Levels of Leadership in the Army Introduction

Levels
of Leadership in the Army

Introduction

The military requires efficient leadership features
to help foster the various operations in office and field levels. This explains
why there are different levels of leadership to help sustain different military
personnel in diverse contexts. There are three different levels of leadership
significant to its operations. This discussion will extensively highlight the
three different levels and their importance in the army settings. Diverse
features help in defining a specific leadership level. These include the level’s
span of control, headquarter levels, and the size of the leader’s unit or
organization. In addition, the level of influence the leader has within the
military context and the type of operations the unit one is in charge of will
help identify the level of leadership in the army. Additional features to
identify the leadership level include the number of people, including soldiers
working in the unit and the mission contexts. These could be short-term or
long-term missions. Uddin’s (2019) study indicates that different army
leadership competencies and attributes are applicable at all levels. Leadership
is important in defining the subordination factor among soldiers while the
operation performance expectations are clearly outlined to everyone. Leadership
within the army is based on diverse features that examine what the army
believes in while in operation. Such includes their comprehension of oaths,
capacity to respect everyone while maintaining their dignity and the people
they serve. Army leadership is founded on various army values, operations,
levels of command, military discipline, and the authority provided. Regardless
of one’s authority level in the army, a leader must treat everyone direly and
equally. The discussion defines the three different levels of leadership in the
army, their roles, and implications within the military.

Direct
Leadership

Direct leadership
describes the first-line form of the army leadership, which includes a face-to-face
aspect of headship (Silas, 2019).In the army, direct leaders
are mostly in contact with their juniors in different contexts, including
teams, sections, departments, platoons, troops, or battalions. The command
level ranges from a few people, probably a handful, to dozens or hundreds of
people. A direct leader plays an important role in daily participation in
different operations. This is crucial for the unit’s performance’s success. Silas (2019) further indicates direct leaders
influence their subordinates individually while guiding them through
non-commissioned and subordinate officers. In addition, the direct leadership
factor is efficient in coaching, mentoring, counseling, and leading as an
example to others. These are strategies used to influence the juniors in
performing their military roles effectively positively. The direct leadership
level includes the implementation of army roles with enhanced certainty and
reduced complexity compared to other levels of leadership (Silas, 2019). This
is attained following the close and immediate relationship direct leaders have
with their juniors. Direct leaders mostly focus on close interaction provision
of performance direction, coaching, assigning tasks, and guidance to their
subordinates. Further, the leaders teach and ensure the soldiers have efficient
motivation to complete their roles in different missions. For instance, the
direct leader can attain soldiers’ productivity by ensuring the military
vehicles are maintained.

Organizational
Leadership

This is the second level
of leadership in the army and includes individuals in command exercising
leadership through the subordinate leaders. These subordinates lead various
organizational contexts by commanding approximately hundreds to thousands of
people within the army (Boylan & Turner, 2017).
Organizational leaders have indirect command through their subordinates through
an established supportive environment. Army (2019) adds that organizational
leaders do not depend on daily top-level leadership guidance on utilizing
resources for operational success. Such allows the subordinate officers to initiate
actions and reduce decisions made individually. Consequently, organizational
leadership includes being responsible for leading and synching diverse military
operations. The leaders are required to interact with their subordinates
regularly at personal levels. They must find time for reporting and briefings
verifications to ensure their expectations are attained. Besides,
organizational leadership utilizes observations to assess the subordinates’
efficacy in comprehending their commander’s intentions. Such enhances effective
reinforcement and assessment of diverse military priorities. Although
organizational leaders have similar skills with direct leaders, they are
expected to cope with more uncertainties, complexities, and military
individuals. Thus, such allows them to establish different military operational
policies while providing an efficient working environment to foster the army’s
2 to 10 year-mission plans.

Strategic Leadership

Strategic leadership is the top
level of army leadership which includes both the civilian and military leaders.
For instance, the Department of the Army (DA) and top military leaders form the
main commanding level through the Department of Defense (DOD). The strategic
leadership level is asked to ensure the whole organization’s operations are
effectively executed. This level influences more than a thousand people in
performing their roles (Army, 2019). Further, the strategic leaders are responsible
for guiding and integrating different military units in various army functions.
They also develop force sizes and structures while ensuring military resources
are effectively allocated. In addition, strategic leaders enhance communication
of the military’s strategic vision while articulating the commands for future
army mission operations (Flowers, 2018). This leadership level shapes the
military culture by guaranteeing the different programs, policies, and systems’
efficacy and ethical utilization. The strategic leaders are trained and
educated to adapt to challenging and complex military realities by applying
specific leadership competencies. Lastly, strategic leaders are critical
catalysts in transforming and changing the army structure through focusing on long-term
operational features.