(inspiring music)
- The US Army must be able to fight
and win our nation's wars in the right way.
We will prevail in large-scale combat operations
by exercising mission command,
which requires mutual trust and depends on character.
Strategic leaders have a tremendous impact on trusting
character development through their decisions and actions.
Here's an example:
let's say the United States is involved in large-scale
combat operations against a near-peer adversary.
The enemy is using armed autonomous drones
against US forces and coalition partners.
These drones are indiscriminately causing
civilian casualties and collateral damage.
In addition to losses to US and coalition forces.
The United States has a similar capability with it's drones,
but to this point has chosen not to
employ the drones autonomously.
The army is considering a range of
policy options to prevail in these operations.
Two strategic advisors on the army staff,
Coronal West and Mr. Allen, present
options on what to do about the drones.
- In order to win, we must employ autonomous
drones like our enemy.
Requiring soldiers on the ground to provide
positive identification of drone targets,
puts our soldiers at risk.
Preventing US and coalition casualties
should be our top concern.
- All lives are important.
We must continue to use solider operated drones
that require positive identification, so that
we miss civilian casualties and collateral damage.
Our profession relies on trust that we
will apply force in an ethical manner.
We need to develop defensive systems to
counter the enemy's autonomous drones.
- Large-scale combat operations are also
taxing the army's ability to replace casualties.
The advisors present options on manning and training.
- We should increase the percentage of recruits
who are non-high school graduates and
allow liberal waivers for recruits with previous misconduct.
We have to do this to replace our losses and fill
army units engaged in large-scale combat operations.
- We don't need to reduce recruiting standards.
It could lower the quality of our army.
We could increase the duration of unit employments,
reduce individual dwell time, implement a stop-loss
policy, and adopt an in-theater individual
replacement system to replace casualties.
- This isn't just about manning army units.
We also need to reduce the amount of training time.
We should suspend all mandatory training requirements
that are not directly associated with combat operations.
Units in the combat zone need to focus
solely on their war fighting functions.
- Not all army organizations are
deployed in combat operations.
We should keep mandatory training
requirements from AR350-1 intact.
We should maintain the acception authority to
waive mandatory training requirements
at the two star commander level.
This empowers leaders at the right level
to make the decision based on the mission at hand.
We have to trust their judgment.
- You've heard the advice of Coronal West and Mr. Allen.
Which recommendations do you think were right?
Meaning, ethical effective and efficient?
Which recommendations reinforce an army culture of trust?
Which recommendations could potentially
undermine the culture of trust?
How do these strategic level decisions
impact character development within the army?
Regardless of these policy decisions,
why is transparency important in the decision process?
And finally, if you were the decision maker,
what would you do and why?
The army strategic leaders are responsible for strengthening
the army culture of trust and the army as a profession.
Strategic leaders establish the policies,
programs, and systems that shape army culture,
support professional organizational climates,
and motivate individuals to live by and
uphold our shared identity.
By doing what is right and being transparent,
they set the standard, inspire honorable service,
promote stewardship, and strengthen a esprit de corps.