Military Leader - Research Paper Example

?Military Sciences Inserts His/ Her Inserts Grade Inserts (07, 05, Outline Introduction 2. Military leader 3. Conclusion Military leader 1. Introduction The military personnel learn many values while they train basic skills in combat. They learn to live and believe in the values. The values define what they become and what they accomplish. From the lowest ranks, these skills are learnt and internalized. Various soldiers have risen up the ranks from adhering to the values. Their hard work in their training and value system has yielded fruits in battle field, bringing victory to nation. This paper will talk about General Henry Harley Arnold who was a General of the Army, and was later made the general of the Air Force. Focus will be placed on attributes of leadership tactical decision in leadership and battle. 2. Military leader According to Davis (5), Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950) was born of a doctor in Gladwyne. He was also known as Hap, a short form of the name happy since he was known to be jovial. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1907. In the year 1911, he pursued his desire to fly in the air force and completed exams to earn a license. He became an active pilot of the United States Army. He was involved in different training institutions which impacted the traits that caused him to eventually become a military leader. Arnold has been identified as a successful military leader. A successful military leader is one who is capable of showing attributes of a good leader. A military leader presents the motive and direction during operation so that the mission is accomplished. Their ideas are about improving the organization and causing positive change. The leader’s motivation and objectives gives the subordinates specific goals to attain so that the aspired results are attained. Military leaders have strong values and a reputable character. A military leader has technical skills and human resource skills. Moreover, the military leader should use knowledge and skills to attain effectiveness and efficiency. As a military leader, Henry Arnold was known to be tactical and technically proficient. Besides having a sense of responsibility towards his subordinates, Arnold was known to look out for their welfare. Arnold was an example to the subordinates, kept good communication and ensured that good and timely decisions were made. One of the most outstanding traits is that Arnold was capable of taking responsibility for own action. During his missions Arnold was keen to ensure that military officers were informed on their mission, trained and understood their assigned tasks. Training done to the teams ensured that they acted as a team. The troops were motivated to follow and answer to Arnold. Arnold’s performance in the mission was in accordance to his capabilities. At an individual capacity, Arnold was aware of own strengths together with weaknesses, and sought to bring about self improvement. Arnold demonstrated the values of military personnel throughout the course of his work. Henry Arnold was loyal to the United States. He had strong belief and paid his allegiance to the Constitution of United States. He was commitment to the army, specific units assigned and other soldiers he was with in the battle fields. He was devoted to his work and believed in the mission. While working in different units, Arnold provided support to other soldiers and was present to assist in the case of difficulty. Arnold fulfilled his duties as a soldier. In his military service Arnold was able to guide and provide leadership as a general of the army and as a general of the air force. Besides he assigned tasks, an army leader goes beyond their duties to ensure that all the tasks are completed and the teams are maintained. Working in the United States Army can be tasking because a leader must combine all their efforts to actualize the mission. This means that they must be aware and capable of coordinating responsibilities with given tasks to meet the obligations. As it is the case one assignment leads to another, making the objectives of the mission be accomplished. Arnold undertook all the obligations as it is required in the military without shortcuts. This ensured that the mission was not compromised (Huston, 34). Another value that Arnold demonstrated is respect. Respect was revealed in his treatment to his subordinates and work. As a soldier, one pledges to uphold dignity as well as respect so that respect is reciprocated. Respect entails believing that the subordinates have undertaken their duties as it is required. As an individual, General Arnold was certain to show respect for self by giving his best in all his undertaking. He w worked with diligence and was willing to be cooperative in his work. It is significant to mention that General Arnold was an army officer who showed selflessness in his duties. His interest was to act on behalf of the nation and knew his position was of significance. Therefore, he put forth the welfare of the nation, the interest of the army and the wellbeing of his subordinates before his own to see the country and its people progress. His interests were to see victory for the United State’s constitution and to uphold its beliefs by safeguarding national interests. It would be appropriate to say that Arnold was a loyal servant of the nation who was committed to work without favors or recognition. Additional, unselfishness was revealed when Arnold was quick to support his teams and units and see that they progress and motivated them to endure. General Henry Arnold lived up to army value coveted by many: honor. Over the years that he committed himself to service, General Arnold was awarded many awards and medals for his service. They include air and military medals he was given for outstanding service to the United States. His significant contribution that motivated the awards is winning victory in the First World War, Second World War and other battles. This is because he made his work and honor as a daily living. Every choice he made was a habit of causing honor. Honor is attained by those who actualize all the values of a good leader. Work and attainment are outstanding and of great value to a nation and not an individual. A combination of selflessness, respect, responsibility and integrity earns a hardworking general honor. Integrity is part and parcel of a military officer that is revealed in general Arnold throughout the years of service. As a leader and an officer Arnold did what is right, moral and in line with the law. A leader is aware of the laws and the constitutions and seeks to as it stipulates. When an individual is morally aware of what is acceptable in the society then, they are able to show integrity in course of their work. Arnold’s actions and words did not deceive those who looked upon him for guidance. The more integrity was accrued to the general, the more the country continued to trust him. As a result, General Arnold became one of few generals who were assigned work in many battles. The soldiers serving under the general were confident of his leadership and were willing to cooperate and pursue the enemy. Decisions make concerning integrity placed General Arnold as one of the high valued and prized citizen before his family, friends and other citizens. Integrity is an aspect that causes an individual to be confident with self and accept self. Personal courage is one of the values that are featured in successful army officers. From the beginning of all military training, an individual is taught how to face personal fears, which paves way to a confident individual. The ability to physical adversaries or dangers has been linked with the army. General Arnold showed moral and physical courage. In his missions, he endured physical duress and engaged in dangerous activities. Dangerous activities include facing the enemies at war both on the ground and in the air. General Arnold was one of the pioneers of aviation and a chief of Air Force. Moreover, General Arnold was in charge of the Air Forces during the Second World War. One of the most exceptional traits of Arnold is that he overcame the fear of flying at an early age and therefore, was able to train and rose up the ranks to become a commander of Air Forces in the most powerful country in the world. Arnold participated in the First World War as well as the Second World War Air Force. In his time as a general, America’s Air Force was the most powerful in the world. Arnold faced his moral fears by working for what was honorable. General Arnold service reveals that he understood and lived up to recognize the warrior ethos. A warrior of the army places the mission as a priority. As they work in the battle, their mind set believes they will win and will not agree to defeat. One they begin fighting, they continue until the battle is over. When one of their own is wounded or fallen, they do not leave them behind. Arnold was aware in practicing the solder’s creed. As a warrior, General Arnold ensured that he kept his equipment and practiced professionalism at work. He was highly disciplined and guarded freedom. He was keen to destroy the enemy of United States as an American soldier. Professionalism was maintained at all levels. Arnold maintained professionalism and competence at all assignment, which caused him to rise up the ranks. Arnold’s wide knowledge and experience in the aviation earned trust to be appointed into the Air Force. During the First World War Arnold was involved in the department of information and was involved in an appropriation bill. He absorbed the knowledge on procurement of aircraft and development of competent aircraft in the army. He gained further training in aviation from the Army Industrial College. He rose up the ranks and participated in the development of long term research. In the Second World War General Arnold was actively involved and made significant decisions for the United States. General Arnold had been actively involved in research and development of aircraft for use in the war. This includes intensive study of jet engines and development of new air craft designed for war. Arnold pursued for support equipment for the soldiers who would be involved in the battle. These would be used for strategic bombing. As leader he advocated for the creation of Women air force who would be involved in the war. Arnold preferred to communicate directly to the commanders so that he would get actual information concerning. One of the well known attacks he conducted was on the Japanese Island. After careful planning and long preparation, Arnold used on the developed aircraft, B-29 superfortress drop the deadly atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is this atomic bomb that brought the Second World War to an end. General Arnold was keen to follow the troop leading procedures. New or existing information concerning a mission would reach him. He would therefore classify the information to assess the Mission to be accomplished, United States enemy, the specific terrain, available troops and the available time. This process of assessment is given the acronym METT-T (Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops and Time). Time was challenging at times and a part of it was used planning and giving instruction and the rest of the time used to prepare. He also used OCOKA which stands for Observation (of the environment and fire), Cover (for direct or indirect fire), Obstacles (of restrictive terrain), Key terrain and Avenues (for approach). The subordinates would therefore be given orders from previous briefing to alert them to begin as soon as possible. To complete the mission, the general would make a tentative plan which entails evaluating situation and possible outcome. Movement would therefore begin. Maps would be useful in confirming routes and leaders may relay some units if the enemy contact is enormous. Appropriate changes would be made so that the mission is accomplished by adjusting the plan and intent. The final order would be availed to give appropriate answers to subordinates what, how, when, who, where and why. Everyone was made to understand. Then there would be inspection after the troops rehearse. Arnolds desire to do research and development persisted. A research project for studying issues concerned with military was opened. Arnold’s health had been deteriorating and had to from active service. He was passionate about military and eventually spent his final years writing books about the military (Coffey, 9). 3. Conclusion. Henry Arnold was a succsful military leader. His hard work and devotion for the United States was exceptional. His tactics in the field revealed his leadership skills. Works Cited Arnold, Henry Harley. Global Mission (Military Classics Series). New York: Tab Books, 1989. Print. Coffey, Thomas M. Hap: The Story of the U.S. Air Force and the Man Who Built It: General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. New York: The Viking Press, 1982. Davis, Richard G. HAP: Henry H. Arnold, Military Aviator. Department of the Air Force 1997. Print. Huston, John W. American Airpower Comes of Age: General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's World War II Diaries, Volume 1. Alabama: DIANE Publishing. 2002. Read More