Introduction
At a fundamental level, a leader is an individual with an influence over others. In this case, the small unit military leaders raise a unit to the top level of combat effectiveness. The small unit military leaders create a command relationship that works between them and their men. These relationships facilitate the smooth transition of the military’s processes and operations. Moreover, the small unit leaders evaluated their men’s mental and physical capabilities, determining if they were fit for the mission. Due to the evaluations, the small unit leaders are able to utilize their men effectively depending on their physical and mental capabilities to execute operations on a mission. The small unit leaders within the Naval Aviation lay instrumental leadership and command roles; however, they face challenges as they execute their duties which need to be excellently addressed through empowerment by allowing them to exercise their decision-making authority.
Challenges Faced by Small Unit Leaders within the Naval Aviation
According to Drake (2020), there are various challenges faced by the small unit military leaders within Naval Aviation. The most significant issues identified by the researchers need more involvement in decision-making processes. Occasionally, the small unit leaders are not allowed to make decisions because the top leaders believe they will make bad decisions that would facilitate failure. Therefore, these decisions reduce the morale and motivation of the small unit leaders since they have to rely on top leaders to execute their duties (Drake, 2020). Denying small unit leaders the chance to make decisions prevents them from launching distributed operations that allow them to make their judgments in line with their strategic goals. Jacobs (1965) has also had the same thought as James and David (2020) by highlighting the challenges faced by small unit leaders within Naval Aviation. According to him, the small unit leaders have been denied chances to make their own decisions, forgetting what they should do (Jacobs, 1965). Many leaders in this category may not know their roles since the top leadership often makes decisions.
Importance of Small Unit Leaders within the Naval Aviation
Despite identifying and outlining the challenges faced by the small unit leaders within Naval Aviation, Drake (2020) has also identified the importance of small unit leaders within Naval Aviation. According to these researchers in their commentary, small unit leaders facilitate easy change of the equipment on a mission compared to when the equipment is regulated by leaders from external control (Drake, 2020). Due to the distribution of the operations at the small unit level, small unit leaders emerge from applying their knowledge and creativity to make judgments and decisions that correspond to their strategic goals and objectives. In this case, the operations and the mission led by the small unit leaders within the Naval Aviation are effective since they know precisely what they need than being controlled by the external leaders who depend on the information provided by small unit leaders to make decisions. For their success, small unit leaders take considerable risks to make appropriate decisions.
The report issued by the U.S. Naval Institute (2017) highlighted the importance of the small unit leaders within its operations. In this case, the U.S. Naval Institute had a similar thought to the other researchers regarding the duties executed by these leaders. The institute suggested that small unit leaders are the backbone of the Naval Aviation, meaning that they are very important. Perhaps, it acts as the controller of the military in the field (Petty Officer Zieno is a line corpsman with Weapons Company, 2023). The most significant importance of the small unit leaders within the Naval Aviation is that they motivate their soldiers to perform well when on an operation or a mission. At all times, these leaders evaluate the mentality, physical fitness and motivation of their soldiers hence determining how they can advise them to work hard towards meeting the goals and objectives of Naval Aviation. This is because; they directly interact with these soldiers and get to know their issues. In this context, the U.S Naval Institute portrayed the importance of the small unit leaders compared to when the command is issued from the external top leadership. Indeed, the top leadership cannot understand the issues affecting soldiers on the field and address them appropriately.
Although Kipp (2019) has had different views from other researchers, his main argument shows that small unit leaders are essential in making risk decisions that facilitate a smooth transition of operations within Naval Aviation. In this case, he thinks similarly to Drake (2020) on the importance of small unit leaders. These researchers assert that small unit leaders make effective decisions on deployment of marine forces to different operations. The small unit leaders know who are capable of leading the operations and which marine forces are suitable to conduct particular operations. Thus, this shows their essentiality. At this particular point, Drake (2020) and Kipp (2019) agree that the small unit leaders should be ready to lead the distributed, disaggregated and dispersed units into the missions (Kipp, 2019). Researchers, Schmidle and Montgomery (2021) have agreed with the U.S. Naval Institute on the importance of small unit leaders within the Naval Aviation. In this case, they both suggest that small unit leaders are important when it comes to offering teaching programs to the forces (Schmidle &Montgomery 2021). Since the external top leaders do not spend time with the marine forces on their field, anything they need to learn is facilitated by the small unit leaders, including emotional and motivational support.
Advantages of Empowering Small Unit Leaders
Empowering the small unit leaders is associated with numerous benefits. One of the primary ways of empowering the small unit leaders is by allowing them to make decisions that would be appropriate to their work. According to the report submitted by Captain E.H. TAN to Major G.S. Benson and LCdr B.D. Kincaid, in 2006, empowered small unit leaders to facilitate effective operations in Naval Aviation. In this case, TAN described the advantages of empowering the small unit leaders by allowing them to make decisions of their authority. When small unit leaders make their own decisions without being intervened by the external authorities, they implement tactics, techniques and procedures that would help in combating engagements and battles to achieve tactical mission outcomes with strategic and decisive impacts (TAN, 2006). In this case, they should be allowed to make operational decisions since they take time to evaluate the area to conduct the mission, and they know how to address the risks associated with the mission area.
Cavallaro and Nault (2021) have the same thought as Captain E.H. TAN on the advantage of empowering the small unit leaders within the Naval Aviation. Although their views are not similar, their arguments reflect the significant advantages of empowering the small unit leaders. In this case, Cavallaro and Nault (2021) hold that empowering the small unit leaders is related to benefits such as teamwork, initiatives and ownership within the Marine Corps Naval Aviation (Cavallaro & Nault, 2021). This is because when leaders are empowered by being allowed to make decisions, they are often motivated to work hard in calculating the risks, inspire and motivate their teams as well as make informed decisions that would enable them to tackle their missions well. Furthermore, Cavallaro and Nault (2021) suggest that the decisions made by small unit leaders facilitate operational effectiveness and boost the motivation of the forces within their ranks. In this context, the defense forces authority should invest in the development and growth of the small unit leaders by developing an excellent working environment that makes them feel empowered and motivated to perfectly execute their duties. Perhaps, empowered leaders make effective decisions in dynamic circumstances. Since Marine Corps Naval Aviation has huge tasks to execute, the small unit leaders within this department should be empowered to allow them to become successful in their missions.
Conclusion
Small unit leaders within the Marine Corps Naval Aviation perform important duties in making the decisions that facilitate to effective mission. This is because; they know the capability of the forces they lead. Moreover, they make calculations that evaluate the risks associated with a mission hence planning on what they can do to have a successful operation. However, these leaders face significant challenges since they are often not allowed to make decisions. Perhaps, decisions are made by external top leaders. In this case, these leaders are not motivated since they are not empowered. In this case, small unit leaders should be empowered by being allowed to make appropriate decisions since they know the capability of the forces they lead. They also spend time with the forces hence evaluating their physical and mental fitness. In this case, they determine who is suitable for a mission.
References
Cavallaro, L., & Nault, W. J. (2021). Cultivating a learning culture in the US Navy. The Learning Organization, 28(3), 298-315.
Drake Jr, L. T. (2020). The Fantasy of MCDP. Marine Corps Gazette.
Jacobs, T. O. (1965). Basic Problems in Small-unit Leadership. GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV ALEXANDRIA VA HUMAN RESOURCES RESEARCH OFFICE.
Kipp, J. W. (2019). The Development of Naval Aviation, 1908–1975. In Soviet Aviation and Air Power (pp. 137-165). Routledge.
Petty Officer Zieno is a line corpsman with Weapons Company (2023). Small unit leaders are our backbone, U.S. Naval Institute. Available at: https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2017/july/small-unit-leaders-are-our-backbone (Accessed: 10 June 2023).
Schmidle, R. E., & Montgomery, M. (2021). A report on the fighting culture of the United States Navy surface fleet. Senate.
TAN, C.E.H. (2006) Tactical Command and control: Empowering small-unit leadership EWS 2006. Available at: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA503945.pdf (Accessed: 10 June 2023).
