Success of any military organization depends on the experience and good judgment of its leaders. Ideally, all commanders should have a high level of professional education and training in addition to some critically important character traits. Moreover, the higher the level of command, the more important it is that commanders and staff meet these requirements. Wars are not won or lost at the tactical level but at the operational and strategic levels.

Creativity is seminal in planning, preparing for, and carrying out combat and thus winning wars, yet military regimentation stifles the creative impulse. The military must accordingly borrow from both the art and science playbooks to liberate thought even as it simultaneously maintains the conformity and utter predictability so much of its mission requires. New technologies must be properly integrated and followed by imaginative alterations in force organization. The true nature of war must be thoroughly inculcated. Creativity must be present throughout the process of educating and training leaders and in forming sound organizations, concepts of operation, and doctrine. Unrestricted professional exchange needs to predominate—the German mission command model should be emulated—otherwise stagnation and ultimate mission failure could result.