Military Leadership Principles

Questions and Answers

What are the Laws of Combat?

Prioritize and Execute (correct)

Execute and Plan

Decentralized Command (correct)

Cover and Move (correct)

When applied to any team, group, or organization, the proper _ and _ of these Laws of Combat would mean one thing: victory.

understanding, execution

The crucial leaders at every level of the team - the senior enlisted leaders, the fire team leaders in charge of _, the squad leaders in charge of _, and the junior petty officers that stepped up, took charge, and led.

four people, eight

For this reason, they must believe in the ___ for which they are fighting, believe in the _ they are asked to execute, and most important, they must believe in and ___.

cause, plan, trust the leader they are asked to follow Signup and view all the answers

For many years, Navy SEAL leadership training consisted almost entirely of _ and _.

OJT, mentoring Signup and view all the answers

These weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the _ and the deep meaning of _: the leader is truly and ultimately responsible for everything.

burden of command, responsibility Signup and view all the answers

We blame our own poor performance on bad ___, _ beyond our control, or poorly performing ___ - anyone but ourselves.

luck, circumstances, subordinates Signup and view all the answers

Extreme Ownership requires leaders to look at an organization's problems through the objective lens of reality, without _____ to agendas or plans.

emotional attachments Signup and view all the answers

These large rubber boats, black with a painted yellow rim, weighed nearly _____ and became heavier still when filled with water and sand.

200 pounds Signup and view all the answers

The concept that _____ was a difficult one to accept but nevertheless a crucial concept that leaders must fully understand and implement.

there were no bad teams, only bad leaders Signup and view all the answers

Leaders must accept _, own problems that _, and develop solutions to those problems.

total responsibility, inhibit performance Signup and view all the answers

The best teams anywhere, like the SEAL Teams, are constantly looking to ___, add _, and push ___.

improve, capability, the standards higher Signup and view all the answers

Repetitive exceptional performance became _____.

a habit Signup and view all the answers

A document that lays out the basic idea of an operation for approval by higher headquarters is called a _____

Concept of operations (CONOPS) Signup and view all the answers

___ and _ reflect belief with a clear confidence and self-assuredness that is not possible when ___.

Actions, words, belief is in doubt Signup and view all the answers

Overconfidence was risky in such a hostile environment, a mistake most often made by _____.

warriors who had never truly been tested Signup and view all the answers

We must never _____. This is where controlling the ego is most important.

get complacent Signup and view all the answers

As a leader, it is up to you to _ to all your front line leaders. That is a critical component of leadership. Another is dealing with _.

explain the bigger picture, people's egos Signup and view all the answers

Put simply, Cover and Move means _____.

teamwork Signup and view all the answers

You must brief to ensure the _____ on the team understands.

the lowest common denominator Signup and view all the answers

_ faults, which could be corrected, or _ faults, which rendered a unit unusable.

Hold, fatal Signup and view all the answers

Must rely on subordinate leaders to take charge of their smaller teams within the team and allow them to execute based on a good understanding of the _ (Commander's Intent), and _.

broader mission, standard operating procedures Signup and view all the answers

With clear _ and established _ for decision making that your subordinate leaders understand, they can then act independently toward your unified goal.

guidance, boundaries Signup and view all the answers

Junior leaders must know that the boss will back them up even if they make a decision _____, as long as the decision was made in an effort to achieve the strategic objective.

that may not result in the best outcome Signup and view all the answers

If frontline troops are unclear about the plan and yet are _____, the team's ability to effectively execute the plan radically decreases.

too intimidated to ask questions Signup and view all the answers

(Standardized plan) It must be _ and guide users with _ of all the important things they need to think about.

repeatable, a checklist Signup and view all the answers

Establishing a _ and _ planning process is critical to the success of any team.

an effective, repeatable Signup and view all the answers

Even when the leader thinks his troops understand the bigger picture, they very often have difficulty connecting the dots between _ they are immersed in with the _.

the tactical mission, the greater overarching goal Signup and view all the answers

You must also realize that your boss must allocate _ and make decisions with _. You and your team may not represent the priority effort at that particular time.

limited assets, the bigger picture in mind Signup and view all the answers

Leaders must be prepared to make an educated guess based on previous ___, knowledge of how _, likely outcomes, and whatever ___ in the immediate moment.

experience, the enemy moves, intelligence is available Signup and view all the answers

The bulk of operations during the first Iraq deployment consisted of what we called direct-action 'capture/kill' missions or _____.

targeted raids Signup and view all the answers

So the balance between _ and _ must be found and carefully maintained.

discipline, freedom Signup and view all the answers

Leaders that _____ fear being outshined by someone else.

lack confidence in themselves Signup and view all the answers

Leaders must never put their own drive for _ ahead of overall _ for the greater team.

personal success, mission success Signup and view all the answers

Leaders must recognize _ and know to _ so that they can maintain a solid performance indefinitely.

limitations, pace themselves and their teams Signup and view all the answers

With the mind-set of Extreme Ownership, _____ can develop into a highly effective leader.

any person Signup and view all the answers

One of the most important principles we adhered to in combat is _____.

simplicity Signup and view all the answers

Thus leaders must _ their troops, encourage _, and ensure their teams understand the plan.

ask questions of, interaction Signup and view all the answers

Ego disrupts everything: the ___ process, the ability to take good advice, and the ability to _. It can even stifle someone's sense of ___.

planning, accept constructive criticism, self-preservation Signup and view all the answers

Other times, the building was surrounded by 'dead space' - areas that would be difficult _ and difficult _.

to see, to defend Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Laws of Combat

Cover and Move, Simple, Prioritize and Execute, and Decentralized Command are essential principles for military success.
Understanding and execution of these laws are critical for victory in any organization.

Leadership Structure

Effective teams have crucial leaders at all levels, including senior enlisted leaders, fire team leaders, and squad leaders.
Junior leaders must step up, take charge, and lead their teams effectively.

Belief and Trust

Team members must believe in the cause, the execution plan, and the leader they follow to operate cohesively.
Trust is integral to leadership effectiveness.

Leadership Training

Navy SEAL leadership development relies heavily on on-the-job training (OJT) and mentoring.

Responsibility of Leaders

Commanders must grasp the burden of command, acknowledging that leaders are responsible for every outcome.
Avoid blaming external factors like luck or subordinates for one's performance.

Objective Leadership

Leaders must analyze problems objectively, free from emotional attachments to their agendas or plans.

Team Dynamics

Heavy equipment, such as 200-pound rubber boats, emphasizes the physical demands placed on teams during operations.
The principle that there are no bad teams, only bad leaders is fundamental in building high-performance groups.

Accountability and Improvement

Leaders must accept total responsibility for their team's performance and actively seek solutions to enhance it.
High-performing teams continuously strive to improve capabilities and raise standards.

Conceptual Planning

A Concept of Operations (CONOPS) document outlines the operation's core idea for approval by higher authorities.
Effective leaders communicate their vision clearly through actions and words to foster team belief and confidence.

Leadership Challenges

Overconfidence can be perilous, particularly for untested leaders in hostile settings.
Leaders must avoid complacency and remain vigilant.

Communication and Clarity

Cover and Move embodies teamwork as a coordinating principle.
Ensuring comprehension among all team members, regardless of rank, is vital for successful execution.

Fault Identification

Units must identify and correct hold faults, while fatal faults can permanently disable squads.
Leaders delegate responsibilities to subordinate leaders with clear understanding of the broader mission.

Decision-Making Framework

Establishing clear guidance and boundaries enables subordinate leaders to operate independently while working towards a unified goal.
Junior leaders must feel supported in their decisions, even if the outcomes are uncertain.

Clarity and Intimidation

Frontline troops need the confidence to ask questions; intimidation can severely hinder operational effectiveness.
Standardized plans should be repeatable and act as checklists for crucial tasks.

Planning Process

A successful team requires an effective and repeatable planning approach to navigate objectives.
Connect tactical missions with overarching goals to maintain clarity and direction.

Resource Allocation

Leaders operate within the constraints of limited resources and must align decisions with overall mission priorities.
Preparation involves making educated guesses based on experience and assessing available intelligence.

Operations Overview

Initial Iraq deployment primarily involved direct-action missions, known as targeted raids.
Balancing discipline and freedom is essential for operational effectiveness.

Leadership Confidence

Insecure leaders who fear being outshined hinder team performance.
Personal ambitions should never supersede mission success.

Team Management

Leaders must recognize their and their team's limitations, pacing themselves for sustainable performance.
Extreme Ownership can cultivate effective leadership skills in anyone willing to embrace it.

Principle of Simplicity

Simplicity is a cornerstone principle in combat operations, aiding in clear communication and execution.
Encouraging troop participation and interaction is vital for understanding and commitment to the plan.

Ego Management

Ego disrupts planning, advice reception, constructive criticism acceptance, and self-preservation instincts.
Awareness of dead spaces in operational environments is crucial for defensive strategies.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the essential principles of military leadership including laws of combat, leadership structure, and the importance of trust and responsibility. This quiz covers the foundational concepts critical for effective team dynamics in a military context.

Military Leadership Principles

Questions and Answers

What are the Laws of Combat?

When applied to any team, group, or organization, the proper _____ and _____ of these Laws of Combat would mean one thing: victory.

The crucial leaders at every level of the team - the senior enlisted leaders, the fire team leaders in charge of _____, the squad leaders in charge of _____, and the junior petty officers that stepped up, took charge, and led.

For this reason, they must believe in the _____ for which they are fighting, believe in the _____ they are asked to execute, and most important, they must believe in and _____.

For many years, Navy SEAL leadership training consisted almost entirely of _____ and _____.

These weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the _____ and the deep meaning of _____: the leader is truly and ultimately responsible for everything.

We blame our own poor performance on bad _____, _____ beyond our control, or poorly performing _____ - anyone but ourselves.