Outlaw Platoon: A Must-Read for Company Grade Leaders

With the war in Iraq finished, and major combat operations over in Afghanistan, maneuver leaders at the platoon and company level are not facing the same real-world scenarios that proved such an important crucible for their predecessors just a few years ago. To be sure, today’s operational tempo is still demanding as the requirements for U.S. power projection continue. But going to war is not the same near-guarantee that it was for young lieutenants in the previous decade and a half.

This makes it all the more important for platoon leaders and company commanders to study recent Army history. Lessons learned at the expense of blood and sweat, if forgotten, must be relearned at a greater cost. There is no replacement for going to war, but studying the experiences of those who have gone is the next best thing. The Army creates numerous quality training opportunities designed to replicate different aspects of conflict. Through tough, realistic training units and individuals hone the skills necessary to accomplish their assigned mission.

For leaders, training should start well before the next training meeting or FTX. Mental preparation is essential, and that’s what Sean Parnell’s Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan offers. The Kindle version is currently on sale at Amazon for $1.99.

There are a lot of good books, a few really important books, but Outlaw Platoon is a must-read primarily for maneuver officers but really for every Lieutenant regardless of their branch or the type of platoon they lead.

There is no romanticism in Parnell’s history of his time as a platoon leader in Afghanistan, but reality isn’t cast in cynical terms, either. The book is a straightforward look at the challenges faced by a small unit at war. From maintenance issues to discipline issues, Parnell gives the reader an inside look at his personal decision-making process, one that is more complex than the troop leading procedures employed for every mission.

Professional development is a personal commitment, and reading Outlaw Platoon is a great way to develop yourself in the profession of arms.