Task & Purpose Task & Purpose

Brad Hardy

Brad Hardy is an active-duty Army officer and Army strategist. He is a regular contributor to Task & Purpose and has written for Foreign Policy (Tom Ricks' Best Defense) and Military Review. Brad is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a battery commander in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Recent articles from Brad Hardy

Gakwonsa Temple, Cheonan, South Korea.
History
Korean Architecture Still Shows The Effects Of War 70 Years Later
Art and architecture show the influence of war long after the bullets stop flying.
Lyndon Johnson meets with presidential candidate Richard Nixon at the White House, July 26, 1968.
History
Historical Lessons On Presidential Candidates’ Promises About War
Historically, candidates have made wartime policy a critical plank to their platform yet failed to meet their most ambitious goals once elected.
A Duke soldier attending The Art of Design class, uses a dry erase board to brainstorm information that will later be used in the planning process. The classes consist of 24 lessons over a three week period.
Leadership
Striking A Balance Between Operational Art And Operational Craftsmanship
Modern operational art is linear and unexciting, even if sometimes effective at achieve strategic conditions.
army Command and General Staff College CGSC pregnant officers
Leadership
5 Takeaways From A Recent Command And General Staff College Graduate
Here are five observations for future Command And General Staff College students to consider.
A Mexican Army soldier, seen through a chain-linked fence, stands guard near the entrance of Rancho del Sol, near Vista Hermosa, Mexico, Friday, May 22, 2015.
Community
How Info Ops Could Be Used To Improve Military Engagement With Mexico
An improved doctrine on the use of information operations in North America could greatly improve efforts to curtail the drug cartels in Mexico.
Troopers from 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment conduct a dismounted patrol at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin. Calif. Feb. 14, 2013.
Community
Why The Army Should Bring Back Senior Specialist Ranks
Soldiers need options and the Army needs talent. Reintroducing senior specialist ranks to the force accomplishes both.
Spc. Kathryn Fish coaches a fellow soldier during a hands-on training portion of the Demon Academy, a leader development program created Nov. 14 on Camp Taji, Iraq. The academy was formed by senior enlisted leaders in order to mentor young and future leaders, as well as prepare them for future professional development courses.
Community
How Serious Is The Army About Fostering A Mentoring Culture Within The Ranks?
The Army seems to want mentorship to flourish among the ranks, but it’s struggling with fostering a culture that encourages the process organically.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Singerhouse gives a class on the Army’s NCO Evaluation Report and what goes into it during the NCO development program class held at Forward Operating Base Torkham Jan. 11, 2014.
Community
Unmasking The Army’s Officer Evaluation Reports Will Improve The Profession Of Arms
Unmasking junior commissioned and warrant officer evaluation reports may be an unpopular idea within the Army, but it is a necessary change that will improve the profession of arms.
A soldier from the 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard observes a section of the Rio Grande River at sunset in support of Operation Strong Safety.
Joining the Military
The Reality Of Being In The Military ‘For Life’
Being in the military “for life” is more than a career choice; it's a lifestyle choice.
Spc. Tyler Williams instructs Pvt. Ismael Ocegueda where to place suppressive fire during squad live fire exercises.
Community
No, The Army Has Not Lost The Art Of Leadership
Balancing mission accomplishment and organizational improvement with care of soldiers is the art of leadership and the Army has not lost this.