No Way Out

From Battlefields to Boardrooms: Leadership Lessons from Vietnam to Modern Business with Bing West

5 snips
Feb 25, 2025
Bing West, a Marine Corps veteran and insightful author, shares his compelling journey from Boston's Irish Catholic roots to the battlefields of Vietnam. He delves into the importance of cultural integration and community engagement learned from the Combined Action Program, emphasizing how military strategies inform modern business leadership. Bing explores contrasting military tactics and critiques conventional approaches, highlighting the significance of understanding local dynamics. His reflections offer valuable lessons applicable to both military and corporate landscapes.
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ANECDOTE

CAP Marines Embedded With Villagers

  • The Combined Action Platoon (CAP) placed small squads of Marines into Vietnamese villages to fight the Viet Cong directly.
  • The Marines became a respected fighting force that villagers trusted and relied on for protection and support.
INSIGHT

True Path to Victory in Vietnam

  • Winning the support of local people depended on being better fighters, not just nation builders.
  • The unyielding will of North Vietnam meant only destroying their army could win the war, not just winning hearts and minds.
ADVICE

Start With Your Relative Advantage

  • Assess your relative advantage before engaging any mission or competition.
  • Leverage your unique expertise and meld it strategically with your team to maximize value.
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