English

DTIC ADA522704: Understanding and Developing Adaptive Leadership during Pre-Commissioning

In complex operational environments marked by uncertainty, lethal threats, and long-term commitments, the Army's junior officers shoulder a burden that requires critical thinking and a willingness to exercise initiative and make decisions. In light of these requirements, the Army demands junior officers who demonstrate adaptive leadership. Developing adaptive leadership during pre-commissioning training has challenged the Army's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. While the Army recognizes the importance of training and education to leader development, it historically viewed education and training in dichotomous terms, a counterproductive approach to the design of effective learning interventions during pre-commissioning. Moreover, the Army's long-held view that pre-commissioning training should prepare cadets for immediate duty with troops created a tendency for the ROTC to rely on industrial-age approaches -- lecture and rote learning -- to junior officer development. This paper argues that the Army's ROTC programs should adopt experienced-based approaches to leader development to produce the adaptive leaders needed in today's complex operational environment. It posits

Sign in with your free account to read, download EPUBs or listen.