Taking the Guidon

Taking the Guidon
Taking the Guidon, Exceptional Leadership at Company Level, a book co-authored by Nate Allen and Tony Burgess takes a look on how combat should be taken as the ultimate team sport. Combat is all about the cost of losing death and the book should be a must read for young and enthusiastic leaders of various organizations in order to gain the tactics and the required practice in their field. The authors have effectively laid out their leadership framework and tried to transform how other people may have different perceptions about leadership. Perhaps, the concepts that may emanate from reading the text about Taking the Guidon, Exceptional Leadership at company Level, is the idea of making a Company Command as well as a Platoon Leader. Although the concept of Platoon Leader and Company Command may come in, it is not the scope of the book to highlight on this item.

The mission of an army is crucial, it is imperative that the army gets into a position of creating a successful team that is viable, motivated and fit in all dimensions. The group of motivated soldiers will definitely accomplish the set mission or even surpass. In the book, the authors address some important inputs into the age-old dialogue and how to creatively build a team and harness its energy to triumph on the uncommon results. It should be that the inspiration of leading the soldiers and taking the most crucial role in life greatly affects the entire life. The book combines the authors research as well as their individual thinking which is validated by their wealth of experience (Nate, Allen, 2007). They have been through ups and downs, with great failures and wonderful successes.

The concepts explained in the book are not really meant to act like a prescription over ones problems, rather, the ideas represented in this valuable book should be able to spark ones thinking and also encourage an individual to be ready for command. Although some life problems may be solved using the guide in the book, not all situations have been covered, a reason for readers to keep on checking related texts which can update them.

The text contained in the book comprises of lessons learnt from great world leaders who have made a difference to the face of the earth. The authors kept a keen eye on the actions of prominent leaders and learnt a point or two from the challenging situations met by the prominent leaders. Observing the great leaders alone was never enough the reaction while faced with problems was an important issue to note and therefore a precise product from the two authors.

Combining the creativity and observation, the authors are able to transmit the information in writing a comprehensive title which gives readers the chance to experience the Command in an organization. It is a motivational and challenging book which acts as a companion in the preparation for and execution of the most honorable role in the world-the leadership of American soldiers.

There is some strength in the title of the book. The title of the book, Taking the guidon, keeps a majority of readers to wonder what it could really mean by guidon. guidon identifies a unit which is a symbol of the presence and authority of a Commander. The book, in addition, represents the collective pride and the spirit of all the soldiers in the present or the past time of each and every person who has dedicatedly served under the army.    In the American history, a guidon was well known for giving the commander some accompaniment to the battle war. In the great heat and confusion of the close fight, the guidon gave the necessary accompaniment during the war (Nate, Allen, 2007). The guidon, in addition, emboldened and rallied the soldiers to fulfill the desired mission.

In the modern America, the guidon still keeps on to be a respected symbol of the presence of the commanders authority and his full responsibility. In addition, the guidon in the modern America connects the valorous deeds of the warriors of the past with the current soldiers who have taken it their tradition of proudly and selflessly contributing to the service of their nation

Typically, an army commander carries out a change-of Command anytime the Commander takes responsibility. The primary rite of such a ceremony is the passing out of the guidon unit from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander. The taking the guidon signals the selfless commitment of the new commander to the values, traditions and the soldiers who the guidon represents. It remains that the cutting-edge of the facts and knowledge of the Army lies in the minds of the leader. Therefore, connecting these leaders in discussion beings together the knowledge and ideological resources to the unleashing of the powers of Army profession geared towards the improvement of the combat effectiveness (Nate, Allen, 2007). Therefore, the uniting of the combat is one such example of exceptional leadership at Company level which the authors try to talk about in the book.

Perhaps the best example of this exceptional leadership is the conversation that was organized in March, 2004. Eric Lopez together with other five officers took a flight to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in order to hold talks with other leaders in the 25th Infantry Division (LIGHT). The leaders had earlier commanded companies in the Afghanistan.

The sharing gained the captains the hard-gained knowledge on the experience in Kabul, Kandahar and the Shahi-Kot Valey. The relevancy of such meetings has direct relevance and only those who meet in such discussions are able to provide tangible explanation of the concepts. This case shows how important the connections and conversations remain to be important in the Company Command.

The Company Command can be defined as a network of various company commanders who come together in a conversation about relevant content to advance the practice of company command. It is an observable fact the connection of the company commanders to each other provides access to the relevant knowledge of the profession.

The connections make the conversations possible and through back and forth discussions, the trust and context are established and also ensure that knowledge is both created and shared. It is indisputable that content only grows out of conversations. The content which undergoes maturity and growth can be either the end product or the topic of discussion (Nate, Allen, 2007).

The importance of the Army in the society keeps gaining significance and it is expected to take the guidon and make the exceptional leadership at company level by having the good use of the authority that is accorded to the commanders. The art of combat surely requires some organization and good practice of authority. It is therefore imperative that a commander gets to know how to take the guidon in his leadership. 

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