“There are no bad regiments; there are only bad colonels.”

Often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) and Ulysses S. Grant (US Civil War General).

Other variations include:

“There are no bad troops. There are only bad leaders.” Brigadier General S.L.A. Marshall

“In the British Army, there are no good battalions and no bad battalions, no good regiments and no bad regiments. There are only good and bad officers.” Attributed to General Slim (British Army) from his book Defeat into Victory.

Reference

Great War Forum (2013) “No Bad Soldiers…” Available from World Wide Web: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/198287-no-bad-soldiers/. [Accessed: 24 July, 2016].