The military’s leadership development program has
2 interrelated foci: 1st, that leadership is a core competency
for all personnel and, 2nd, that the next
generation of squad/unit leaders, organizational level
leaders, and strategic leaders is identified and developed
in a continuous and iterative process. Leader
development in the military requires the same level of
intention, attention, and support that, in the healthcare
industry, is usually reserved solely for specialty
clinical development. The intentional development of
officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees as leaders ensures that they are proficient in their military
occupational specialty (MOS) and results in a workforce
in which everyone has some level of leadership
accountability. Continuous development of leaders occurs
through a balanced approach, including institutional
schooling, self-development, realistic training,
and professional experience.7 This leadership training
is done in an iterative manner across the continuum
of a career and in conjunction with ongoing skills
training in whatever the MOS may require to ensure
proficiency