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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Most organisations say they empower their people. Few are designed to let them. This morning I taught at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm. We began with a question that matters in boardrooms as much as in military HQs: how do organisations manage uncertainty? 🧵

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Christoph Harig @charig.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Come for the graphic design, stay for a great military studies conference!

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Eisenhower's matrix looks like time management advice. It isn't. It's about what an organisation is for. One general in our research put it more simply: do only what you alone can do. The rest should be delegated. The delegated work doesn't matter less. The point is that it isn't yours.

This is Eisenhower's matrix. It has two axes: Important vs not important and urgent vs not urgent. That provides a neat 2x2 matrix, helping leaders prioritise their daily tasks.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Finding peer reviewers is harder than ever. Yet we can't complain about poor feedback on our submissions if we aren't willing to review others'. If we want better reviews, we must do them. And systems must reward reviewing, mentoring, and chairing like publications. Lend a hand; lighten the load!

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Today in Denmark, the Dannebrog flies for those who went when asked, for those who never came back, and for those who still struggle. #flagdag

The Danish flag, Dannebrog, flying over a battle position in Helmand Provinsce (2009)

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Talkers and doers: a 🧵 on military knowledge. Rommel's comparison itself is flawed; the businessman and the professor never shared an objective. But the deeper problem is what military officers mean by "reality": in my experience, doctrine, or whatever the staff college drilled into them.

This is a quote from German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) found in the Rommel papers. The full quote reads: There often occurred to me the difference between the Professor of Economics and the business man, as judged by their financial success. The business man may not perhaps be on the same intellectual plane as the professor, but he bases his ideas on real facts and puts the whole power of his will behind their realistation. The professor, on the other hand, often has a false conception of reality and although perhaps having more ideas, is neither able nor anxious to carry them out; the fact that he has them is satisfaction enough. And so the business man has the greater financial success

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Today is Valdemar's Day 🇩🇰 According to legend, on this date in 1219, Dannebrog, the Danish flag, fell from the sky during the Danes’ hour of need in the battle of Lyndanisse at modern-day Tallinn, Estonia.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Sad to learn that Stephen Bungay passed away in mid-May. I met him on several occasions and continue to recommend “The Art of Action” as an introduction to what we in the military call mission command. Or alignment through an intent. Nobody explained that more succinctly than Stephen. RIP

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Sun’s out, grades are in. Looking back at this semester’s INTEL course at the University of Copenhagen. (1) It's (still) deeply rewarding to grade exams and see how the students have grasped the material. (2) Yet I am deeply worried about their use of Generative AI (it's far more than the em-dash)

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Being awarded the St. Germain medal for my work in military science is a profound honour. The most important part is the conversation that opens about the future of our profession. Military science is (should be) a constant inquiry, not a set of static rules. More on the link. In Danish, though.

krigsvidenskab.dk

Tildeling af Saint Germain medaljen til Søren Sjøgren :: Krigsvidenskab.dk

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

One pertinent problem in military studies is access to classified and restricted settings and handling that information in the research process. Join us on 17 September to discuss approaches and challenges. Hosts: @sjms.bsky.social & @forsvarshogskolan.bsky.social Learn more 👇 #civmilsky #milsky

fhs.se

Workshop on research in classified environments

The Research School for War and Defence together with the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies invites doctoral students and researchers to a workshop on research in classified environments, metho...

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Workshop: Research in Classified Environments (17 Sept, Stockholm) Join us for a discussion of the tension between academic rigour and security necessities. Hosted by: @forsvarshogskolan.bsky.social (PhD school) & @sjms.bsky.social Details & application: See link below.

fhs.se

Workshop on research in classified environments

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Deeply honoured to receive the St. Germain medal from the Danish Society for Military Science last night. 🎖️ Only 28 recipients since 1924, it’s a humbling reminder of the giants who have shaped Danish military thinking. As an officer & philosopher, I’m grateful for the recognition. (1/5)

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

A new effect term just dropped: total systemic fiction

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Map or mirror? Doctrine and military transformation New research by Nisser argues that doctrine’s best role is to act as a catalyst for debate, not as a top-down driver of change. Transformation happens through professional friction. Practice leads; the manual follows. A short doctrine 🧵

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Is military doctrine a manual or a conversation starter? 🪖 Nisser argues that doctrine isn't just a top-down tool for change. It’s a tool for debate, the catalyst for the professional friction needed to change from the bottom up. Practice usually leads the pen. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

cambridge.org

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

"You can never delegate responsibility." The news that Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated soldier, has been arrested and charged with 5x murder has triggered shockwaves. A short 🧵 on comand responsibility.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

"Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had serious concerns about the war... but he was so careful not to take a stand (...) that he could appear to some to argue all sides simultaneously." 👉 There is a fine line between being careful and absent www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

nytimes.com

6 Takeaways From the Story of Trump’s Decision to Go to War With Iran

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

nytimes.com

6 Takeaways From the Story of Trump’s Decision to Go to War With Iran

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EM Simpson @emsetc.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

ok but shooting down airplanes with surface to air missiles and IR sensors isn't asymmetric anything

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

NATO’s C2 COE just dropped its 2025–2026 C2 publication bundle. Less of a critical deep-dive and more of an AltaVista-style link collection for Command & Control. Still, it’s a goldmine if you need a comprehensive map of the C2/MDO landscape right now. 🔗 c2coe.org/command-and-...

c2coe.org

Command and Control Publication Bundle April 2026 – NATO C2COE

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

c2coe.org

Command and Control Publication Bundle April 2026 – NATO C2COE

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

We’re sleepwalking into a crisis of representational sovereignty, if we are already there. Staffs are tempted to substitute judgment (hard to manage) for metrics (easy to process). What the article adds is that the metics are now defined by contractors. warontherocks.com/2026/03/the-...

warontherocks.com

The U.S. Military Risks Letting Contractors Define How It Sees the Battlefield

In the 1964 black comedy Dr. Strangelove, an emergency war plan called “Plan R” allows an unhinged U.S. Air Force commander, Jack Ripper, to launch a

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Command Without Control? NATO’s Cross Domain Command concept (2025) challenges military leadership: In a multi-domain world, you must command what you can’t control. The big change is a move from hierachy to fluid networks. Short teaching note (open access): research.fak.dk/esploro/outp...

Command without control? A reserach note on NATO's cross domain command concept

NATO Cross-Domain Command (CDC), Military Leadership Research, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

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Simon J. Smith @sjasmith.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Come work with us 👇

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Three open positions at the assistant/associate level at the Royal Danish Defence College. 📅 Deadline 29 March. 👉 Military Operations: candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI... 👉 AI, new technologies and frontline leadership: candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI... Reach out if you have questions

candidate.hr-manager.net

The Royal Danish Defence College invites applications for Associate Professor in Military Operations or Assistant Professor

We are looking for expertise in the study of warfare and military operations, including (but not limited to) intelligence, military theory, country- or region-s

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

candidate.hr-manager.net

The Royal Danish Defence College invites applications for Associate Professor in Military Operations or Assistant Professor

We are looking for expertise in the study of warfare and military operations, including (but not limited to) intelligence, military theory, country- or region-s

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Helmand, July 2009. Danish soldiers resting after 8 hours of breaching minefields and clearing houses. Seconds later, I had to wake them to move forward again. To claim allies weren't on the front lines is a lie and an insult to those who served and lost. We stepped up. That's what allies do.

Exhausted Danish infantry soldiers during operation Panther's Claws in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, July 2009

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

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Christoph Harig @charig.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

We're growing further and are hiring again! 2 posts as Assistant/Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College's Institute for Military Operations We're looking for people who are interested in different aspects of military operations, read more below www.jobindex.dk/jobannonce/r...

jobindex.dk

The Royal Danish Defence College invites applications for Associate Professor in Military Operations or Assistant Professor | Job ad | Jobindex

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Submission no. 500 at the Journal of Scandinavian Military Studies (SJMS) landed this morning! We publish in the field of military studies: multidisciplinary, practice‑relevant, with Scandinavian roots and a global scope All open access Learn more about @sjms.bsky.social: sjms.nu/articles/10....

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Christoph Harig @charig.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Learn more about publishing in @sjms.bsky.social! @sjasmith.bsky.social (editor of @defencestudies.bsky.social) and I had a pleasant chat about publishing in Military Studies with Queen's University's On Defence and Security Podcast series www.queensu.ca/cidp/podcast...

queensu.ca

Publishing On Defence and Security | Centre for International and Defence Policy

Oct 9, 2025 | Podcast | Watch/listen to Episode 1 of 'Publishing On Defence and Security'. Listen on Youtube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I presented Eisenhower’s matrix to young leaders last week: do only what you alone can do; the rest delegate. The idea is simple, the practice isn’t. Urgency creeps in, leaders micromanage, postpone strategy, team check-ins, or even their own health. Start prioritising what really matters.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

“Eyes on, hands off.” Mission command sounds simple, but micromanagement often creeps in. Too detailed orders, risk aversion, and a lack of trust make implementation difficult. Currently in Stockholm to teach our latest in Mission Command in NATO. 📚 sjms.nu/articles/10.... (open access)

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Today, we discussed research in classified or restricted environments with 25 engaged PhD students. A few reflections: 1️⃣ Even in classified or restricted military environments, meaningful and ethical research is possible, though not without trade-offs.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Today in Denmark, The Dannebrog flies for those who went when asked, for those who never came back, and for those who still struggle. #flagdag

Dannebrog on a wodden pole flying in Afghanistan's Helmand province in the sping of 2009

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Here is this summer's best reading experience (and why anyone who teaches planning should read it, too). This is a fascinating inside story of planning at the land component level before and during the invasion of Iraq. TL;DR: Iraq was not an outlier; it represents the dynamics of modern C2 🧵

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Sir David Richards was promoted to Field Marshal on Saturday, a rare honour. In 2000, under threat in Sierra Leone, he defied orders to evacuate. No new instructions. Just judgment, moral courage, and a plan that worked. Mission command or disciplined disobedience in action.

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Obedience is a founding principle of any military organisation. Yet, there are times when orders should not be followed, and not just when they are clearly illegal. Commanders should not be automata, nor merely ‘yes men’. Even in a hierarchy, there is a need for independent thinking and action.

aureliusthinking.com

Insubordination (or “Consent and evade”) within the command chain : Aurelius Lab

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

‘What military commanders do and how they do it’ has climbed to be the most popular article in @sjms.bsky.social 🙏🎉 It was the first product of my PhD journey, and I regularly revisit it. There are quite a few fun gems in there, as well as some analysis of decision-making. sjms.nu/articles/10....

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

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Søren Sjøgren @sorensjogren.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

What is military doctrine? It was a great event at the Swedish Defence University today bringing soldier-scholars who study doctrine together. 👉 We still don't agree on what we are refering to, when we casually refer to doctrine and in the litterature there are at least five different approaches.

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