A leader in the army is an individual through assigned responsibilities or assigned roles influences and inspires other soldiers to fulfill organizational objectives and goals. Army leaders are responsible for motivating people both internally and externally in the chain of command, giving them the motivation to think critically, make decisions, and implement actions for the success of the organization. All members of the army are required to have an understanding of the role of leadership which is firmly founded in professional competence, warrior ethos, and values. The army highly regards the influence of a leader’s professional development and character that instill to others the knowledge to be productive and to lead. It, therefore, means that leadership is a significantly essential principle in the army and one that entails high responsibility and reliability. This paper aims to look at the role of army leaders in terms of their values, their ethos, and their professional competence and how these attributes work to produce successful teams.

The first important quality of an army leader is to be an individual who upholds army values. These values are essential when performing duties and when it comes to producing successful leaders. The values that an army leader must possess include loyalty in terms of bearing true allegiance and faith to the army, the constitution, and other soldiers. A loyal army leader is one who stands up for other soldiers and leading their teams to success. Another value for a leader is a sense of duty which is more than just giving orders and expecting them to be followed (Allen, 2015). Duty for an army leader means forming effective teams and working as a role model to help teams accomplish their duties. An army leader has to build other soldiers and fulfilling their obligations without giving in to the temptation that may otherwise undermine the final product’s integrity (Milley, 2017). An army leader should also be respectful by treating his subordinates as they ought to be treated. Leaders should treat other people with respect and dignity before they can expect others to do the same for them.

Similarly, another critical role of an army leader is to exercises warrior ethos. Ethos is a set of codes and principles which guide the lives of soldiers every day. It serves as a point of reference for leaders who serve in the army and those who put not only themselves but also their team members in the way of fire. Warrior ethos goes beyond just the role of a leader in the army because it applies to our everyday lives even as civilians (Milley, 2017). Army leaders should always recognize and uphold warrior ethos that continually places the mission before anything else, never accepting defeat, never quitting, and never leaving a fallen soldier behind. Every leader in the army should apply this philosophy when exercising their duties to build a successful team of collective warriors in the army. Warrior ethos is the army’s brand and culture, and therefore every leader should believe in this mindset to effectively pass the same mantra to their teams.

Lastly, every army leader should have professional competence. A professionally competent army leader possesses a keen intellect, moral character, physical presence, and also serves as a mentor and role model to soldiers under their command. A professionally competent army leader is one who has the ability and willingness to make wise decisions within the purpose and intent of their superiors as well as the organization’s best interests. Competent army leaders know that confidence and mutual trust are essential elements to enable organizations to accomplish missions. Professionally competent army leaders are supposed to provide direction, purpose, and motivation to other soldiers as they continue with their tasks assigned (Allen, 2015). As an Army leader, one must ensure to maintain reasonable standards of conduct, law, policy, and rules. Army leaders must understand that their behaviors and action is what reflects the image of the Army fraternity. As an Army leader, one should behave like a role model to other soldiers; they should commit to making sure that the soldiers and their family members are well-taken care of. The commander has to set a good example by setting high standards for its organization and members (Milley, 2017). Culture helps the Army to tackle any problem and creates solutions to the issues that they face. The Army organization rewards leaders who can sense and adapt to any environment quickly.

In conclusion, this paper aimed to examine the role of army leaders in terms of their values, their ethos, and their professional competence and how these attributes work to produce successful teams. From the discussion presented, it is clear that army leaders play a significant role in determining the success or failure of an organization. From the review, it is also clear that army leaders with ethical organizational values, warrior ethos, and professional competence often lead organizations to achieve their missions successfully. It is therefore vital that all army civilians and soldier understand how to serve both as leaders and also followers. The role of leaders is not just to instruct their subordinates, but they also lead by example as servants.

References

Allen, C. D. (2015). Ethics and army leadership: Climate matters. Parameters, 45(1), 69-84.

Milley, A. M. (2017). Army Profession and Leadership Policy