“Rank is only given you in the Army to enable you to better serve those below you and those above you. Rank is not given for you to exercise your idiosyncrasies.” General Bruce C. Clarke (1901 to 1988) Bruce Cooper Clarke was a US Army general. He was a career officer who served in World… Read More
“You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things. There is only one sort of discipline – perfect discipline. Discipline is based on:- Pride in the profession of arms. Meticulous attention to detail. Mutual Respect and Confidence. Discipline can only be obtained when leaders are as imbued with the sense of their… Read More
“Character is the bedrock on which the whole edifice of leadership rests. It is the prime element for which every profession, every corporation, every industry searches in evaluating a member of its organization. With it, the full worth of the individual can be developed. Without it – particularly in the military profession — failure in… Read More
“Major General James Utino once said that morale exists when “a soldier thinks that his army is the best in the world, his regiment is the best in the army, his company is the best in the regiment, his squad the best in the company, and that he himself is the best damned soldier in… Read More
“A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops while … an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops” John Pershing (1860 to 1948) John J. Pershing, in full John Joseph Pershing, byname Black Jack, was a US Army general who commanded the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe during World War I.… Read More
“General Ewell was so impressed by the conspicuous gallantry of a certain Federal cavalry officer in rallying his troops on the field of battle that he ordered his soldiers not to shoot at the man. [General ‘Stonewall’] Jackson later reprimanded Ewell for this quixotic action, remarking shrewdly, ‘Shoot the brave officers and the cowards will… Read More
How to Sack a Divisional Commander: Tewksbury, 4 May 1471; “Lord Winlock not having advanced to the support of the first line, but remaining stationary, contrary to the expectations of Somerset, the latter, in a rage, rode up to him, reviled him, and beat his brains out with an axe.” Max Hastings (1985) from The Oxford… Read More
