No commander can win a campaign by himself; however, campaigns are won or lost in part because of the personal strengths and weaknesses of a commander. Military theorists have long recognized an intangible quality in all victorious commanders: the burning desire, single-minded tenacity to accomplish the goal. This intangible quality is the operational commander's will. The study investigates the role of the operational commander's will during wartime. The monograph focuses on the differences between an obstinate commander and a determined commander, using General Douglas Haig and General William Slim as case studies. The monograph draws inferences from the operational commander's will and applies the implications with respect to the U.S. Army today. The monograph concludes that there would be significant benefit for the U.S. Army to identify potential operational commanders who not only have character, but who are determined and not obstinate. Additionally, the study concludes that most U.S. Army senior-level leaders have demonstrated at some point in their careers that they possess the quality of character, the ability to maintain constant and stable views regardless of external pressures. Coupled with character, a senior-level military leader must have flexibility of mind, the ability to shift mental gears under pressure without confusion of purpose in order to be a determined operational commander.

ADA 174326 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)