The Leadership in Action Series: On Leading in Times of Change

Leading a Changing Workforce: Lessons from the U.S. Army

Gene Klann

The end of the military draft and the transition to a force of all volunteers posed a huge reengineering challenge for the U.S. Army. The challenge was made even more acute by budget cuts and downsizing. The principles the Army followed to emerge as a strong, effective organization provide a road map for civilian organizations that are also grappling with dramatic change.

After the Vietnam War, with the move from a draft-based to an all-volunteer force (AVF), the U.S. Army faced a formidable challenge: maintaining and improving itself while dealing with a changing workforce. In meeting this challenge, the Army followed several important principles that can be of value for other ...