Controversy & Clarity #13--Herman Stacy Clardy III
*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