Self-Development and the Art of Battle Command

This study explores the self-development process. The self-development process is framed within the Army Leader Development program. This study intends to focus on self-development and the art of Battle Command. The Army's Leader Development Program consists of three pillars: Institutional, Operational, and Self-Development; and however, self-development within the Army officer corps lacks focus and purpose. The Battle Command Focused Rotation program found that the self-development pillar is the weakest and needs additional emphasis to improve its effectiveness, if it is to have any impact on leaders understanding the Art of Battle Command. DA PAM 350-58 provides an outline for the establishment of leader self-development. The focus to provide structure for self-development is lacking. Current thoughts are that the individual is completely in charge of his self-development program. This is a poor way in an age of technology and information dominance to grow leaders. With the sporadic operational experience that current leaders receive, there is a need to be more structured with the Army's self-development pillar. The correct amount of structure is debatable, as too much can be just as harmful as not enough. This analysis concludes that President Harry Truman and General George S. Patton had certain aspects of self-development in common. This study investigates the documented self-development activities of Truman and Patton. As a result, some basic tenets and dynamics need to be incorporated into the Army's Leader Development Program through the self-development pillar. The proposed tenets read, think, discuss, and write on the subject within your professional domain are intended to improve a self-development reading program. This focus is accomplished through the battle command fundamentals of seeing yourself, the enemy, and the terrain (environment) within the scope of time, space, and purpose.