FORSCOM commander speaks on leader development

By Staff Sgt. Mark MirandaFebruary 6, 2014

FORSCOM commander speaks on leader development
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FORSCOM commander speaks on leader development
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Commanders and command sergeants major gathered Feb. 5 to attend a forum led by United States Army Forces Command Commanding General Gen. Daniel B. Allyn.

I Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza and his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Robert B. Brown also facilitated the dialogue, focused primarily on leader development.

Allyn offered his guidance, which included five leader development principles: integrate leader development in everything we do; focus on character; focus on junior leaders; leader certification and managing talent.

"As commanders and leaders, we have the unique opportunity and truly a responsibility to make leader development a deliberate process that capitalizes on every opportunity to learn," Allyn said.

He also emphasized the importance of character and its effect on competence.

"Leaders must ensure they model professional behavior, and instill in subordinates the need for sustaining the Nation's trust," Allyn said.

Counseling was brought up as key to the early years of junior leaders.

"If we're looking at the least experienced leaders in our formations, we should focus at squad leader level," Allyn said, adding that consistent dialogue with them can accelerate their growth.

He highlighted leader certification as critical to the Army profession, calling for certification programs to be challenging and to measure performance.

Allyn closed with thoughts on the principle of managing talent, a philosophy of deliberate, coordinated efforts to align the right people for the job in ways that will meet current and future Army requirements.

"When done correctly, it can improve both the individuals and the organizations," he said. "It will be fundamental to our success as an Army during this period of uncertainty and change."