Leading America's Team: Delta Force

This video compares the management and leadership skills of special operations soldiers and those of typical business managers and draws a convincing parallel between the business world and the military. The video focuses on the leadership skills of Retired Colonel Lee Van Arsdale, a West Point graduate and former member of the elite Green Berets and Delta Force. Van Arsdale currently owns a corporate consulting firm that helps CEOs develop strategies to protect their international companies from terrorism and other security risks. Delta Force, a covert unit within the U.S. army with which Van Arsdale was affiliated for many years, is composed of highly skilled soldiers who are accustomed to operating independently and planning their own missions. The army's recruitment process entails soliciting volunteers on its posts worldwide. Soldiers are asked to join Delta Force only after going through a strenuous and extensive assessment process. Candidates must be exceptionally fit physically and possess the ability to make quick and intelligent decisions on their own. They must also be able to stay composed under extreme conditions. And because they are given a great deal of freedom in their missions, they must be self-motivated and mature. As an elite group of soldiers, Delta Force members form a tight bond of camaraderie, much like teams of employees working towards a common goal in a business environment.