Military Review English Edition November-December 2014 | Page 114

it with a degree of agility to undertake very arduous
missions. That an officer enjoyed such success without
close combat experience may seem odd, yet certain
circumstances and events made this possible. With his
memoirs, Eisenhower shed light on perhaps the most
important transitioning episode of his career.
It seems Eisenhower’s eventual and great contributions to the Army began while sitting “around a small
campfire.”3 More important, he did so in the company
of another officer who would have great influence on
him.4 That confluence of events yielded a kernel of wisdom and has ramifications for today’s Army as it faces a
future of fiscal constraints and an associated reduction
of training and equipment.5 Accordingly, today’s Army
searches for ways to be flexible and adaptable in light
of that constrained future. It is neither complicated
nor elaborate, but perhaps Ike’s “small campfire” is the
model for, or the key to, a successful future Army. The
campfire setting suggests a way to emphasize and enhance what is truly a soldier’s best weapon for adapting
and innovating: the cognitive process.
First, an understanding of the relaxed campfire
zeitgeist in Eisenhower’s personal story is crucial so
it can be replicated and applied to both mentoring
and learning in today’s Army. Next, introducing one
all-important topic within that campfire setting allows
focus on the one capability or skill the Army, as a
whole, must grasp (and to a degree, the one it pursues
now): the concept of the operational center of gravity (COG). Also, with its proper mood and topic, the
campfire setting ultimately facilitates the Army’s most
valuable asset: the individual, or more specifically, the
individual’s mind, which is above all else the foundation
of an effective thinker and leader. Finally, inviting other
services to enlarge the campfire goes further to gain varied viewpoints on the operational COG concept as well
as helping the Army continue its embrace of jointness.
And it all starts with a very simple setting.

is how the allure of campaigns and operations, the
history of which he loved as a youth, but then detested
as a West Point cadet, drew him back to their study.9
Eventually, history enthralled Eisenhower again. He
became adept at delving into historical facts to explain
why certain operations either succeeded or failed. This
return to a fascination with history, which was so beneficial later in Eisenhower’s career, was not an accident.
Eisenhower attributed his posting in Panama as the
origin of his renewed curiosity in history.10 As part of
his duties in that territory, he explored the countryside
and at times spent the night there, enjoying the “small
campfire” experience.11 He was not alone during these
evening hours, however. Eisenhower’s writings indicate
the presence of other officers. When men, regardless
of the walk of life, gather within the campfire’s relaxing
light, they talk, and they generally talk about everything. In Eisenhower’s story, those conversations centered on history.12 It is also safe to assume they took a
tack on weapons, operations and the future Army. One
particular officer in these conversations became a great
influence—the main actor in the Eisenhower story who
was so crucial in the campfire model.

The Main Comfort of the Camp
Eisenhower as an individual, and later as an officer,
was a product of his environment and experiences,
some of which are generally known. He grew up in
somewhat austere conditions in Abilene, Kansas.6
Later, he attended West Point.7 He, too, served in an
Army that was constrained in terms of budget and
manpower.8 What is intriguing about his early career
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November-December 2014  MILITARY REVIEW