Liner Notes
*The battalion commanders Folsom served under and how they shaped the way he views and practices 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
*Where the battalion commander’s place should be on the battlefield
*Characteristics of the best and worst battalions
*Common mistakes new battalion commanders make
*Folsom’s experience as a company commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and how that affected the way he’s led his battalions
*Folsom’s reaction to being selected for infantry battalion command
*Some of the challenges, leadership and otherwise, inherent in commanding an infantry battalion
*What excited and concerned Folsom most about being a battalion commander
*The steps Folsom took to prepare for battalion command
*The battalion commander’s relationship to the unit’s staff sections
*Folsom’s expectations for his principal leaders and staff officers
*The one thing Folsom wish he had known about his first battalion before he assumed command of it
*What Folsom learned from going on numerous patrols with his squads in Sangin, Afghanistan
*Folsom’s thoughts for commanders on units that take consistent or heavy casualties
*How Folsom’s experience with 3/7 influenced the way he commanded Task Force Lion
*Some of the challenges present in Folsom’s current command
*His thoughts on what battalion command will look like in the future, particularly in the context of Force Design 2030
Links
The Highway War: A Marine Company Commander in Iraq by Seth Folsom
In the Gray Area: A Marine Advisor Team at War by Seth Folsom
Where Youth and Laughter Go: With the “Cutting Edge” in Afghanistan by Seth Folsom