Publication: FA Journal
Publication Date: 01-NOV-06
Delivery: Immediate Online Access
Author: Cheek, Gary H.
Article Excerpt
In his 25 July 2006 message to the field, Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter J. Schoomaker announced he was opening command opportunities for combined arms brigades to Field Artillery and Engineer colonels, starting in FY09--combined arms brigades that have been the exclusive domain of Infantry and Armor. The Chief made the case that the time has come to broaden the Army culture, that we need multifunctional leaders--Pentathletes--to--lead the Army.
This decision was due neither to a lack of confidence in our maneuver brothers nor to spread equity among the combat arms for colonel-level command opportunities. This decision was about changing the Army's culture from one that tends to produce leaders with specialties and niche skills to one that produces leaders capable of handling a myriad of complex missions and requirements. It will have a positive impact on the culture of the Army and Field Artillery.
Historical Precedents. Redlegs commanding maneuver brigades is not without historical precedents. In the Civil War, Field Artilleryman General George H. Thomas commanded the 21st Infantry Regiment when it earned the motto "The Rock of Chickamauga." Likewise, General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, a Redleg, distinguished himself in many battles during the Civil War as the right-hand man of General Robert E. Lee, an Engineer and former commander of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
That these officers could command combined arms formations so successfully largely is due to their shared experience with the Infantry and Cavalry. The shorter weapons' ranges and high density of forces, ultimately, brought a greater understanding of the various roles through personal experience--a condition that has dramatically changed in modern warfare.
Less well known but, perhaps, more relevant is an example from World War II when General J. Lawton Collins selected two Field Artillery colonels to command the 358th and 357th Infantry Regiments. Commenting on his decision, Collins said. "We had no spare regimental commanders available, but our G3, Dick Partridge, who was anxious to get a command, volunteered for one of the regiments. Though he was not an Infantryman. I knew he had received good basic training at West Point [US Military Academy], had attended the German. Kriegsakademie just prior to the war and had impressed me favorably since joining the Corps staff.
"For the other regiment I suggested Colonel George Bittman Barth,...
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.
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