#12--Seth Folsom

Liner Notes *The battalion commanders Folsom served under and how they shaped the way he views and practices battalion command *What makes an ideal battalion commander *What makes a battalion commander from hell *The single most important thing battalion commanders do or should do for their unit *Where the battalion commander’s place should be on the battlefield *Characteristics of the best and worst battalions *Common mistakes new battalion commanders make *Folsom’s experience as a company commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and how that affected the way he’s led his battalions *Folsom’s reaction to being selected for infantry battalion command *Some of the challenges, leadership and otherwise, inherent in commanding an infantry battalion *What excited and concerned Folsom most about being a battalion commander *The steps Folsom took to prepare for battalion command *The battalion commander’s relationship to the unit’s staff sections *Folsom’s expectations for his principal leaders and staff officers *The one thing Folsom wish he had known about his first battalion before he assumed command of it *What Folsom learned from going on numerous patrols with his squads in Sangin, Afghanistan *Folsom’s thoughts for commanders on units that take consistent or heavy casualties *How Folsom’s experience with 3/7 influenced the way he commanded Task Force Lion *Some of the challenges present in Folsom’s current command *His thoughts on what battalion command will look like in the future, particularly in the context of Force Design 2030 Links The Highway War: A Marine Company Commander in Iraq by Seth Folsom In the Gray Area: A Marine Advisor Team at War by Seth Folsom Where Youth and Laughter Go: With the “Cutting Edge” in Afghanistan by Seth Folsom