The United States Marine Corp is arguably the most well run organization in modern times. They have learned many lessons through extreme trials and tribulations. One of the keys to their success over the years is due to the emphasis they place on preparing leaders. “Warfighting” (aka Marine Corp Doctrine Publication 1) is one of many publications which are in use by the Marines to shape and mold, up and coming leaders.
This book is a primer for preparing young Marines for leadership in war. From what I can tell, in hearing from those who have been involved, war contains the most chaotic experience one can imagine. A majority of those who read this review will never experience the level of anxiety that is present in war, that does not change the value we can gain in reading and learning from this publication.
The book is broken down into four main sections
The Nature of War: Friction, Uncertainty, Disorder, Fluidity, and Complexity of War are among the items identified and discussed. Here, the framework for understanding is established. This is the foundation for the rest of the learning which takes place. In business we are not facing war, there are many foundational principles provided that help us understand the nature of people and how we often find ourselves in conflict with other groups, organizations, or even ourselves.
The Theory of War: The Spectrum of Conflict, Levels of War, Styles of Warfare, and Combat Power are all includes as some of the topics in this chapter. Building upon the nature of war, understanding how these topics build the overall theory of war creates additional building blocks for the subsequent chapters. The information provided in this chapter helps the reader understand ways in which we may find ourselves entrenched within certain professional and personal conflicts.
Preparing for War: Organization, Professionalism, Training, Equipping, and Personnel Management are just a few of the key items of focus in this chapter. It is made clear that having a proper understanding of the topics covered in the previous two chapters, helps us understand the value of preparedness. I liken this focus on preparations as similar to Stephen Covey’s idea of “Sharpen the Saw”. Taking an appropriate amount of time to properly train your team pays dividends towards a winning mindset that goes well beyond what we can truly measure.
The Conduct of War: Philosophy of Command, Shaping the Action, Decision making, and Mission Tactics are all topics which show us the value of conducting ourselves in a way that helps us maintain high standards of efficiency, effectiveness and personal conduct even in the midst of high pressure situations.
Yes, this book focuses on what it takes to fight a war. In business we do not find ourselves in a war with others, but we will experience plenty of conflict and competition. As a non-military reader, I gleaned a wealth of understanding how I can be a better leader, worker, father, and friend. I was faced with the value of understanding the foundation and framework in preparing myself and those in my care for struggles in life and business. The book provided clarity on the value of effective, adequate, properly directed, and focused training. Training is invaluable and needs to be conducted in both a formal classroom setting as well as individuals taking it upon themselves to learn. Finally, the idea of holding myself to a high standard as I conduct both my private and public business is of the highest importance.
My hope is that you will pick up this book and read it for yourself. It is full of information that can take years to properly absorb and a lifetime to properly apply. The book is not only applicable in war, it can be viewed as a tool to guide your own life and responsibilities.
