to, and able to recognize,a lack of sincerity or clumsy management techniquesdisplayed by someone in a leadership position or role. 186Authentic leaders are competent, confident, and optimisticleaders of high moral character who are aware of their ownthoughts, behaviors, abilities, and values. In short, they areThe authentic leader is true tohim/herself and the exhibitedbehavior positively transformsor develops associates intoleaders themselves. (Luthans& Avolio, 2003, p. 243)self-aware leaders. Authentic leaders are also attentive to these characteristics in others and thesituational context in which they operate. This collective awareness assists them in adapting theirleadership to the conditions inherent in the combat setting. In elaborating on authentic leaderstheir projection of optimism, hope, and resiliency, provide keys to understanding why those whoare authentic are also effective at commanding follower loyalty, obedience, admiration, andrespect. 187It follows, that in circumstanceswhere leader optimism, hope, andresilience are especially valued,authentic leaders assert a powerfulinfluence. Specifically, insituations where followers’ livesare threatened, those at risk seekout feelings of optimism, hope, andresilience literally defining thepromise of survival.taking human life, in accordance with the national will.The genesis of The ArmyValues is the uniquely humancharacter of the Army and itsprofessional service—the Army isthe organization that sustainsdemocracy by preserving andRecent combat operations show that192