No Pressure… But Don’t Mess This Up. Gabriel Avilla. Pennsauken, NJ: BookBaby, 2020.
“What is the good of experience if you do not reflect?”
-Frederick the Great [1]
The arrival of the annual Command Selection List, or one of its service variants, and the notification that an individual has been selected for command are noteworthy moments in an officer’s career. Being selected for command is at once immensely satisfying and daunting. Recognizing that you are about to be appointed to lead a large number of your fellow servicemembers frequently leads to intense self-preparation, in addition to a formal pre-command course.
At first glance, myriad resources exist for the new commander-designate. Using the familiar School of Advanced Military Studies trinity of “theory, doctrine, & history,” it seems that unit commanders have much to draw from as they chart their intended course. Academia offers numerous theoretical musings on all manner of topics related to command, including leadership, management, ethics, communications, and emotional intelligence. Service and joint doctrine provide formal sanctioned guidance that details both the what and the how of what it is to command a unit. The historical record is full of commanders, who span the spectrum of military service, who recorded their experience. Going broader, a stroll through the business section of any bookstore offers all manner of advice to those about to lead a military organization, putting aside any contextual differences that will inevitably arise.
The individualized nature of the operating environment and associated experiences pose challenges for anyone who uses their own command experience to educate or inform future commanders.
For all the material that is available, though, there is actually relatively little that addresses the full spectrum of the command experience and that informs the prospective commander about what is ahead. This is not surprising, because each command is different in time, context, and the personalities involved. As Field Marshal Slim well noted, “Command is an intensely personal affair.”[2] The individualized nature of the operating environment and associated experiences pose challenges for anyone who uses their own command experience to educate or inform future commanders. The military-specific material that is available is surprisingly limited and somewhat dated; Dandridge Malone’s Small Unit Leadership: A Commonsense Approach was published back in 1983 and is limited in scope, while Michael Abrashoff’s It’s Your Ship was released in 2002 and aimed more at management and leadership techniques than actual command.[3]
All Hands Call, Souda Bay, Greece. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrea Rumple.
Gabriel Avilla however, had taken these challenges on–seeking to assist new commanding officers with his new book No Pressure… But Don’t Mess This Up. Avilla is well qualified for the task he set himself, having commanded two different squadrons. He offers a wealth of experience, a distinctive voice, and the courage to critically examine his actions while he exposes his audience to the issues he faced. This short volume is akin to a combination self-help book and an extended reflection on action, adroitly tracing the timeline of a typical command tour without drifting into a hagiographic memoir and accusations of self-aggrandizement. Instead, it is a candid discussion of the challenges many commanders can expect to see during their time. He writes:
Be an example, not the example, of genuine and authentic leadership, instead of just another cog with a different face and name. Inspire and earn trust from the people you are charged to lead, your peers who depend on you to get their mission done, and challenge leadership thinking to reach even greater heights. If you aren’t leading boldly you aren’t unleashing the true power of the opportunity bestowed upon you. Be the example you wish to follow. [4]
The author’s command philosophy and approach to the responsibilities of leadership are woven throughout. Not everyone will agree with the stylistic choices or language that he uses, but most should be able to immediately grasp that they were conscious, deliberate choices where he matches his approach and personality to his unique operational context. There is value in that lesson alone.
Many potential readers will likely return to this work as they progress through their own command time.
The breadth of topics covered is commendable and provides much to consider. There is much that a new commander needs to think about before taking the reins of a new unit; Avilla exposes this idea well. What is your command philosophy? What is your spouse's role with the unit? How will you use social media? Should you use social media? How will you deal with failure? How will you execute a town hall or commander’s call? Informed opinions on these questions (and many more) are offered, leaving the reader free to accept or discard the advice based on the value they assign to it. Many potential readers will likely return to this work as they progress through their own command time. Between the structure he uses, and the topics he covers, Avilla makes himself a non-judgemental advisor to anyone on a similar journey.
Obviously, it is impossible to answer every question that arises before or during a command tour. The author acknowledges this point directly in the text, noting the reality that we get some answers “along the way.” His emphasis on relationship building, transparent communications–in all directions–and leading by example, are all points that transcend the various operating contexts in which his readers might find themselves.
Distilling his experiences over time into readily translatable first principles, Avilla has created a work that should be usable by many going into, or already in, command.
Some areas could use more attention. The importance and value of reflection, in and on action, are discernable by the nature of the book itself. A deliberate examination of this powerful tool would have lent added value. Similarly, discussion on individual or personal development and the role that commanders have in setting the example for continuous, life-long learning would be beneficial. Those that find themselves operating in command teams, or working with a senior enlisted advisor may want to examine this dynamic in more detail than the book affords. This however may also be a reflection of the operating context the author worked in.
While written based on his experiences in the U.S. Air Force, the potential value of this book is not limited to those that work within that community. Distilling his experiences over time into readily translatable first principles, Avilla has created a work that should be usable by many going into, or already in, command. Some points may be appropriate in civilian settings, but this is a book fundamentally intended for military members.
New or designated commanding officers, regardless of service or corps, have much to become knowledgeable on and subsequently consider. With No Pressure, Avilla simplifies the process and gives a solid perspective on the issues that commanding officers will have the privilege of experiencing.
Tod Strickland is the Commandant of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. He is a graduate of the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program at the School of Advanced Military Studies and holds a number of Masters degrees. The views expressed are the author’s alone and do not reflect those of the Canadian Department of Defence, or the Canadian Government.
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Header Image: 180th FW Changes Command, Swanton, Ohio 2019 (Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker).
Notes:
[1] Frederick the Great, as cited in J.F.C. Fuller, Generalship: Its Diseases and Their Cure: A Study of the Personal Factor in Command (Harrisburg: Military Service Publishing, 1936), p.79.
[2] Field Marshal Sir William Slim, “Higher Command in War”, Military Review, Volume LXX, No 5 (May 1990), p.10.
[3] Col. Dandridge M. Malone, Small Unit Leadership: A Commonsense Approach (Novato, CA: Presidio, 1983). Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques From the Best Damn Ship in the Navy (New York: Warner, 2002).
[4] Gabriel Avilla, No Pressure… But Don’t Mess This Up (Pennsauken, NJ: Bookbaby, 2020), p. 19.