What are Sand Tables and How To Make One

Download and print the slides and laminate then cut to make your own military sand table kit army style.

200 Sit-Ups Program

Similar to the popular 100 Pushup Program the same trainers designed the 2oo Sit-Ups Program

Teach yourself about Islam

University of Notre Dame has joined the Open Coureseware Movement. Now you can teach yourself about Islam on your own time and speed. Check out Islamic Societies of the Middle East and North Africa: Religion, History, and Culture

100 Push Up Program

A very relevant program to max out the push ups on the Army Physical Fitness Test. Click the arrows to go through the slide show to learn more about the program.

See http://hundredpushups.com/ to print out the workout.

APFT Traing Programs for Pushups Situps & Run

Here is the best collection on the web of workout programs designed specifically for the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) from the Notre Dame ROTC freshman class. Click the link then click on "View Published slideshow in a new window" you do not need to sign into google to view these powerpoints.

Push Up Programs:
100 Push Up Program Expl Info Brief
Upper Body Workout
PU SU Superset
Push Ups Training Program
Push Up Push Workout
Pushup Workout

Ab Programs:
Ranger Club Ab Workout
Ab Workout
60 Sit Up Program
Ab Workout 2
8 Part Ab Workout
Ab Workout to Increase APFT
Core Workout
Abs Workout
Core Workout 2

Run Programs:
Increase Your APFT Run Pace Program
Passing the APFT 2 Mile Run Program
Intense Run Workout
Max Sprint Workout
2 Mile Run
Achieving Your Ideal 2 Mile Run Time
Increase Run Time
2 Mile Time Workout

Gettysburg - 20th Maine Bayonet Charge

Youtube: Gettysburg - 20th Maine Bayonet Charge

Best War Movie Speeches

YouTube - We were soldiers speech

You Tube - Braveheart speech

Duty Honor Country Speech

In 1962, 2yrs before he died, General Douglas MacArthur, born in 1880, gave a speech at West Point accepting the Sylvanus Thayer Award. An award for outstanding service to the nation, he year before, the award had gone to Eisenhower. MacArthur's speech to the cadets in accepting the award had as its theme Duty, Honor, Country:

To read click here

To listen to click here

DA PAM 600-65 Leadership Statements & Quotes

For the DA PAM 600-65 Leadership Statements & Quotes click here

FM 6-22 Army Leadership Resources

For the FM 6-22 Army Leadership manual click here
For the FM 6-22 Framework mindmap click here

For the older version see FM 22-100 Army Leadership Resources

Military History Podcast

The Military History Podcast is sponsored by by Armchair General Magazine

You can subscribe and download these great 10 min or less episodes on your ipod or click the "POD" button next to each title to play right inside your internet browser

One of my favorite episodes is the Machiavelli Prince where you can lessons learned about counter insurgency approaches to Iraq.

VA Criteria for PTSD

Link: VA Criteria for PTSD

Book: Kill Bin Laden

The Book
Kill Bin Laden: A Delta Force Commander's Account of the Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man (Hardcover)see it on Amazon here

The Interview
Watch the interview from 60 minutes with to see how close we caught Bin Laden here

Warrior Ethos: The Soldier's Creed

Soldier Creed Video


Also check out this the Army's Warrior Ethos site

Cadet Professional Development AKO Webpage

Cadet Command G3 has established an AKO webpage that contains all
pertinent information regarding Cadet Professional Development Training at https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/589415.

Where Can I Get a Military ID

To find the closest place to get a military ID by zip code search go to
http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home

4th Generation Warfare Defined

Terror War Defenses

Jack Kelly op-ed in Washington Times

[17 October 2004, p. B4]

Two superb books put in context the global war on terror, and explain why the battle for Iraq is critical to victory.

Thomas Barnett is a professor at the Naval War College, and creator of what may be history's most famous Pentagon briefing. Col. Thomas Hammes is a Marine with considerable experience in intelligence and special operations.

In "The Pentagon's New Map," Mr. Barnett defines the security challenge of the 21st century in terms of "the Core" (prosperous democracies integrated into the world economy) and "the Gap" (failed states disconnected from globalization). The key to peace is reducing the number of states in the Gap.

In "The Sling and the Stone," Col. Hammes describes Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW), and outlines steps America must take to wage it effectively.

In first-generation war, practiced from the misty depths of pre-history to just before World War I, groups of soldiers in close proximity whale away at each other with swords, spears, battle axes and, later, muskets. The object was to destroy enemy fighting forces.

Second-generation warfare was like the first, with the addition of artillery and other indirect fires. The objective�to destroy the enemy's fighting formations�was the game.

Third-generation warfare, inaugurated by the German Blitzkrieg in World War II, shifted the primary objective from the enemy's fighting forces to his logistical base and command-and-control systems.

In 4GW, inaugurated by Mao Tse-Tung and improved upon by the Vietnamese communists, the main target is the enemy's will to fight. Battlefield successes are less important than the ability to exploit them for propaganda.

Two characteristics of 4GW that differ from earlier generations of war is there are no ethical boundaries�noncombatants are often the preferred target because killing them can have a greater impact on enemy morale�and there are no quick victories. 4GW wars are measured in decades, not years.

A common theme for Mr. Barnett and Col. Hammes is the Pentagon cannot prepare for war as if it were separable from everything else. In modern war, "everything else" (the economy, public perceptions, nation-building) are often more important than winning fights on the battlefield.

Mr. Barnett's is a hopeful book. He believes globalization has all but outlawed war between states, because the costs of war to a country connected to the world economy vastly outweigh any potential benefits successful war could bring. Col. Hammes is less optimistic but agrees with Mr. Barnett that the kind of war for which the Pentagon is preparing is most unlikely.

Nation-building is a critical component for victory in 4GW conflicts. Only with nation-building can the Gap be shrunk, Mr. Barnett says. Only by providing a better idea and example can the United States defeat an ideological group like al Qaeda, Col. Hammes says.

Both think the Pentagon needs a major overhaul if we're to win the war on terror and future 4GW wars.

Mr. Barnett thinks our military needs to be divided into a (smaller) traditional military force and a (larger) "system administration" force that would do the dirty work of peacekeeping and nation-building.

Col. Hammes' goals are more modest and more practical. We need fewer of the kinds of units�heavy armor, air defense, tactical fighters, submarines�designed for fighting enemies who have largely vanished. We need more of the kinds of units�military police, intelligence, civil affairs, leg infantry�useful for peacekeeping and nation-building.

What's needed most in the Pentagon, Mr. Barnett and Col. Hammes agree, is a change in attitude. Military leaders must be able to work closely with civilian agencies to win the war on terror. Military bureaucracies must be flattened so field troops can respond quicker to rapidly developing situations.

Most important, our military and political leaders must recognize that 4GW conflicts are chiefly wars of ideas, and the best weapons we have in such conflicts are our better ideas.

"The fundamental message of the United States is the most powerful message ever crafted by mankind: We treasure the individual and provide an environment where every person can strive for his or her own dreams," Col. Hammes said. "It is up to us to harness that message and use it to win."

Jack Kelly, a syndicated columnist, is a former Marine and Green Beret and a former deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force in the Reagan administration. He is national security writer for the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gazette.

Source

Learn About the Different Army Branches

For a good intro to the careers in the different Army Branches go to
http://www.branchorientation.com

Nested Concpet

"Nested concepts is not clearly understood at the tactical level and, as a result, units are having difficulty focusing combat power and getting every asset to contribute to the main effort's success. What is meant by nested concepts?

The most definitive reference available for nested concepts is General William E. DuPuy's article in Army, August 1988, page 31, "Concepts of Operation: The Heart of Command, The Tool of Doctrine", which states:

Cascading concepts carry the top commander's intentions to the lowest levels, and the nesting of those concepts traces the critical path of concentration and priorities. This is the phenomenon the Germans called schwerpunkt. The concepts are nested like mixing bowls in a kitchen. Each must fit within the confines of the larger and accommodate the next smaller and so on down to the squad, the tank, and the brave soldier himself. It is the only method by which the talent and initiative of commanders and troops at every level can be engaged and exploited.


There should be a direct link between the task and purpose of subordinate units and fires and the task force main effort's task and purpose. If the direct link is not established, the TF has failed to achieve unity of effort. Company commanders and specialty platoon leaders should ask themselves this question: What is my unique contribution to the TF fight and the main effort's success? If you cannot determine your role, you are the wasted effort!"

From
NESTED CONCEPTS: Are You a Main Effort, a Supporting Effort, or a Wasted Effort? by LTC Michael Shields

Sucking Chest Wounds

Book: Adjust Fire

This year our warrior leader book club will be reading Lt. Col. Michael A. Baumann's book Adjust Fire. Click here to read reviews and buy your book through amazon, so you can join in on the discussion.

Non-Military OPORD Training Slides

Click on the arrows on the side of the slide to view

Non-Mil Opord Sample - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Non-Mil Opord Sample

OCS Phase III AL 2008 Photos & Network

For Pictures from OCS Phase III in Alabama click here

We have a group set up at http://beknowdonow.ning.com/group/2008ocsphase3alabama/ where we can network. So sign up and join in on the discussion.

See also the Facebook page and the video on MySpace

Crossing a Linear Danger Area

Crossing a Linear Danger Area Power Point Class

Join the Military Leadership Book Club

A book club for link-minded military leaders in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, OCS, or ROTC discuss the art and science of military leadership.

Go to The Military Leadership Book Club You will need to sign up for a free shelfari user account.

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Ranger Handbook

I would argue this is better than the FM 7-8. It cuts straight to the tactics and techniques. Download it, Print it, Read it, Know it, Do it.
Ranger Handbook

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Government military army

FM 22-100 Army Leadership

Military Book Report & Movie Review Template

This resource is for OCS and ROTC cadre. It is an assignment template for candidates to write war movie reviews or military related book reports. Click here

Understanding the History & Religion of the Region

Maps of War is a must see for today's military leader.

Click on the links below to see interactive maps and timelines:

Imperial History of Middle East
"Who has controlled the Middle East over the course of history? Pretty much everyone. Egyptians, Turks, Jews, Romans, Arabs, Persians, Europeans...the list goes on. Who will control the Middle East today? That is a much bigger question."

History of Religion
"How has the geography of religion evolved over the centuries, and where has it sparked wars? Our map gives us a brief history of the world's most well-known religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Selected periods of inter-religious bloodshed are also highlighted. Want to see 5,000 years of religion in 90 seconds? Ready, Set, Go!"

Great PT Workouts

Crossfit is a free website that gives total body, PT focused, workouts and videos specifically for the military/law enforcement needs. A great resource and community for supporting you and your soldier's fitness.

Top 10 Things a Platoon Leader Must Do

Often we talk about the principles and theory of leadership but rarely do we specifically discuss the practical how to side of leadership. As an Officer Candidate approaching graduation and assignment to my first platoon, I remember searching for those nuggets of practical advice on how to be a Platoon Leader. So I have created my top 10 list of actions you can do as PL or small unit level leader that are specific, measurable, and observable signs of a leader doing their job. This will be the first post in this series and I will talk about each item in more detail in future posts coming soon.

1) Proactively take care of Soldiers (promotions, schools, awards)

2) Use the DA 4856 Development Counseling form and counsel ( click here to download the form in MS format)

3) Set goals on your OER Support Form and log you significant contributions

4) Create a Leader's Book aka Battle Book (with Battle Roster, SOP's, AAR's)

5) Write Platoon level OPORD's, Training Schedules, and Time lines ahead of time.

6) Start up a Unit Newsletter, Website, and Bulletin Board

7) Conduct Leader's Recons and Platoon-level collective Rehearsals

8) Conduct AAR's and Platoon Climate Surverys

9) Do Risk Assessments and give Safety Briefings

10) Build the team with Platoon Motto, Name, Guidon Design, PT Shirts

Troop Leading Procedures Cheatsheet and Checklist

The TLP's are an art and science not appreciated and respected my most junior officers and small unit leaders in the military. I have learned to love them. The nature of the work we do in this business can be very complex and overwhelming but these 8 steps have always kept me focused during preparation for missions. I have noticed among fellow officers and now in training officer candidates that most do not understand what the TLPs are, why they are important, when and how to use each step, who to delegate to, and where it all fits in to build your 5 paragraph operations order throughout this process. I have decided to publish and share my master troop leading procedures cheat sheet and checklist. Click on the "download pdf" link below the preview screen so you can print out and employ or click here

Vets for Freedom

A good buddy of mine asked to pass this along:

On behalf of Vets for Freedom, thank you for your service! Veterans for Freedom is organizing the country around a pro-mission, pro-victory message: We support our troops and their mission. We are looking for veterans to help get the word out about our message. We need leadership on the ground in your state as a State Captain. Here’s how you can help:

We are asking our State Captains to commit to the following “Six Action Items”

1) Sign-up pro-mission OIF/OEF vets at www.vetsforfreedom.com

2) Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper (we can help you with this)

3) Recruit pro-mission Vets to attend a Senator’s or Congressman’s Local town-hall meeting (We will provide you with dates, times and locations)

4) Conduct radio and television interviews with local media (we will coordinate these for you)

5) Call your Senators and Representatives: tell them to support Gen. Petraeus and our troops' mission

Need contact information for your elected officials? Click here: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/

6) SIGN UP TO SHOW UP

Commit to attend "Vets Take the Hill" day in D.C. Over the course of two days Vets from around the country will converge on Capitol Hill, telling Congress to stand strong with our troops and their mission.

Vets Take the Hill will take place September 17 and 18. VFF will pre-pay all expenses making the trip completely free to the vet traveler up front.

Feel free to call me at 605-254-2624 with any questions.

Joel Arends

Clock Max PT

A classic timed workout specifically designed for the military physical fitness test. Do as many repetitions as you can in the alloted time. This will get you to the pace you need to reach in order to be in the 80-100 rep range for the test to get that perfect score. If you are Army you can skip the pullups since we don't test on that part but I wouldn't and don't forget to run.

Max pullups
40- 50 sit-ups in 1:00
max pushups in 1:00
20-25 sit-ups in 30 seconds
max pushups in 30 seconds
10-13 sit-ups in 15 seconds
max pushups in 15 seconds

Link: How to Predict the Weather without a Forecast

Article from a How To wiki descrbing 12 different ways to predict the weather without a forecast using animals, clouds, wind, and your senses.


Click the link below to read the full article.
http://www.wikihow.com/Predict-the-Weather-Without-a-Forecast

Video: What ya going to do PL?

Click to download: Whatcha Gonna Do, PL? (16M file)

How to Troubleshoot your Foot & Boot

If you are getting hot spots on the bottom of your feet --> Your boots are too loose

If you are getting a blister on your heel --> Your boots are too tight

If you are getting a blister on the top of your foot --> Skip the shoe lace hole(s) of the area

Before you eat and sleep, take care of your feet.

Take care of those dogs.

More Foot Maintenance Guidance from CPT Durnell
1. Each night before going to bed, perform the following routine: --Wipe feet down with isopropyl alcohol
-Let feet dry
-Spray feet with antiperspirant deodorant (i.e. Arrid XXX Dry); pay special attention to ensure you get it between your toes.
Let feet dry
2. Prior to each road march, perform the following routine:
-Apply moleskin, if required, to any known problem areas (a problem area is a spot where you know you get blisters or hot spots)
-Apply foot powder to feet and ankles. Don't over due it, simply put on a thorough coat.
Apply foot powder to the inside of your sock
Apply foot powder to your boot insert
3. During the road march:
-If hot spots or blisters occur, pause long enough to change your socks. At a minimum, readjust your socks and apply foot powder. You can apply moleskin, but it will be difficult to get it to stick at this time.
4. Socks:
-I strongly recommend buying good boot socks. A good sock is one that friction by fitting tightly on your foot, and reduces moisture by wicking it away from you foot. The stitching of the sock should be on the outside so that it can not rub against your toenails. I use Fox River Blister Guard™ socks and reduces absolutely recommend them. However, there are plenty of options out there.
5. Boot Inserts:
- This will be money you will be thankful you spent. Army issue boot inserts are average to poor at reducing friction, moisture and impact. You will need to spend about $20 to get a good pair of inserts, but you will be happy you did. SOF Soles or Spenco or popular brands. You can go to any quality hiking/outdoor store and find good insoles. (Dr. Scholl's are NOT what I'm talking about!)

PT Workout: Pushup/Crunch Superset

This is one of my all time favorite PT workouts. The sequence, time, and repitions are set at a perfect ratio. Perform 10 reps of the following 6 exercises in order in under 2 minutes, any left-over time is rest.

1 Cycle in 2 minutes:

Regular Pushups x 10
Regular Crunches x 10
Wide-Arm Pushups x 10
Reverse Crunches x 10
Tricep (Diamond) Pushups x 10
Half Situps x10

Goal: 10 cycles

Running Cadence Rhymes

The Formation sounds off with:
One...
Two...
Three...
FooooOOOUR...

Caller sounds off with in between:

Pick em up
Put em down
Hear the sound

stay together now
shake the ground

Breath in
Let it out
Now shout

Feeling good
Looking good
Sounding good

Dress it right
Keep it tight
We're out of sight

Top 10 Army Forms Every Leader Must Have

(in MS Word Format!)

DA Form 4856 Developmental Counseling Form.doc

DA Form 67-9-1a Junior Officer Dev Support Form.doc

DA Form 67-9 OER.doc

DA Form 2166-8 NCOER.doc

DA Form 638 Recommendation for an Award.doc

Hometown News Release.xls

DA Form 2062 Hand Receipt.dot

DA Form 4697 Report of Survey.dot

DA Form 2823 Sworn Statement.doc

DA Form 285 Ground Accident Report.doc

8 Minute PT Blow Out

Complete 1 cycle of the following exercises for the prescribed durations in order back to back with no rest in between.

2 min Push Ups

2 min Sit Ups

1 min Scissors Crunches (AKA supine bicycle)

1 min Flutter Kicks

2 min Thinking Position (AKA brigde- hold in front leaning rest position on your forearms)

FM 22-100 Army Leadership Resources

FM 22-100 Army Leadership: Be, Know, Do is the Army's best published manual I have ever read.

Click here to view the manual online.

Click here to download the FM 22-100 in pdf format.

Click here to view my mind map summarizing the framework laid out in the manual.

Welcome to "Be Know Do Now"

Commo Check?

We're up!

The mission: A rally point for TTP's (Tactics Techniques and Procedures) for all things related to military leadership.