Risk Management Magazine

In 2008, I was part of the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion, 555th Combat Engineer Brigade. The unit was reassigned from Kirkuk, in the northern region of Iraq, to Tallil Air Base in the south.

When we woke the class at 0445 to prepare for a land navigation performance evaluation, the air was already thick and humid. All of the candidates were anxious because their most feared event was finally upon them.

You hear a lot about overconfidence in the military and how it causes Soldiers to become complacent or take unnecessary risks. Whether it’s a feeling of invincibility or just a Soldier’s ego, overconfidence is a problem leaders deal with constantly.