Adaptation Under Fire

摘要

The Marine Corps exists by nature in a state of uneasy paradox. Its doctrine praises adaptation and innovation, and it officially urges its members to demonstrate freethinking and initiative. Yet, it is also rigidly hierarchical in structure and jealously protective of its traditions. In theory, a lance corporal with a great idea-or a critique of an existing one-ought to be able and willing to convince a colonel of its merits. But how often does this really happen in practice? The tensions between tradition and innovation, certainty and change, reside in every organization. Military organizations like the Marine Corps, though, face these challenges to a unique degree. Militaries are necessarily large, bureaucratic institutions that place a high premium of uniformity, obedience, and discipline. This is because they must ensure that their members can ultimately be counted on to understand and execute orders in the most chaotic, urgent, and stressful of conditions. Yet, without a robust culture of learning, risk taking, and adaptation, militaries will inevitably find themselves unprepared and unable to respond to the complex, constantly shifting demands of war.1 So how do we achieve this inherently difficult goal?