#13--Herman Stacy Clardy III

Controversy & Clarity

*The battalion commanders Clardy had as a company and field-grade officer and how they influenced him on how he views and practiced battalion command

*What makes an ideal battalion commander. What makes a battalion commander from hell

*The single most important thing battalion commanders do or should do for their unit

*How Clardy’s time teaching at The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course influenced his preparations for and practice of battalion command

*What a light armored reconnaissance (LAR) battalion is and how it differs from an infantry battalion

*Clardy’s reaction to being selected for command of an LAR battalion

*The steps he took to prepare for battalion command

*Some of the inherent weaknesses of an LAR battalion and how he sought to overcome these

*His advice to future LAR battalion commanders

*His philosophy of command

*What excited him most about being a battalion commander. What concerned him most

*What the battalion commander’s relationship to the battalion’s staff sections should be

*Clardy's professional military education efforts within the battalion

*The one thing he wish he had known about his battalion before his assumed command of it

*His efforts in preparing his battalion for Operation Iraqi Freedom-I (OIF-I)

*A deep dive into the battalion's operations during OIF-I, including its role in Task Force Tripoli

*Clardy's experiences commanding Regimental Combat Team-2, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command, and 3rd Marine Division

*Characteristics of the best and worst battalions he’s seen

*His thoughts on Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluations and Integrated Training Exercises

*Common mistakes he's seen new battalion commanders make

*What battalion command might look like in the context of Force Design 2030

Links

Common Sense Training: A Working Philosophy for Leaders by LtGen Arthur S. Collins Jr.

Company Command: The Bottom Line by Major General John G. Meyer and Major Spencer Beatty

Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq by Bernard E. Trainor and Michael R. Gordon

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