Veterans

The ‘Sheepdog’ Analogy Is Deeply Flawed

Save
The ‘Sheepdog’ Analogy Is Deeply Flawed
Motivating Sheepdogs: Army colonel shares knowledge. Airman 1st Class Haley Stevens/DoD photo
Gregory Drobny
Battlefields Staff
Updated:
0:00
Commentary
Just about everyone in the military is familiar with the sheep, wolves, and sheepdog analogy, as popularized by LTC (Ret) Grossman in his book “On Combat.” We all fit into one of those categories, he says—we need protecting, we are a predator, or we are a protector.
Greg Drobny is a former Airborne Infantryman, PSYOP Team Chief, political consultant, professional mil blogger, and now works for Code Platoon as Student Outreach and Recruitment Manager. He holds a BA in history, a Masters of Science in organizational psychology, and is currently pursuing an MA in history. In a time of hyperspecialization, Drobny is an accomplished and educated generalist who understands that knowledge from a multitude of disciplines is necessary for true wisdom. A continuous wanderer and seeker of knowledge, he has worn three different colors of beret for the U.S. Army and worked in everything from metal fabrication, music, and bartending to politics and publishing while on a constant search for life's meaning. He is married with four children who keep him more than slightly busy and is passionate about helping veterans find their paths in life and develop the skills needed to pursue their goals.
Related Topics