How to Learn Leadership in the Army

The United States Army is great institution because of the leaders that it develops. Every day the Army is turning new recruits into new leaders. At first you will learn how to be led, but soon after there will be opportunities for you to do the leading. When that time comes your leaders will be sure that you are ready to follow the Army maxim: when in charge, take charge.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Become an officer in the Army. Officers are the Army's professional leaders. They are trained in one of three ways: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). West Point is the Army's four-year college for training officers. OCS is a nine-week training program and ROTC is a course you take for two or more years of your college career. These programs are designed to prepare new leaders for entrance into the Army.
2. Enlist in the Army. Enlisted personnel in the Army are trained how to be led, which is essential knowledge for a future leader. Each member of the Army learns the jobs of his leaders in order to ensure that a mission will continue even if a leader can't fulfill his duties. The further you advance in the enlisted ranks, the more responsibility you are given and the more soldiers you'll be leading.
3. Advance to the rank of a Non-Commissioned Officer. Enlisted personnel become NCOs once they reach the rank of sergeant. At that point, and for each rank thereafter, they attend an Army school that gives them the leadership tools that they will need. NCOs are the backbone of the Army.
4. Read Field Manual 22-100. This Army publication is an exhaustive resource on leadership.
5. Follow the example of the leaders around you. Once you are in the Army, this will be one of your greatest advantages: being surrounded by world-class leaders.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are in high school join the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). This program prepares young leaders for the challenges that lay ahead of school in the military or otherwise.

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