The U.S. military faces a critical challenge in preserving the judgment, leadership experience, and combat intuition gained over two decades of post-9/11 wars as thousands of veterans approach retirement eligibility. Army Col. Peter Mansoor's 2004 Karbala improvisation exemplified experience beyond doctrine, a crucial asset now at risk. While knowledge and procedures are teachable, judgment develops through years of high-pressure decision-making and learning from consequences, according to Mansoor, retired Marine officer Ben Connable, and Army operations leader Aaron Welch.
Combat training centers cannot fully replicate real battle's emotional aspects or the "human dimension" of leadership. Documenting wartime experiences through archives is insufficient; active study, teaching, and application are essential. Leaders must prioritize maintaining these lessons, avoiding the historical pattern of lost counterinsurgency knowledge from Vietnam. Preserving broad leader education and providing junior leaders opportunities for experiential development, even with mistakes, is crucial to prevent the loss of irregular warfare expertise and prepare for future conflicts.
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