Preface
Specifies the audience: leaders in the army, including the reserves and national guard as well as DA civilian employees.
The purpose of the manual is:
- To provide leadership doctrine for meeting mission requirements
- To establish a unified theory for the force
- To provide a comprehensive and adaptable framework
The content of the manual:
- Defines the army's values and leaders attributes
- Discusses character-based leadership
- Establishes leader attributes
- Focuses on long-term improvement
- Treats leadership on three levels:
- Direct - Front-line leaders who manage the troops
- Organizational - Brigade leaders who manage the operation of a functional unit through a hierarchy of subordinates
- Strategic - Top-level leaders who manage large organizations comprised of component organizations
- Identifies four skill areas that apply to all levels
- Specifies leadership actions at each level
The catchphrase is "be, know, do" - short for character, competence, and action.
Core values within the army culture: to lead by example, do what is legally and morally right, and influence others to do the same.
This manual consolidates previous documents that addressed the separate levels of leadership.
Most of all, this manual provides a conceptual framework to enable individuals to lead, not to provide exact steps to be followed in every situation.
Structure
The manual is divided into three parts:
One: Leadership and the Leader
The first three chapters cover the basics of leadership which are applicable at any level.
Two: Direct Leadership
Chapters 4 and 5 deal with front-line, face-to-face leadership
Three: Organizational and Strategic Leadership
Chapters 6 and 7 deal with leadership that is removed from the action: where a leader provides a mission or vision to subordinate leaders rather than directly to the front lines.