DECENTRALIZATION AND JUNIOR LEADER EMPOWERMENT IS VITAL The stage was set. The 450-man strong 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry commanded by LTC Harold G. Moore hit the ground at landing zone x-ray in the early morning hours of November 14, 1964. Before even half of the battalion could be dropped in, the landing zone was declared hot. Unbeknown to LTC Moore, his battalion had just dropped right in on top of two full regiments of the People’s …showed first 75 words of 1368 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1368 total…knew the importance of empowering junior leaders and soldiers with the knowledge to carry on a battle even if their leaders fall. LTC Harold Moore knew and employed this tactic to perfection at LZ X-Ray. Today, decentralized operations and junior leader empowerment are still what separates the U.S. Army from the other military forces of the world. While the run around with their heads cut off, the U.S. Army gets down to business.