Every now and then I see a thinkpiece about how the Army should identify potential strategic-level leaders, and I’m starting to think that responses to the COVID-19 by tactical-level leaders might be a decent litmus test.

Which battalion, brigade, and division commanders were willing to assume short-term tactical risk to invest in the long-term health and readiness of their units? Who took a long view and tried to understand the big picture? Who sought ought and listened to non-military experts?

Who was willing to make bold decisions in the absence of specific instructions from higher echelons? Who was willing to re-look “how we’ve always done it” and try something militarily unorthodox?

I know the commanders making bad decisions are the talk of the internet right now, but there are plenty out there who did the right things early. Hopefully they get as much focus as the ones who thought too narrowly.