 | By: LTC Raymond A. Millen USA
Reviewed By: LTC Roger Cirillo, USA (Ret.)
Command Legacy: A Tactical Primer for Junior Leaders of Infantry Units, an Association of the United States Army book by Lt. Col. Raymond A. Millen, provides the infantry company commander and his leaders at all levels, with a quick, dependable guide to how to train, organize, and fight on the modern battlefield.
This book is not a rehash of doctrinal manuals, nor merely a set of checklists, but is an intelligent discussion of tactics for the junior leader.
The art of tactics, the hardest to learn of the military professionals' repertoire of skills, has long been the most unevenly taught or refined.
While doctrinal manuals have improved over the years, the heavy reliance on the commander to train his own subordinates in the fine points, as well as to stay current with emerging technology that has required adaptation of the techniques and tactics of the battle at hand, have left gaps in both knowledge and experience in officers who have moved in and out of units at intermittent periods.
The arrival of the "training center" as a periodic event has also tended to sway many to prep for "a specific type battle" rather than prepare units to adapt to any battle at hand.
Millen's book fills in the gap.
To borrow a well used phrase from a dead field marshal, you should train for war, not a specific war.
For the U.S. Army, with world wide commitments and an ever expanding list of mission requirements, this is especially true.
"Command Legacy's" basic premise is that each company should have its own "doctrine," that is an ingrained manner of thinking and doing business that goes beyond the company SOP.
While Millen's book is self-explanatory and can stand alone, it has great potential for leader development classes and discussions that can be adaptable to the sand table or the TEWT.
The historical discussion found in the author's footnotes also provides additional food for thought for such activities.
While this book is aimed at the infantry company, its philosophy and approach to battle can be used with some adaptation to any of the maneuver arms.
As a refresher for field grade officers this book is highly valuable and as guide for company grade combat leaders this book is a must. |