May 2024 Articles


Cohesion, Performance, and Readiness: A Brigade-Level Experiment In The Art And Science Of Organizational Culture

By Josh Bowen and Jon Bate

This article describes how 1SBCT, 4ID defined, cultivated, and measured unit culture to build cohesive teams and improve performance. Focus area: Delivering Combat Ready Formations.

Link to the article | More from Modern War Institute

Notable Quote

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This famous quote, […] highlights the impact that organizational culture can have, for better or worse. Few other things in an organization so effectively shape its results and cohesion.”


Engineer Lessons Learned from the War in Ukraine

By Lieutenant Colonel Matthew S. Holbrook

This article highlights dispersal and overhead cover lessons and identifies vulnerabilities in bridging capabilities. Focus area: Warfighting 

Link to the article | More from Engineer

Notable Quote

“The Russo-Ukrainian war does present us with a prime opportunity to study and address any shortfalls and regain any skills that may have atrophied since the end of the Cold War.”


C-SUAS at the Tactical Level

By CW4 Wesley K. Wilk
CW2 Ronald E. Bran

This article by two warrant officers summarizes challenges and makes recommendations for countering small drones. Focus areas: Warfighting, Continuous Transformation.

Link to the article | More from Infantry

Notable Quote

“To be lethal, effective, and win across the spectrum of conflict in LSGCO, the C-SUAS effort must be a combined arms effort using fires warfighting function tasks to support the efforts of the protection warfighting function.”

 

Tools for Strengthening the Profession


A Catalyst for Writing

By Lt. Col. D. Max Ferguson, U.S. Army

This article introduces the concept of a catalyst paper as a distinct approach to writing Army white papers that encourages all ranks to share observations from the field, introduce suggestions, and examine lessons learned. Such grassroots research papers are written to help busy leaders think, spark dialogue among their peers, and introduce their teams to new methods. Commanders can share them across units and help nominate papers for publication in Army professional journals for dissemination and preservation.

Link to the article | More from the Military Review

Notable Quote

“Catalyst papers encourage authors to relax their writing style toward a more conversational and digestible tone—because the papers are not meant for academics. They are written by leaders in the field for their fellow soldiers.”