Adaptive Leader Methodology: An Alternative for Better Outcomes

By Don Vandergriff and Fred Leland

It was an honor and privilege to work on this article with my good friend Don Vandergriff. Our hope is you all get some ideas you can utilize making yourselves and your organizations more effective. ~Fred

Published in Current: The Homeland Security Review A Journal of the Institute for Law & Public Policy CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA VOLUME 3, NO. 3

Adaptive Leader Methodology (ALM) offers the first responder a better alternative to the traditional “input-based” or “competency theory” philosophy that currently governs their training programs at all levels. ALM is perhaps best described as “developmental training,” i.e., the development of the individual within the training of a first responder’s or leader’s task. It emphasizes teaching the “why” behind actions through an emphasis on the fundamental principles that should guide future actions and decisions. ALM is best suited to nurture innovation and adaptability, the characteristics that are absolutely essential on today’s complex streets and in handling crisis situations. The recurring question, however, is this: how does one teach in an ALM environment? What are the “how to” aspects of implementing the theory behind ALM? Perhaps most importantly, how does a trainer approach leader development using this philosophy? Continue reading

Don and I would love to hear from you al on this article. Your thoughts and comments as to how this style of leadership that encompasses training and development to that leads to effectiveness on the street and TRUE decentralized control allowing insight and innovation on the frontline. Leaders need to interact daily with their frontline personnel, continually teaching, learning, unlearning and relearning so we can take initiative dealing with the problems we face and develop more full spectrum officers and hence full spectrum operations that leads to excellence in services we provide. ~Fred

2 NJ terror suspects had brushes with authority

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — On a calm May afternoon last year in suburban Elmwood Park, Carlos Eduardo Almonte started to preach to his younger brother, Elvin, in the middle of their family's living room.

The oldest son in a Catholic family from the Dominican Republic, Carlos Almonte had recently embraced Islam as his religion, and now he hammered away at his brother with all the fervor of a convert, according to details in a police report.

But Elvin, four years younger, stood his ground, saying he would not follow the religion.

Soon, according to the report, a brawl broke out between the brothers.

The clash is the first glimpse of the conflict in the Almonte home as it faced Carlos' growing radicalization. In just five years, the eldest son turned from a delinquent busted for underage drinking into a bearded fundamentalist ready to fight his own brother over his new-found faith. Continue reading

Mexico anger high after teen dies at border

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexicans are seething over the second death of a countryman at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents in two weeks, a shooting near downtown El Paso that is threatening to escalate tensions over migrant issues.

U.S. authorities said Tuesday a Border Patrol agent was defending himself and colleagues when he fatally shot the 15-year-old as officers came under a barrage of big stones while trying to detain illegal immigrants on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande. Continue reading

What do Sovereigns Citizens and Yahweh have in Common?

The sovereigns are standing up. The economic and real estate troubles are inspiring "creative" approaches by extremist groups. These groups come from very different perspectives. For example, there are about 400 registered "sovereigns" in the state of Tennessee. Sovereigns believe the government has no authority to control their lives. They believe that they can ignore laws, as laws do not pertain to them. According to the below media outlet, dozens of people in the Memphis area have filed paperwork, made "official" claims, and sent letters to government agencies claiming they don't have to follow the laws because they're "sovereign."

Those who follow this blog know that two West Memphis police officers were recently killed by a father and son "sovereign" team. Their usual weapon of choice, however, is paper. Sovereigns often create ID cards, make claims against banks, and file frivolous lawsuits against the government. Continue reading

Extremism at home on the rise! Very interesting article ~Fred

Calif. highway patrol officer killed during chase

REDLANDS, Calif. - Authorities say a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer has been killed during a pursuit.

Redlands police spokesman Carl Baker says two collisions occurred during the chase in San Bernardino County. One at a Redlands intersection around 6:30 a.m. Friday involved a CHP officer.

Baker says several people have been arrested. Detectives were still investigating what prompted the chase and how the crash occurred. Continue reading

More than 50 drug dealers rounded up in major N.M. bust

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — More than 50 drug dealers and distributors in different parts of the state were rounded up as part of two federal investigations, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said Thursday.

"Both addressed both ends of the drug trafficking scourge in New Mexico: the transporters in the south and the people who sell the drugs at a street level in the north," Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the Española Valley has a "very serious" heroin problem and has grappled with it for many years. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges.

"The situation there is simply not acceptable," he said at a news conference in Albuquerque. "This ... operation is a first step toward bringing positive changes to the Española Valley. But as we all know, we have a very long way to go. For now, I can tell you that the goal with this operation is to reduce the availability of heroin and other drugs in the Valley before they and the people who dispense them wreak havoc in the lives of the families who call Española and Rio Arriba County home." Continue reading

Solitude and Leadership

My title must seem like a contradiction. What can solitude have to do with leadership? Solitude means being alone, and leadership necessitates the presence of others—the people you’re leading. When we think about leadership in American history we are likely to think of Washington, at the head of an army, or Lincoln, at the head of a nation, or King, at the head of a movement—people with multitudes behind them, looking to them for direction. And when we think of solitude, we are apt to think of Thoreau, a man alone in the woods, keeping a journal and communing with nature in silence.

Leadership is what you are here to learn—the qualities of character and mind that will make you fit to command a platoon, and beyond that, perhaps, a company, a battalion, or, if you leave the military, a corporation, a foundation, a department of government. Solitude is what you have the least of here, especially as plebes. You don’t even have privacy, the opportunity simply to be physically alone, never mind solitude, the ability to be alone with your thoughts. And yet I submit to you that solitude is one of the most important necessities of true leadership. This lecture will be an attempt to explain why. Continue reading

This is the best leadership article I have read in my life. It is outstanding, hard hitting, well written, but true. It explains why the U.S. number one crisis is leadership. The article written William Deresiewicz, a former English professor at Yale. He gave this talk to the plebes (freshmen) at West Point in 2009. ~Don Vandergriff

I agree wholeheartedly with Don assessment of this article. Its a must read! ~Fred