Twenty-Four Month Command Tour: Is It the Optimum Length

摘要

This study reviews the basis for the 1983 CSA decision establishing the minimumcommand tour at twenty-four months. It also discusses, at length, the variables senior leaders must consider in determining the best length for command tours. The study also provides a summary of the opinions of former commanders attending the USAWC in the class of 1990. This effort focuses on those command tours at the Lieutenant Colonel level which are now twenty-four month tours. It does not analyze special cases not falling into the twenty-four month category, such as Engineer District commands, commands in short tour areas, and Product Manager tours. However, the author feels that much of the data, the discussion, and the conclusions apply to those commands. Also, though the study does not specifically address Colonel level commands, the material is very relevant to them as well. (CP)