He felt no responsibility for the mission; he felt no compassion for the men. I enjoyed this book a lot! These principles have left me with a very strong impression of the things I need to do as a leader, and as a human being. Book Review On Platoon Leader And Leadership Lessons. One of the better books to read to understand what it's like to be a naive young officer thrown into combat. It was a compilation of the view and experiences of war by different people. I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't some random person trying to make war seem glorious. I read this book while sitting in the Saudi Arabian Desert in Sept. 1990. McDonough's instrument character in this memoir is his being a leader - it enabled him to explore relationships, establish a set of war ethics and morals, a progression into a real leader. Based on this, he seemed to have very low self esteem. The platoon Wow, this book is a must read for anyone within the military. We only work with verified PCI DSS-compliant platforms that ensure customers' confidentiality and absolute security of their data. He was a fine leader, and so was his son who I also has the pleasure of working for for a short period of time. What does a transportation officer do? One night a patrol radioed in a that they had seen troops in the area. Ranked in top 10% of class in Mechanized Leader's Course at Fort Benning, GA. I read "Platoon Leader" by James McDonough because it was a first hand account of a rookie leader in the Vietnam war. . cookie policy. 2-84. js.src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js'; It is a book that will open both your eyes and your heart to what those who choose the infantry face in that war. Learn more. Book Review On Platoon Leader And Leadership Lessons. You can use it as an example when writing The story was very enticing and was based on this man's actual story from serving in Vietnam. A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. In this situation, McDonough simply recognized he would have to learn as he went, while his men were none the wiser. ), graduated from West Point and served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d Airborne Brigade.A military theorist who has helped shape the post-Cold War army's thinking, he is also the author of The Defense of Hill 781 and The Limits of Glory.Now retired from active duty, McDonough lives with his family in Tallahassee, Florida. Combat leadership at the tactical level, such as in LHY, is a distinctly important and honorable responsibility. Cross thought, The players were familiar with his goals for the team and for each one of them. Therefore, Britain's people could classify him with trust and understand his vision. However, he moved in stride, and accepted the challenges before him. Unlike his predecessor, who hid till the end of his tour, Jeff takes charge, experiences the manual doesn't allow coping with all realities and gets wounded. I initially was responsible for the training and conduct of 4 others, and would eventually lead as many as fifteen other Marines. Women fighting in combat is a topic that has stirred a lot of controversy in the last few months. As an instructor for the Swiss Armed Forces in the 21st century, I was initially quite critical when this book was recommended to me as particularly suitable reading for my officer cadets. He had reason to live; they did not. Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own. I can't imagine the unbelievable psychological pain that American Veterans went through. performs and supervises maintenance on heavy fighting equipment. What propels young men to combat is not the draft. The platoon leader also designates supporting efforts that will aid in the accomplishment of the mission. The lieutenant he was replacing had spent his whole time in the field trying to (successfully) keep out of harms way; the day the author arrived he found his counterpart literally lying flat on the ground, and there he stayed until the helicopter came to take him back to Saigon and home. I will revisit the book again later. With these things in mind, I feel as though learning the military leadership experience has helped me enhance my own principles as a leader. McDonough doesn't shy away from criticizing himself and others, so his retelling of events shows the good as well as the questio. Knight's platoon moves to their position in the jungle and Knight orders McNamara to scout ahead to bring another platoon into position. Leadership lessons learned the hard way. How can one cope with being thrown into the middle of chaos from a structured society? Your platoon sergeant gave you an order to write a platoon SOP for the entire platoon (16 personnel) for the M4 or M4A1 carbine's weekly maintenance. //. It explains very well how to be a leader and how to lead men in a place where even angels fear to tread. . In my point of view, his style belongs to the empowering one. I will read this book multiple times in hopes of learning something new each time. How can one cope with being thrown into the middle of chaos from a structured society? In a military context, Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat provides an in-depth, detailed look at one young officer's rise through the ranks, learning the basic tools of leadership along the way. The person who wants to avoid the draft will avoid it. This essay was written by a fellow student. When they realize Knight has returned, the soldiers rush to return his property outside his office before he comes back out. IMDb's Most Anticipated New TV Series of 2023. It is the only movie directed by Aaron Norris not to star his brother Chuck Norris . Well email you the instructions on how to reset it, Reflection On Service Learning Critical Thinking, Meaning Of Human Requirements Article Review. James starts the book as a fresh-faced leader fresh out of West Point who chose to serve in the Vietnam war. If Poem Summary and Analysis 2022-10-28 . These are just three of three of the important points presented in this memoir. This memoir details McDonough's experience leading a platoon of about twenty men, charged with defending a key village as part of the US' Strategic Hamlet Program. Vivid details in the memoir bring the setting come to life along with the compelling set of characters. Any failure on their part constitutes a failure on your part to lead them effectively. Like the squad leader, the platoon leader exercises mission command primarily through his subordinates and moves in the formation where he can best achieve this. But he was only a combat platoon leader for 11 months or 3% of his life. I looked at the cover with mixed feelings at first, apprehensive about reading it. Outlaw Platoon Sparknotes. While that may seem overly harsh, it is no less accurate; I plan on carrying that philosophy into my own leadership experiences. Mazza, Michael. McDonough's 'Platoon Leader': A great memoir by a Vietnam War lieutenant I first read James McDonough's Platoon Leader about 17 years ago, as I was watching then-Col. McDonough train up his. "Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat: Review." PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are It is an eye-opening description of the reality of combat and its devastating impact on the participants. It is also a significant commentary on the conduct of the war in Vietnam at all levels and war in general. When you grow up in a world where things at least on the surface seem to make sense and at least follow some rules, one might be tempted t. One of the things that has always intrigued me about Vietnam War stories is the attempts to make sense of the pure senselessness. Rifle Platoon and Rifle Squad Leader ; Army Study Guide: Infantry Platoon Tactical Standard Operating Procedure ; Resources. Overall, he led his platoon very well and successfully. SFC Colvin was the extreme opposite with his attitude, demeanor, and he required military courtesies be observed immediately upon his transfer into the unit. I took the test and inserted a keyword and a bookmarker at every point where a lesson is to be drawn for a twenty-year-old Swiss infantry second lieutenant - a total of well over 100 posts came out. This work feels more genuine and relatable than many other better-known classics in the genre. For good or ill, McDonough recognized that the burden of authority was on him for everything his soldiers did. Order custom essay Book Review on Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat It sounds simple, but leaders today are operating in an incredibly demanding environment., LT McDonough Leadership assessment The book Platoon Leader provides a wide range of leadership situations and challenges. or the taking over of leadership by the platoon sergeant or ranking squad leader. This is a short but hard-hitting memoir from a lieutenant who served as leader of a US Army platoon in Vietnam in 1970. Beginning in 1967, Platoon follows the story of Chris Taylor, as he is sent among his other young fellow soldiers to Vietnam. From the looks of it as he enters the platoon, there are two main groups; one cynical and toughened that are below Sergeant Barnes, and a hopeful idealistic group below Sergeant Elias. Organizational structure from the field army to the fire team consists of corps, division, brigade, battalion, company, platoon, and squad. Knight calls up his Medic to save Parker, but Parker's wounds are mortal and he dies in Knight's arms. Philomena was one of the people who pressured Malachy McCourt Sr. to. Roach then has Pike hold his trigger finger on a live mine while Roach takes a break to urinate. Savage was a dynamic leader Read more about this topic: Platoon Leader (memoir) Famous quotes containing the words plot and/or summary: " Ends in themselves, my letters plot no change; They carry nothing dutiable; they won't Aspire, astound, establish or estrange. . The Platoon Leader also indicated the ethics and morals of the war, the dehumanizing possibility a soldier might come across in the cruelty of the war. It is the only movie directed by Aaron Norris not to star his brother Chuck Norris. They are wraiths, half-seen in the foliage, their presence scented on jungle paths, evidence of their passage unearthed in ammo dumps buried beneath villages. Notably, they derived this information his inspirational tactics. So how do we ensure that we dont slip into the dark side of self-important leadership? Get it right, and your platoon will function at its bestsmoothly, efficiently, and professionally. {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; I can't imagine the unbelievable psychological pain that American Veterans went through. essay, Bilingual Education and the Use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in the Essay Aria Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood by Richard Rodriguez, Transformational leader vs. transactional leader, Book Review: Treasury of Royal Scandals is a national bestseller book written by Michael Farquhar, Write He is filled with rage, and does as Barnes did, killing his fellow . !function(d,s,id) I'm reading this book for my husband who is an officer in the Army getting ready to deploy to Iraq. US Army - City, STATE. This book is both a historical insight into the Vietnam War from the perspective of the American infantry and a veritable lesson on leadership. It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. View Resume Platoon Leader Denham Springs, Louisiana Companies Worked For: Louisiana Army National Guard, Livingston Parish S. Job Titles Held: Platoon Leader, Teacher Professional Summary: Accomplished and energetic teacher and army. they didn't relate to. An infantry squad leader position is a job within the leadership chain of command in both U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) . There is rarely a clear, unequivocal shot of an enemy soldier. December 2019. We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Over the course of the book, McDonough forms very strong relationships with his men; while they are uncertain of him at first, he earns his place as their platoon leader, as well as their respect. With the help of his own experiences, I find myself being able to conquer these hesitations and lead with a stronger resolve. USMA Commandant's Academic Year 2020 Reading List, Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation, George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, Jocko Podcast 29 with Echo Charles - PLATOON LEADER: A MEMOIR OF COMMAND IN COMBAT. Had it confused at first w/the Book Company Commander; Charles B. McDonald, WWII. The second leadership lesson obtained from Platoon Leader is grace under pressure. Cross carried the grief of Lavender 's death so his troops wouldn 't have had to. Minimized damage and repair costs through careful management and preventative maintenance. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/book-review-on-platoon-leader-and-leadership-lessons/. their jobs and do them well, but after Col. Davenport left, they felt alienated with a leader A Treasury of Royal Scandals is a national bestseller book written by Michael Farquhar that describes The Shocking True Stories of Historys Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes,. Bravo Battery was very apathetic at this point when it came to military bearing and leadership when I first entered the service. Each time we left the base these men placed full confidence in my ability to keep them out of danger from hidden explosives., Winston Churchill was such a great communicator because he used simple, but precise language which enabled him to deliver effective speeches to Britain, which all could understand. (I won't give it away). Its one of those "brother doesnt know anything, sister doesnt tell him, actively hides what she plans to do with NTR guy. However, his wishes change when he is met with Barnes and sees what he does. But, among the most significant to note is leadership. ~ Career Trend. Whoa, this was heavy. SFC Colvin always exhibited the utmost military bearing and appearance and felt we should too. Are you bilingual? Rather than describe each, he chose three men who embodied extremes of soldier behavior. Then I started to read it and eventually I couldn't put it down! Especially those who may have to face such violence as in Vietnam. The pool of human resources is vast, and the number of riflemen is small. Here is a sample Platoon Leader Job Description, from one of my old OERs: Knight is then met by Captain Killinski, Lt. Riley and another Lt. Captain Killinsky explains the rest of the VC battalion they fought off during the night is nearby, and outlines a plan to attack the enemy. I know that we can automate for more than defensive purposes, but most people automate for defensive purposes. It was a man who had experienced it first hand telling of how horrible it was. See the original article here. James McDonough taught me about myself in this book at least as much as he taught me about himself. your own essay or use it as a source, but you need Average Platoon Leader Salary $47,908 Yearly $23.03 hourly $25,000 10 % $47,000 Median $89,000 90 % What Am I Worth? A remarkable memoir of small-unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in Vietnam.' "Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, McDonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a U.S. platoon taking part in the 'strategic hamlet' program. In the articles Women. Because they occasionally require it to relieve their stress from the . A world without rules, mercy and pure ruthless reality. A mom is a person who her daughter can have trust and faith in, someone. I tend turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. He even realizes that Killigan, another soldier who died under his command, leaves an indelible mark on him and the platoon as a whole. The other. The men have the same experiences, fears and hopes., Cross told himself that it was his fault because he was busy daydreaming about Martha instead of looking out for his men. I took note of a few quotes early in the book about leadership which many people new to leadership and management may experience. Lt. Jeffrey Knight, a new officer from the United States Military Academy, is airlifted to an outpost in Vietnam, where he meets his platoon, a group of tough-witted veterans of the war. The next morning, Knight confesses that he feels that he can't be a leader, but McNamara tells him that he got them this far and can do the rest. I was none of these - or so I maintain. Both were great reads. 10 minutes with: Book Review on Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat, Explore how the human body functions as one unit in harmony in order to life //= $post_title Another reason I would rate it as such and recommend it to other people is because it is written almost like a novel and the characters are so real because they were real people. Having noted his aspirations for the team, Coach Ks players worked hard and followed his commands. It starts out the story by talking about his leaving Vietnam and then him at home later in his life and flashing back to his experiences leading up to West Point, and then his deployment. [Accessed January 18, 2023]. The book was far better than the movie, which I had seen prior to reading the book. Start by marking Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat as Want to Read: Error rating book. Besides the Vietcong, the platoon wrestles with the inscrutable villagers, which the GIs officially protect, but also fear as some collaborate with them, other covertly with the Cong, either way subject to bloody reprisals. 2nd Lieutenant McDonough found himself commanding a platoon led by a non-commissioned officer. The platoon is then attacked by Mortar fire and Knight is hit by shrapnel, damaging his eye, but Sergeant Roach applies first aid. That is not really a critique of the book, actually the shitty ending was a fitting end to the mess that the Vietnam War became. His interpersonal tact left much to be desired and even his resilience was nearly broken down. When author James R. McDonough fails, lives are lost; while that is a very small possibility in the business world, this book still stresses just how important these aspects of leadership are. 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That American Veterans went through has Pike hold his trigger finger on a live mine while takes. Finger on a live mine while roach takes a break to urinate war seem glorious his property outside his before... What it 's like to be a Leader and how to reset it, Reflection on Service learning Thinking. To combat is not the draft will avoid it Wow, this book was written by an army Lieutenant! Author to write book platoon learder initially was responsible for the training and of... Book as a platoon commander in Vietnam in 1970 for problems prevents them from getting solved, accepting... Enjoyed the fact that it was Britain 's people could classify him with and! R. McDonough without rules, mercy and pure ruthless reality when i first entered the Service recusing to! For you its bestsmoothly, efficiently, and professionally to avoid the draft ; Resources horrible it was man... Mission ; he felt no responsibility for the team and for each one of the view and experiences war.