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The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual
How the world's most dynamic organization prepares its leaders for battle, with valuable insights for today's business arena
For mor than 50 years, The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual has provided leadership training for every officer training program in the U.S. Army. This trade edition brings the manual's value-based leadership principles and practices to today's business world. The result is a compelling examination of how to be an effective leader when the survival of your team literally hangs on your decisions. More than 60 gripping vignettes and stories illustrate historical and contemporary examples of army leaders who made a difference.
The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual also provides:
A leadership approach based on the army's core principles of "Be, Know, Do"
Hands-on lessons to enhance training, mentoring, and decision-making skills
Chapters that focus on the different roles and requirements for leadership
For mor than 50 years, The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual has provided leadership training for every officer training program in the U.S. Army. This trade edition brings the manual's value-based leadership principles and practices to today's business world. The result is a compelling examination of how to be an effective leader when the survival of your team literally hangs on your decisions. More than 60 gripping vignettes and stories illustrate historical and contemporary examples of army leaders who made a difference.
The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual also provides:
A leadership approach based on the army's core principles of "Be, Know, Do"
Hands-on lessons to enhance training, mentoring, and decision-making skills
Chapters that focus on the different roles and requirements for leadership
300 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2004
13 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
U.S. Department of the Army
10.5k books136 followersThe Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)
The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)
The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 2, 2008
From my understanding, this work is a result of the Army's post-Vietnam restructuring, and re-thinking of itself. What I love about this book is the foundational tenet that leadership is built on the three pillars of be, know, do.
That it is, according to the authors, leadership is neither formula, approach, nor skill, but an integral part of the identity of the leader. This fits with what I have learned about the craft of leadership via hard knocks.
To be truly successful, in the long term, one must act with real integrity (be), know what the heck one is doing, and have the right skills (know), and bring these together into action (do).
The U.S. Army and I may be completely wrong about this approach, but it works for me. Again, I am talking about real success here, meaning the kind of success that endures and benefits future generations, not about getting rich quick, or acquiring false, short term power.
As a read, the book drags a bit, but it's worth getting through. Remember, it is a field manual (FM22-100). It is very concentrated, and precise. I listened to this on Audible, during the commute, in 20 minute chunks, and recommend this approach.
My high rating of this book is for the thought that went into it, the quality of the model, and the clear imprint of the process it took to make the book, i.e. a large organization picking itself up out of a troubled time, and voicing a clear and timeless expression of it's core values.
That it is, according to the authors, leadership is neither formula, approach, nor skill, but an integral part of the identity of the leader. This fits with what I have learned about the craft of leadership via hard knocks.
To be truly successful, in the long term, one must act with real integrity (be), know what the heck one is doing, and have the right skills (know), and bring these together into action (do).
The U.S. Army and I may be completely wrong about this approach, but it works for me. Again, I am talking about real success here, meaning the kind of success that endures and benefits future generations, not about getting rich quick, or acquiring false, short term power.
As a read, the book drags a bit, but it's worth getting through. Remember, it is a field manual (FM22-100). It is very concentrated, and precise. I listened to this on Audible, during the commute, in 20 minute chunks, and recommend this approach.
My high rating of this book is for the thought that went into it, the quality of the model, and the clear imprint of the process it took to make the book, i.e. a large organization picking itself up out of a troubled time, and voicing a clear and timeless expression of it's core values.
November 23, 2025
So dense that it’s more like a reference text than something to read cover to cover. If you ignore all the stuff about killing the enemy, there’s tons of good leadership principles and framing of problems to apply at various levels. It’s a little light on examples which is both good and bad. Makes it more broadly applicable but harder to know exactly what a principle means.
February 26, 2024
Lead
Lead from front
Lead by examples
Leaders create leaders not follower
Give lituttuide for your subordinate you want me. N
Lead from front
Lead by examples
Leaders create leaders not follower
Give lituttuide for your subordinate you want me. N
March 18, 2025
Military history has shaped my leadership philosophies and principles for as long as I remember. It's natural then that I turn to the leadership 'playbook' of the past century's hegemon for some wisdom and inspiration.
It can be heavy reading for non-military fans/enthusiasts, and many of the case studies (such as references to WW1 campaigns and Vietnam War-era morality issues) are far more enjoyable and easier to understand to those interested in wars, politics, and generalship.
Recommended, but I'd say only for those with genuine interest in military history.
Note: This was from my 2017 reading list, and the words are from my thoughts back then. Minor grammatical edits may have been applied.
It can be heavy reading for non-military fans/enthusiasts, and many of the case studies (such as references to WW1 campaigns and Vietnam War-era morality issues) are far more enjoyable and easier to understand to those interested in wars, politics, and generalship.
Recommended, but I'd say only for those with genuine interest in military history.
Note: This was from my 2017 reading list, and the words are from my thoughts back then. Minor grammatical edits may have been applied.
May 12, 2015
Accomplishes what it sets out to accomplish, clearly and concisely. Often repetitious, but repetition can help drive points home. I'm not entirely sure you can make material like this any more exciting than it is, although I did enjoy reading the examples that illustrated certain abstract points.
September 5, 2012
I read it and,now,when I work with groups, I put the things I learned from this book into play. This book helps!!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews