Fredrick William Baron von Steuben made a vital contribution to the readiness of the Continental Army at Valley Forge by balancing the "art" of leadership with the "science" of drill and procedure. His method improved the psychological capacity of individuals to perform complicated movements under stress while leveraging the uniqueness of American character. He mentored the ragged colonial army into a more cohesive force that was confident and ready to fight a European style battle. Cohesive teams drive readiness from the tactical to the strategic level. FM 6-22 and ADP 6-0 discuss the characteristics of building teams enabled by the mission command philosophy but does not provide a clear example or direction for moving forward. ADP 6-22 touches on leading organizations through change and methods of influence but requires context to clarify concepts and better inform practice. A study of Steuben's example along with additional leadership theorists can provide clarity for future practice.

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