#12--Seth Folsom

Controversy & Clarity

Liner Notes

*The battalion commanders Folsom served under and how they shaped the way he views and practices battalion command

*What makes an ideal battalion commander

*What makes a battalion commander from hell

*The single most important thing battalion commanders do or should do for their unit

*Where the battalion commander’s place should be on the battlefield

*Characteristics of the best and worst battalions

*Common mistakes new battalion commanders make

*Folsom’s experience as a company commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and how that affected the way he’s led his battalions

*Folsom’s reaction to being selected for infantry battalion command

*Some of the challenges, leadership and otherwise, inherent in commanding an infantry battalion

*What excited and concerned Folsom most about being a battalion commander

*The steps Folsom took to prepare for battalion command

*The battalion commander’s relationship to the unit’s staff sections

*Folsom’s expectations for his principal leaders and staff officers

*The one thing Folsom wish he had known about his first battalion before he assumed command of it

*What Folsom learned from going on numerous patrols with his squads in Sangin, Afghanistan

*Folsom’s thoughts for commanders on units that take consistent or heavy casualties

*How Folsom’s experience with 3/7 influenced the way he commanded Task Force Lion

*Some of the challenges present in Folsom’s current command

*His thoughts on what battalion command will look like in the future, particularly in the context of Force Design 2030

Links

The Highway War: A Marine Company Commander in Iraq by Seth Folsom

In the Gray Area: A Marine Advisor Team at War by Seth Folsom

Where Youth and Laughter Go: With the “Cutting Edge” in Afghanistan by Seth Folsom

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