Contact Front: Proven Leadership Lessons from the Iraq War's Deadliest Battle - Paperback

by Barry Shaw (Author)

In the fall of 2004, an all-out siege was waged on a heavily fortified city, producing the most intense urban combat since the Battle of Hue City in Vietnam. The tempo and intensity of the fighting provided the ultimate proving ground for leadership theory and practical application. A lifetime of leadership lessons was learned and tested in the most demanding environment possible.

Contact Front gives the reader an inside look at the harsh realities of sustained combat operations and teaches leadership concepts learned and relied upon during the Iraq War's deadliest battle, the Second Battle of Fallujah. The book is written from the perspective of a young marine sergeant thrust into an unexpected leadership role on the eve of Iraq's bloodiest battle because of a suicide car bomb attack. Each chapter is based on personal experiences in and around Fallujah in November 2004 and uses real-life combat experience to bring relevance and credibility to each highlighted leadership concept. Concepts were carefully chosen based on what worked, what continues to work, and what is necessary for developing effective leaders.

The leadership concepts contained in the book are the result of years of reflection, evaluation, and professional development. It took nearly twenty years after the battle occurred to process the experience and articulate the lessons learned. Each leadership concept is easily implemented at any level and applies to every discipline.

Contact Front does not contain gimmicks or guesses, only proven methods of how to accomplish the mission, inspire people to action, and develop leaders. The unforgiving combat environment forces harsh reality into every situation and provides a unique perspective for those who have experienced it. Any person who reads Contact Front will benefit from that perspective and increase their capability through easily understood and proven leadership concepts forged in battle. Contact Front provides a resource for anyone aspiring to become an effective leader or improve their leadership ability.