"War is the final test of character," contends Lord Moran. Within the blood and cacophony of war the habits that you have formed over your lifetime will come to the service and catalyse your actions. General Allen, in today's video, calls the habits that have formed our character our "moral glue." It will be what sticks to us in the worst of times. Character is everything, it will directly effect your ability to lead your subordinates to victory. 

Good moral choices are sometimes difficult in the best of times. In the time-compressed, high-stakes danger of battle, they are even more difficult. Today's reading discusses a profound moral failure--but not an exceptionally rare one. NE203, however, is an effort to make such failures a rarity among the men and women who lead the fleet. Taken together, today's material expounds on the good, the bad, and the ugly of military leadership and the factors that push us toward one or the others.  

READ THIS

Jim Frederick, “The Kunk Gun,” from Blackhearts: One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness

WATCH THIS (Optional)

General john Allen, USMC (retired) on moral character in the test of combat.

Deeper Dive: The following video is of a lecture by Blackhearts author Jim Frederick. Based on the experiences through which he wrote Blackhearts, he expounds on six principles of bad leadership, going deeper into some of the material in today's readings. 

Reflect on these questions

1. What is the relationship between our moral habits and our ability to fight toward victory with honor?
   1. How does weak character scuttle our ability to lead our subordinates 
2. What environmental factors jeopardize our ability to fight with moral virtue?
3. What does General Allen believe is the key to sound moral choices in combat? 
   1. How can we help ensure we make those kinds of decisions?
4. What are the rules of "bad leadership?" How does combat exacerbate them?