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Today, the Army must meet the challenge of a wider range of threats and a more complex set of operating environments while incorporating new and diverse technology.
-Field Manual 7-0, Training the Force.1
GENERAL Creighton Abrams, Jr., said, "People are not in the Army; they are the Army."2 Abrams' words are a mantra for current and future efforts of the Army's Leader Development (LD) Program. The Army and its people are facing the most difficult of challenges: the enemy drew first blood. The Army responded in magnificent fashion, defeating the terrorist cowards on every front, but senior leaders view these attacks on the Nation as the first glimpse of the future. Up to this point, the methods we have used to develop and educate the force have produced high-quality leaders who have proven their grit on multiple fronts. But is this enough? Is it timely? Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter J. Schoomaker has asked, "Can we sustain our high performance with our current methods of preparation?"3
The U.S. military conducts operations on a global scale. The diversity of our missions, the speed of their execution, and the effect of the information/ technology age on today's Global War on Terrorism compels an Army inquiry into the LD process. Professional scrutiny will answer the questions of sufficiency and timing.
Bolstered by senior-leader mentorship and guidance, the Leader Development and Education (LD&E) Task Force (TF) developed flexible, adaptable, innovative solutions to emerging problems. The LD&E TF was formed as part of the original 15 (now 17) Army focus areas, and its purpose-growing leaders-was made clear from the beginning.
Members were needed to conduct a review, devise a plan, and develop a mission. The process of selecting who would participate was straightforward. After Combined Arms Center and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) senior leaders approved a list of stakeholders on the basis of their command, expertise, and academic backgrounds, the task force began operations. The task force had an enormous undertaking.
Growing quality leaders is the foundation for achieving and maintaining the land combat competencies the country requires. Equally important in growing adaptive, self-aware leaders is the Army's continuing Transformation while fighting the Global War on Terrorism. Without an orchestrated campaign that integrates Transformation,...