This book was given as a gift, although it was one that I had been wanting to read. Certainly some questions should be answered about how General McCrystal's career ended given the publicity it attracted. But the main reasons I was interested were different.
Having a son in the military at this time gives a parent a different perspective on worldwide events. Politics and personalities that might normally blow right past our windshields, now become bug splats that must be thought about and cleaned off. This is a book by a man that makes decisions that could personally affect me and mine. I was interested in reading about how he came to those decisions, as well as what experiences made General McCrystal into the person that is in a position to make those decisions.
What I didn't expect was a lesson in how to become a leader. Obviously we would like to believe that a man that rises to become one of our Army's top commanders does so by being skilled in leadership. That wasn't always the case. General McCrystal starts his story when he leaves high school and attends West Point just after the Vietnam War. He writes about how the Army is in shambles and shaken after that conflict, but he credits the core of non-commissioned officers and others in restoring the leadership necessary to reshape the Army. General McCrystal does a great job of outlining his leadership models and their strengths.
One lesson he emphasized here is appearances can be deceiving. General McCrystal tells of the story of a company supply sergeant that taught him a valuable lesson in leading. Because of a training injury the sergeant had become soft looking and not an example of a "poster-paratrooper." But a lesson taught with supply forms by a Master Sergeant showed General McCrystal that the correct looks don't necessarily mean you're a leader.
I found myself as a teacher fascinated with his examples of how leaders work and think. Lessons learned from Admiral Nelson, General Grant, and even his enemies such as al-Zarqawi point to the skills that a leader must have. General McCrystal points out that these skills can be used for good and evil, but they are a skill and they have to be developed.
As I read and pondered the points of leading, I was also reading of the events and background choices behind the history that I am seeing today. This includes the battle strategies that were changed in Iraq and how some were implemented in Afghanistan. Some of these lessons General McCrystal learned by reading from a wide range of sources. And the pointillist style picture he was telling made me realize his was no idle mind at work. He gave much thought to his decisions and gave much responsibility to those working under him. He listened to them, all the way to sergeants and corporals. That may be part of his genius. But that openness within the boundaries of an organization can work with the correct people. With people outside the group, the openness and honesty may not be understood and that what lead to General McCrystal's resignation. And that is too bad.
From a point of desiring to learn of current history, I was led to a lesson in leadership and a greater appreciation of some of our leaders and a clearer view of the dilemmas faced in today's global decision making. A good book to read. Mine has already been requested by a son.
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