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A review by outworkchief
Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat by James R. McDonough
5.0
I read this book after my senior year in college and freshly commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Army.
I received, first hand, the struggles that new leaders may have to overcome with little no actual experience.
McDonough describes in detail his thought process when evaluating options. His ability to understand the human dimension, the driving force behind each of his Soldiers was crucial in maintaining the integrity of his platoon.
A perfect example of this is how he immediately recognized the true and informal leader of his platoon prior to his arrival. It wasn't the platoon sergeant, who was the senior leader of the group. It was a junior NCO that took charge of his Soldiers and personally led combat missions to suppress the enemy. His platoon sergeant handled administrative actions and was more concerned with surviving, retiring...
This kind of intuitiveness is superb for a young leader and a valuable insight that many more can learn from.
I received, first hand, the struggles that new leaders may have to overcome with little no actual experience.
McDonough describes in detail his thought process when evaluating options. His ability to understand the human dimension, the driving force behind each of his Soldiers was crucial in maintaining the integrity of his platoon.
A perfect example of this is how he immediately recognized the true and informal leader of his platoon prior to his arrival. It wasn't the platoon sergeant, who was the senior leader of the group. It was a junior NCO that took charge of his Soldiers and personally led combat missions to suppress the enemy. His platoon sergeant handled administrative actions and was more concerned with surviving, retiring...
This kind of intuitiveness is superb for a young leader and a valuable insight that many more can learn from.