APEX 39 Senior Executive Service Orientation

LTG Bill Grisoli Director of the Army Staff

9 September 2014

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Adaptive Army Leaders for a Complex World

A Globally Responsive and Regionally Engaged Army

A Ready and Modern Army

Soldiers Committed to Our Army Profession

The Premier All Volunteer Army

2

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

Strategic Priorities

The 3 Cs: Competence, Commitment, Character

OUR ARMY TODAY . . . Continue to Provide combat and support capability to Afghanistan and all Combatant Commanders

Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF): providing crisis response, operational support and theater security cooperation to AFRICOM, PACOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, and SOUTHCOM, and a Global Response Force

Maintaining Balance in a Fiscally Constrained Environment

Readiness, Force Structure, and Modernization

Bipartisan Budget Agreement in FY ‘14-15 and Sequestration FY ‘16-20

AC/RC Force mix. Developing Active, Reserve and National Guard End Strength and Force Structure that best meets Defense Strategic Guidance.

Making progress on Sexual Assault: A “cultural” reform balanced against underlying UCMJ Reformist Legislation

Ready and Resilient Campaign (R2C) and Recovery from 12 years of war

• Suicide, TBI, and PTSD • Soldier For Life Program

Thoughts on Being a Senior Leader The Environment in which you will serve

• Complex, unpredictable, rapidly changing world• Information is fast, visible, and accessible• Never enough time to get it all done• No low hanging fruit; every big decision contested• Dealing with very smart and experienced people• Adversity is a constant companion• Lots of folks want to help and give you advice

What takes on added importance as a Strategic Leader• Getting above a problem to study it before launching off towards a solution• Understanding the environment and the players• Building and cultivating relationships to shape outcomes• Willingness to absorb a near term setback to achieve a long term goal• Negotiating – In all you do• Reserving time to think• Refusing to outsource your mind

4

Thoughts on Being a Senior Leader (cont.) What must not change as a Strategic Leader

• Integrity• Trust• Character, competence and commitment – The right balance• Humility• Doing what is right, not what is most popular • Selfless Service shown in every deed and word• Remain in touch with those you serve

5

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”“T. Paine 1783”

Questions?????

6

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach, National Champion, Hall of Fame