The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Branch Posts > Marines

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old 02-04-2021, 10:17 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Arrow Mattis explains what every leader should know about leading troops into combat

Mattis explains what every leader should know about leading troops into combat
By: Paul Szoldra - Task & Purpose News - 02-04-21
Re: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/matt...ership-combat/

Video link: On site only
Re: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/matt...ership-combat/

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has advice for military officers getting ready to lead troops in combat: Listen to your noncommissioned officers, be physically tough, and know your troops. Do that, and they’ll make you proud on the battlefield.

Mattis shared that sage advice during a recent talk presented by the OSS Society in response to a question he hears often from young officers just starting out in their careers. Mattis, 71, served in the Marine Corps for 44 years at every level of command until he retired as the head of U.S. Central Command in 2013. The retired four-star general later served as President Donald Trump’s first and longest-serving defense secretary until resigning in protest in 2019.

“The first point is, listen to your noncommissioned officers or your chief petty officers,” Mattis said. “They don’t expect you to do everything they recommend. But they do expect to be heard.”

You’ll need to be a good listener, Mattis advised, which means keeping an open mind and having a willingness to be persuaded. Because the enlisted troops have far more experience, or, in Mattis’ words, “they were getting a master’s degree” in soldiering while you were still in high school.

“Listen to them,” Mattis said.

Be physically tough

When it comes to combat, physical toughness matters as a matter of leadership, Mattis said.

“There is no way that you can walk in there and not be physically at the top of your game and expect that physical rambunctious young troops are going to respect you,” said Mattis, who commissioned as an infantry officer in 1972.

“They really don’t care that you read [Carl] von Clausewitz or some other dead German,” he said. “They’re going to assume you know how to call artillery support, but don’t try to wow them with your knowledge if you can’t keep up with them on any run.”

Officers should be doing just as many pullups as their young troops, Mattis said.

“They’ve got to know that the toughest coach in the ballgame is theirs,” he said. “And he or she can stand the strain.”

Know your troops

Mattis cautioned that leaders should not give up “one ounce” of authority, but they should come as close to the necessary line of knowing their troops without getting too personal. Because they won’t let you down if they know that you sincerely care about them.

“Know not just their name but what are their hopes? What are their goals?” Mattis said. Do they want to stay in the armed forces or get out? If it’s the latter, what’s the plan for college, and where are they going to live?

“And the more you know about the troops, the more they know you care about them as individuals, and the less apt they are to let you down when they’re out of your sight,” Mattis said. “They just know that the bond is too close.”

So know your troops well, listen to your NCOs, be physically tough, and know your job. And it doesn’t hurt to be handy with small arms, too.

“And I think that’s probably about enough wisdom from an old general,” Mattis said.

You can watch the full 90-minute interview with Mattis here.

Related: Mattis issues a grave warning: We’re in danger of destroying our democracy
-
Note: 77 years later, A Marine killed on Tarawa returns home to Illinois. Reeser's grave is a double plot shared with... Link: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/tara...home-illinois/
-
Another related article by Mattis issues a grave warning: We're in danger of destroying our democracy.
(You may want to read his comments (the link below will take you there).
Re: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/matt...iot-democracy/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.