12 O'Clock High

Pretty good flick and cool guy performance by Gregory Peck.

I and a handful of other officers got a movie day back in CGSC, Fort Leavenworth, KS to see and discuss organizational leadership in "action." Everything was perfect...almost. No popcorn.

In this story of the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a "hard luck" bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets.

Points to ponder:

- Leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.

- "A good soldier, whether he leads a platoon or an army, is expected to look backward as well as forward; but he must think only forward. -- General Douglas MacArthur, Graduation Speech at the United States Military Academy (17 June 1933).

- Organizational leaders influence several hundred to several thousand people. They do this indirectly, generally through more levels of subordinates than do direct leaders. The additional levels of subordinates can make it more difficult for them to see and judge immediate results. Organizational leaders have staffs to help them lead their people and manage their organizations’ resources. They establish policies and the organizational climate that support their subordinate leaders.

- "If you are the leader, your people expect you to create their future. They look into your eyes, and they expect to see strength and vision. To be successful, you must inspire and motivate those who are following you. When they look into your eyes, they must see that you are with them." -- General Gordon R. Sullivan,
Hope is Not a Method (1996)

Cool, actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama. The first part of the movie deals with General Savage turning his organization around...for the better!