Transformational Leadership in the US Army

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to interview eight US Army officers (five active, 3 retired) from a variety of different specialties and branches within the Army. After I compiled all of my notes on our discussions, it was clear to me that to be successful as a leader of soldiers, an officer must be a transformational leader. Unlike many career fields, Army officers do not pay their soldiers directly and thus a transactional leadership theory is not very prevalent in the Army. Aside from bonuses for being in a combat zone, conducting Airborne jumps, or signing/extending your contract, bonuses in the Army are non-existent. Thus, an officer cannot use money to entice their soldiers to work hard or do well at their job. Furthermore, the Army benefits of universal healthcare, living allowances, and dependent pay allows soldiers to not worry as much about extra expenditures so that they can focus on their role within the Army and not as much on outside stressors. Thus, to effectively lead, an Army officer must be a transformational leader to inspire his or her soldiers to thrive at their positions. An Army officer must inspire their soldiers by giving them purpose and clear missions. At the end of the day, soldiers are human. They want to be motivated. They want the time and effort that they are putting in to matter. An officer must provide them with not just the “what” they are doing, but also the “why” they are doing something. Additionally, although an officer is a designated leader, they must give their soldiers opportunities to grow as leaders. Officers must empower their non-commissioned officers to take on responsibility and to have a seat at the table in regards to how missions should be carried out, what culture is trying to be created within the unit, and amplify their voice as they provide a valuable insight into the needs of enlisted soldiers. A question I asked the officers I interviewed was how do you motivate and inspire your soldiers behind a mission or cause that may bring harm to them or their fellow comrades. Almost every response I got back made it clear that as a leader, you must be willing to go everywhere and do anything that you are having your soldiers do. You must be the role model that “leads by example”. Everyone who joins the military knows that a sacrifice of time, effort, or even their life may come with their service. An officer must honor and respect the willingness of their soldiers to sacrifice by being inspirational, stimulating, and considerate to their follower’s needs- the definition of a transformational leader.