United States Military Academy 1 C L C C ENTER FOR C OMPANY-LEVEL L EADERS (CCL) Develop and operate professional forums for platoon leaders and company commanders. Provide the Army with research on leader development and organizational learning.

We envision every company-level leader—past, present, & future—connected in a vibrant conversation about building and leading combat-ready teams.

United States Military Academy 3 C L C “The cutting-edge knowledge of the Army resides in the minds of leaders at the tip of the spear. Connecting these leaders in conversation brings together the Army’s greatest knowledge resources, unleashing the power of the Army profession to improve combat effectiveness.” Foundational Assumption

United States Military Academy 4 C L C CCL Values Passion for quality Innovative and creative Committed to the Army Grass roots and voluntary Value the individual, work as a team Positive voice with a focus on solutions

United States Military Academy 5 C L C CC/PL Founding Story Front-porch conversation focused on learning & becoming more effective leaders Grounded in relationships Team of volunteers, fresh out of command— driven to pass on learning to the next generation of commanders Evolving form, with a laser-beam focus on serving company commanders & platoon leaders Senior Army leaders recognize impact & help resource the initiative

United States Military Academy 6 C L C CCL: A Brief History 2000:CompanyCommand.com launched 2001:PlatoonLeader.org launched Taking the Guidon published 2002:Platoonleader.army.mil 2003:Companycommand.army.mil Center of Excellence virtually established 2005:CC: Unleashing… published ARMY magazine articles published monthly 2006:CCL physically established at USMA CCL Support to PME2 commences : Interviews in Afghanistan/Iraq Leader Challenge Project Platoon Leader Book Project

United States Military Academy 7 C L C CCL Support Team at West Point* Director: LTC Tony Burgess Deputy Director: LTC Pete Kilner Operations Officer: MAJ Ray Kimball Director of Technology: MAJ (Ret) Tom Morel Office Manager: Denise Corbari *The most important people in this growing network are the platoon leaders and company commanders who connect with each other and participate in their professional forums. It is for those heroes that the CCL Support Team exists. They are our reason for being.

United States Military Academy 8 C L C CCL Operations Professional forums: Company Command, Platoon Leader, FRG Leader Online community technology R&D for the Army Funded research – dual focused: company-level leader development & organizational learning Leader challenges (scenario-driven leader-development packages) Publications (monthly ARMY magazine, newsletters, books, research reports, etc.) Leader-to-leader (L2L) workshops (face-to-face development seminars) Professional book reading program Continuous engagement with leading-edge ideas and people Combat-leader interviews Video leader-development packages Annual volunteer training & development conference (rendezvous) Growing, equipping and sustaining the team of volunteers

Faculty (past PLs) Faculty (past PLs) Current Platoon Leaders In the Experience now Current Platoon Leaders In the Experience now A living curriculum grounded in the cutting-edge, current experiences of actual platoon leaders that connects past, present, and future platoon leaders to improve individual and collective effectiveness. Cadets (future PLs) Cadets (future PLs) CCL’s Most Unique Contribution at West Point

The Ongoing Process of Becoming a Leader & Member of the Profession USMA, ROTC, OCS BOLC II & Basic Course Platoon Leader CCC Company Command Experience/ Just in Time Learning Give back & prepare for... Prepare for

United States Military Academy 11 C L C Professional Forums Connecting leaders in conversation about leading combat-ready teams. Improving company-level leader effectiveness and advancing the profession.

United States Military Academy 12 C L C PME/Leader Challenge Concept: An interactive, online experience that mirrors the most developmental experiences platoon leaders are having in combat, followed by face-to-face discussion with peers and faculty mentors. PME 2-14: Innovative problem solving Company B-3 PME2: –Leader Challenge #1: Shoot/Don’t Shoot (Sep 2007) –Leader Challenge #2: Men vs Mission (Oct 2007) –Leader Challenge #3: Death in Your Platoon (Nov 2007) –Leader Challenge #4: PL / PSG Relationship (Jan 2008) –Leader Challenge #5: Forthcoming

United States Military Academy 13 C L C Platoon Leader Book Topics : 1. Taking charge downrange 2. Performing non-METL missions in non-standard task organizations 3. Responding to first contact with the enemy 4. Dealing with the indigenous people 5. Operating within the rules of engagement 6. Training indigenous security forces 7. Making difficult decisions 8. Leading up (when you think your commander is wrong) 9. Fighting complacency within the platoon 10. Dealing with death (catastrophic contact) 11. Sustaining your unit’s will to fight and moral compass 12. Redeploying and reintegrating The book will include multiple platoon leaders’ stories as well as commentary from other experienced platoon leaders (of all ranks) and insights from military-leadership theorists. Themes: Agility Judgment Resilience Compassion Based on CCL interviews with 200+ platoon leaders in combat

United States Military Academy 14 C L C Energizing & Inspiring Cutting Edge Positive Relevant Passionate & Committed