A real leader must be an agent for change, an inspirer and developer who is able to show the way forward,integrate people and ideas and be prepared to instigate rapidly the most effective option. Particularly, in times of tension or war, an effective leader will have to be able to bring both colleagues and subordinates  along  in  a  way  that  is  at  once  identified  as pragmatic, meaningful and militarily cost-effective.

1. It is reasonable to assume that most of society regards the military  officer  as  a  leader.  This  paper  will  provide  an overview  of  the  qualities  of  an  officer  considering  both  the pragmatic, hands-on opinion of the selector and trainer and also informed,  scientific  analysis  taken  from  various  studies  over many years.In modern military organizations, the effective leader will also need sound management skills, particularly during the peacetime environment. Accordingly, leadership, in its broader sense,  will  also  be  discussed,  along  with  the  links  and  the differences between Leadership and Management.

2. Whilst the military officer will usually need to possess

qualities both in leadership and in management, there will be occasions when such qualities will, to a certain extent, be rather peripheral   to  pre-requisite  professional   skills   such   as,   for example,  Legal  and  Medical.  Specialist,  professional requirements are not 'qualities' per se and, accordingly, they will not  be  discussed  within  the  scope  of  this  chapter.  Officer qualities must be differentiated  from other  factors assessed at selection. Broadly defined, these personal qualities (PQs) or Officer  Like Qualities(OLQs) as they are called in Indian context refer to traits, states, needs, motives, goals, attitudes, interests, determining tendencies and general dispositions towards personal/social situations. They are different from cognitive, intellectual factors and medical factors which will also be examined in that they usually form an intrinsic part of officer selection.