Army Leadership Process

Leadership in the Army is a vital part of success. Every single troop in the Army has experience it in one form or another. The processes used to lead help tie every mission, training exercise, and event together. The Orders Process and Troop Leading Procedures are imperative to mission readiness, unit cohesion, and overall achievement in the United States Army. There are many frameworks into which the term “leadership” may be defined. Merriam-Webster defines it as a position as a leader of a group, but also as the power or ability to lead other people. Everyone in the Army is required to be adaptable to any situation, which lends itself well to acquiring leadership skills. Leaders must be willing to adjust their lines of fire in order to
address any circumstance thrown at them. In order to help leaders with this task, the Army created guidelines, referred to as the Orders Process and Troop Leading Procedures. Troop Leading Procedures are the basic keys Army leaders – specifically Officers – use when training Soldiers and preparing for and executing missions. From breaking down an Operations Order for lower levels to planning a unit’s training schedule for the year, these procedures always come into play. There are eight steps; Receive the Mission, Issue the Warning Order, Make a Tentative Plan, Initiate Movement, Conduct Reconnaissance, Complete the Plan, Issue the Order, and Supervise and Refine.
Another key part in Army Officer leadership is the Orders Process.
It consists of four basic principles: Plan, Prepare, Execute, and Assess. “The Army’s operations process provides a common framework for guiding commanders as they lead and manage unit training and leader development. Effective unit training results from a sound analysis of the unit’s mission and its ability to accomplish that mission. The higher unit’s mission, the unit mission essential task list (METL), and higher commander’s guidance drive the commander’s selection of collective tasks on which the unit trains to accomplish mission success.” (ADRP 7-0, 19). It is imperative for Army leaders to use the four principles to guide their unit in training and mission execution. They are there to support and define the needs of the unit and the Commander’s intent so there is no question on what should happen. Soldiers are given steps to follow so they can smoothly perform actions required of them. The principles also give NCO’s access to their higher echelons and help them decide how to lead their lower enlisted soldiers. They are essentially a blueprint that shows leaders and soldiers what to do and when to do it, so that all leadership has clear communication and understanding of each
other.
Good leadership can be distinguished from Great leadership by one thing: communication.
Great leaders keep lines of communication open with their subordinate leaders and soldiers so situations can be understood and missions can be properly carried out. If changes to the plan or unanticipated conditions occur, great leaders will have contingency plans ready to go. They also take notes on what happens before, during, and after training/missions so they know what to improve in the future. In whatever actions are taken, there is always room for improvement, so great leaders are always ready to take constructive criticism and prepare for the next time they need to be in charge. They are always respectful of their soldiers and have the trust that their soldiers can properly and successfully carry out tasks at hand. Great leaders have ambition to achieve whatever goals are set for their group, and know realistically what groups can accomplish. They know the importance of timeliness and order, as well as self-discipline. Great leaders are appreciated in the Army because without them, tasks would not be done to the standard that we have set. In order to accomplish anything, there needs to be a drive and a will to achieve – great leaders are able to motivate their soldiers and keep them organized while tasks are completed. If a group is motivated about their task, they will perform better and get done quicker – motivated groups are more efficient. By following the Orders Process, great
leaders are able to achieve anything the Commander intends to achieve. In conclusion, there are many steps to becoming a great leader, and many ways to be a great leader. Utilizing the tools that are given help those leaders stay at the front of the pack. Great leaders understand the importance of using Troop Leading Procedures and the Orders Process to successfully complete tasks at hand. The United States Army needs excellent leaders so that it can stay organized and utilize subordinates to their greatest potential.