United States Military Academy

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CENTER FOR COMPANY-LEVEL LEADERS (CCL)

Develop and operate professional forums for platoon

leaders and company commanders.

Provide the Army with research on leader development and

organizational learning.

We envision every company-level leader—past, present, & future—connected in a vibrant conversation about

building and leading combat-ready teams.

United States Military Academy

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“The cutting-edge knowledge of the Army resides in the

minds of leaders at the tip of the spear. Connecting these

leaders in conversation brings together the Army’s greatest

knowledge resources, unleashing the power of the Army profession to improve

combat effectiveness.”

Foundational Assumption

United States Military Academy

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CCL Values

• Passion for quality• Innovative and creative• Committed to the Army• Grass roots and voluntary• Value the individual, work as a team• Positive voice with a focus on solutions

United States Military Academy

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CC/PL Founding Story

• Front-porch conversation focused on learning & becoming more effective leaders

• Grounded in relationships• Team of volunteers, fresh out of command—

driven to pass on learning to the next generation of commanders

• Evolving form, with a laser-beam focus on serving company commanders & platoon leaders

• Senior Army leaders recognize impact & help resource the initiative

United States Military Academy

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CCL: A Brief History

• 2000: CompanyCommand.com launched

• 2001: PlatoonLeader.org launchedTaking the Guidon published

• 2002: Platoonleader.army.mil

• 2003: Companycommand.army.milCenter of Excellence virtually established

• 2005: CC: Unleashing… publishedARMY magazine articles published monthly

• 2006: CCL physically established at USMACCL Support to PME2 commences

• 2007-08: Interviews in Afghanistan/IraqLeader Challenge ProjectPlatoon Leader Book Project

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CCL Support Team at West Point*

Director: LTC Tony Burgess

Deputy Director: LTC Pete Kilner

Operations Officer: MAJ Ray Kimball

Director of Technology: MAJ (Ret) Tom Morel

Office Manager: Denise Corbari

*The most important people in this growing network are the platoon leaders and company commanders who connect with each other and participate in their professional forums. It is for those heroes that the CCL Support Team exists. They are our reason for being.

*The most important people in this growing network are the platoon leaders and company commanders who connect with each other and participate in their professional forums. It is for those heroes that the CCL Support Team exists. They are our reason for being.

United States Military Academy

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CCL Operations

• Professional forums: Company Command, Platoon Leader, FRG Leader• Online community technology R&D for the Army• Funded research – dual focused: company-level leader development &

organizational learning• Leader challenges (scenario-driven leader-development packages)• Publications (monthly ARMY magazine, newsletters, books, research

reports, etc.)• Leader-to-leader (L2L) workshops (face-to-face development seminars)• Professional book reading program• Continuous engagement with leading-edge ideas and people• Combat-leader interviews• Video leader-development packages • Annual volunteer training & development conference (rendezvous)• Growing, equipping and sustaining the team of volunteers

Faculty

(past PLs)

Faculty

(past PLs)

Current Platoon Leaders

In the Experience now

Current Platoon Leaders

In the Experience now

A living curriculum grounded in the cutting-edge, current experiences of actual platoon leaders that connects past, present, and future platoon leaders to improve individual and collective effectiveness.

A living curriculum grounded in the cutting-edge, current experiences of actual platoon leaders that connects past, present, and future platoon leaders to improve individual and collective effectiveness.

Cadets

(future PLs)

Cadets

(future PLs)

CCL’s Most Unique Contribution at West Point

The Ongoing Process of Becoming a Leader & Member of the Profession

USMA,ROTC,OCS

BOLC II &Basic Course

PlatoonLeader

CCC

CompanyCommand

Experience/

Just in Time Learning

Give back &

prepare for...

Prepare for...http://CompanyCommand.army.mil

http://PlatoonLeader.army.mil

United States Military Academy

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Professional Forums

Connecting leaders in conversation about leading

combat-ready teams.

Improving company-level leader effectiveness and

advancing the profession.

United States Military Academy

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PME/Leader Challenge

• Concept: An interactive, online experience that mirrors the most developmental experiences platoon leaders are having in combat, followed by face-to-face discussion with peers and faculty mentors.

• PME 2-14: Innovative problem solving

• Company B-3 PME2: – Leader Challenge #1: Shoot/Don’t Shoot (Sep 2007)– Leader Challenge #2: Men vs Mission (Oct 2007)– Leader Challenge #3: Death in Your Platoon (Nov 2007)– Leader Challenge #4: PL / PSG Relationship (Jan 2008)– Leader Challenge #5: Forthcoming

United States Military Academy

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Platoon Leader Book

Topics: 1. Taking charge downrange2. Performing non-METL missions in non-standard task organizations3. Responding to first contact with the enemy4. Dealing with the indigenous people5. Operating within the rules of engagement6. Training indigenous security forces7. Making difficult decisions8. Leading up (when you think your commander is wrong)9. Fighting complacency within the platoon10. Dealing with death (catastrophic contact)11. Sustaining your unit’s will to fight and moral compass12. Redeploying and reintegrating

The book will include multiple platoon leaders’ stories as well as commentary from other experienced platoon leaders (of all ranks) and insights from military-leadership theorists.

Themes:AgilityJudgmentResilienceCompassion

Themes:AgilityJudgmentResilienceCompassion

Based on CCL interviews with 200+ platoon leaders in combatBased on CCL interviews with 200+ platoon leaders in combat

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Energizing & InspiringEnergizing & Inspiring

Cutting EdgeCutting Edge

PositivePositive

RelevantRelevant

Passionate & CommittedPassionate & Committed