What do you think contributes to the decline/lack of leadership within our formations?

Forced progressivism and trying to be too PC.

At roughly the 4:30 mark of this video, ethnographer and leadership expert, Simon Sinek, said that leaders (like the 'Johnny Bravo' depicted in his opening story) aren't BORN....but, rather, are actually MADE.

This seems to imply that a key element to leadership is simply TIME--the time to learn, grow, etc.

If leadership is perceived to be on the decline in our formations now, not to sound negative, but I will venture a guess that it will continue to decline.

Why?

The big disconnect between military leaders, and politicians, I believe, is that they don't necessarily grasp the idea of "time" being required to develop and cultivate leaders and leadership.

Just look at some of the things that they are pushing for.

A radical change proposed to the retirement system?

I've seen arguments both for and against the transitioning from the 20-year military retirement, to a 401K type retirement, but, from a LEADERSHIP standpoint, I do think that 20-year military retirement was necessary to keep and incentivize Soldiers to stay in the service longer...to build and cultivate their leadership, over time.

Noone starts their career in the military as a Patton or Eisenhower, and, although a 401K type retirement would arguably be more 'fair' to those who will be getting out of the service BEFORE 20 years (so, essentially, they don't leave with nothing at all...), this seems to be at serious odds with the element of TIME required to build leaders.

What I forsee happening in the future is, not only our seasoned leaders leaving with natural attrition (retirement, etc), but, I also see Soldiers doing their initial stint, paying into their 401K, and then leaving. In my honest opinion, it would seem like the idea of the 'career Soldier' is going out the window....just as Soldiers are gaining necessary leadership experience--when they REALLY start to become valuable to the Army (i.e. when the government really begins to reap their investment), the proposed retirement system seems to incentivize them to leave early (rather than stay longer).

I, personally, think it is important to have a bit of a distant dangling carrot.

I think that 'leadership', as many of us have come to know it, will erode and dissipate with some of the policies/changes that are being pushed for nowadays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReRcHdeUG9Y

I have been in 32 years, and I won't say this is a simple answer, several things have contributed to this. Equipment: we create equipment like it was meant for an X-box, we are developing more and more equipment to be millennial compliant as opposed to being war fighter ready. Todays troops have never experience true hardships, they want do overs, their parents never yelled at them, never said anything stern at them. Half of the ones we get with in one year we are looking at chaptering them out for PT failure.

The other that truly bothers me, and I saw this grow more and more over the years. Your not looking out for your soldiers BS. It has gotten beyond foolish. There comes a point in time where the troop is responsible for the things they do and don't do. Not every NCO is bad because Snuffy did some stupid stuff, hell Snuffy is going to stupid stuff. We have made the art of war more like an act of loading people on a small yellow bus to the special Olympics we have dumbed it down that badly.

When you become a NCO your job is the be a leader. Be the best example you can. You need to know that sometimes you must follow to lead. Do your best to provide guidance, motivation and direction. Numerous threads and topics are addressing only decline. We as NCO's are the standard bearers. If you something that needs to addressed, corrected or fixed step up. 22 years and counting I will continue to strive for excellence in my NCO's and Officer's

I am hostile to anyone with these kinds of threads where these generalizations take place and then blindly accepted. We do not need civilians with agendas and we do need to straighten up with regards to personal responsibility and stop with SHARP training (get something better - not Civilian-led) and the "need" for Transgender just to have transgender. For the transgender, any harassment should end today with no exceptions and for all people of all persuasions not accepting harassment for their own personal beliefs.

I will blame their leaders. The subordinate leaders are given expectations to meet, and to be enforced by superiors.

From my personal experience, I worked under a few different Sergeants that were content with earning their stripes. Once they did that, they just wanted to ride out their time. I served with two Sergeants who had 10 plus years TIG. For anyone motivated in making the most of their Army careers, this was not hard to pick up on. I saw instances where Soldiers under these guys adapted that same mentality and I saw some overcome it.

This would lead to another area that I see as a problem. That being respect. You do not have to like your first-line (at any job) but what you have to do is respect them. Respect is not just a one way street either. Respect goes both ways.

The Army always preaches leadership but as a whole we do a very bad job of teaching it! For some, leadership comes naturally and they advance quickly. For others however, it must be taught. We need to think more like the civilian sector and host leadership seminars and courses. Some PME courses have begun to incorporate leadership concepts into their curriculum which a step in the right direction but we really need to start teaching this from the beginning of ones career so by the time they are given leadership responsibility they are up for the challenge!

The allowance of civilian influance on militarized discipline.

We are not sheep. We are a killing machine! Don't fix what isn't broken!

This whole new army bit with no hazing, hug your soldier, cant "smoke" joe, carebear fairydust peterpan never want to grow up bullcrap has ruined the army. We were better as an organization when we were hardened, physically and mentally tough, and gave zero shits about "feelings" if you want to have feelings and be told that your awesome, go be a barista at starbucks.