Samenvatting

The authors describes his experiences as head of the international effort to reconstitute officer training after the regime change in Iraq. Hilderink distinguishes between three roles: individual, team member, and commander. He describes how awareness of the threat suddenly becomes acute when circumstances, such as the breakdown of his car, remind him of his vulnerability. He also describes the importance of a widely shared sense of esponsibility that involves all team members, as opposed to hierarchical responsibility, and that also allows for discussing unpleasant experiences among team members. Finally, he stresses the importance of personal communication in his role as commander.