WWSMAD?
What would SMA do? See this week's LOD Highlights: SMA's Picks
To wrap up our Line of Departure-centric week, we are doing our weekly article highlights. For this week’s Line of Departure highlights, we’re focusing on articles selected by the Sergeant Major of the Army.
In case you missed it, this week we spotlighted our top three spots from our Line of Departure Promotion Competition. Yesterday, our culminating post featured a summary of lessons learned and great ideas brought to us by you all!
SMA’s Articles of the Month
MAJ Shawn Robinson
In this article, MAJ Robinson asserts it is important for leaders to embed themselves within the unit, rather than put themselves on a pedestal. The author argues leaders should be seen as teammates above all else, “your teammates will work harder for you and the organization when they feel their leader functions as a team member—fundamentally on the team, as opposed to being known as the figure who leads the team.” When soldiers see leaders as part of the team, rather than “the man”, it encourages authenticity and candor.
Ivy Intelligence (IVI) Large-Scale Combat Operations Targeting
SFC Christian Ramsey
This article focuses on intelligence support during a LSCO environment. SFC Ramsey pays special attention to GEOINT professionals who often struggle with proficiency in key tasks such as imagery processing and exploitation. These skills are tested during Division Warfighter exercises (WFX). However, WFX’s can occasionally exacerbate these shortfalls. The author suggests solutions through integrating cross-training, advanced tools, and leveraging existing collection capabilities at echelons above division.
The “Great Arsenal of Democracy”
CPT Trevor Barton
In The Great Arsenal of Democracy, CPT Barton uses the war in Ukraine to highlight the importance of a robust defense industrial base (DIB). Specifically, the author addresses the urgent need to enhance small-, medium-, and large-caliber ammunition. This relates to the DIB because the United States’ DIB is the hub for all precision munition production. CPT Barton pays special attention to production lines and how they must surge in efficacy during periods of conflict.