Word of mouth - which is essentially reputation infused with action – is a key component to success, or at least influence, in the policy world. Personal reputation creates job opportunities; organizational reputation prompts demand for services and insight. The latter aspect comes into play for the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, which runs a week-long Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft at an offsite location in the mountains of Colorado. The renown of the seminar is broadly noted by numerous experts across several disciplines that relate to national security policy - and came to me via the recommendations of some very accomplished friends.
#Monday Musings: Nathan Finney
“New Model” Mentoring
It began as a few Army strategists gathering around a backyard fire pit with drinks and a few cigars. This was my initiation into two key elements of strategy—scotch and cigars. As I traveled around the world, into and out of multiple conflict, and through various jobs, two things remained — scotch and cigars.
After Regime Change
The most impactful aspects of this play were not the masterful ties to our most recent experiences. Throughout the play, Greig also wove in the conflation of personal and national interests, the impact of war on land, people, and language, and the metamorphosis of soldiers in war — which is not always a wholly negative journey.
Views on the #Profession from the Professional
My take-away from this most recent series on The Bridge, and the resources like those detailed above, is that a profession — and those individuals of which it is composed being labeled professionals — is a very fluid thing. It is more fluid than we care to admit. Wearing a uniform or getting paid to perform a role does not make someone a professional.
The #Human Project: Professional Views on the Army’s Human Dimension White Paper
This series—which will include posts by soldiers, airmen, defense professionals, and other stakeholders in how we develop and manage the people in our military—will address the specifics of the document, as well as tangential topics in the white paper that the authors found pertinent and expanded upon.
#Operating: Beginning a Discussion on the Army Operating Concept
The new Army Operating Concept (AOC) posted earlier this week received a lot of feedback on social media and in the halls of military installations – which ultimately led to this series, titled “#Operating: A Personal Reflection on the Army Operating Concept,” on The Bridge. This post will kick things off by taking a holistic look at the document; later posts will focus on personal reactions to the document – what it says, what it fails to say, or even particular elements from it that resonate.
A Reflection on the Personal Theories of Power: The Power of Motivation and Relationships
Land Power: A Personal Theory of Power as More than Simply the Element of Decision
When a political decision requires a definitive, more enduring answer, land power will likely be the main element of national power employed — there’s a reason the key theorist of war and land power focused on destroying an adversary’s armed forces, occupying his country, and breaking that nation’s will as his three main objectives in war.
Holiday Break Reading…Keeping up with the Ganskes
Learning for the Next War: Providing Enduring Value to the Force
Following the publication of the recent article “COIN Doctrine Under Fire,” I was lucky enough to ‘listen in’ on an enlightening conversation on one of the dozen listservs I frequent. While debating the merits of counterinsurgency, the list began discussing the value of capturing the pertinent lessons from a war…during and immediately following the conflict. On the discussion were of the authors of both the Army’s pre-eminent volume on Desert Storm and the first solid look at Iraqi Freedom.
#Reviewing: State Building and War
In the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, much ink has been spilled relating service member’s personal experiences or discussing the misapplication of American foreign policy. Few of them do both, let alone place such events in the greater context of history. In War, Welfare, & Democracy, Peter J. Munson does both by providing the reader a deep look into the driving factors in American foreign policy, punctuated by vivid images from his own personal travels. Readers will find this book both enlightening and engrossing.
Bridging Divides: Thoughts on a Startup Conference
A good sign of a successful gathering is not only the interaction that takes place at the event itself, but more importantly the conversation that occurs following. In this respect the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum has been blessed; one of the reasons I’ve been remiss in reporting out on the event is the rapidity and thoroughness that some of the participants have written on salient points from the weekend.