---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To get an Army that's already fighting a…"
description: "\"To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on the ground - and to get everybody on the sam..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg"
---

#  To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in…

![“To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on the ground - and to get everybody on the same page - was accomplished by the sheer force of Dave Petraeus' will.” quote by Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg)

> “To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on the ground - and to get everybody on the same page - was accomplished by the sheer force of Dave Petraeus' will.”

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective change in military strategy requires strong will and unified effort, exemplified by Petraeus.

**In simple terms:** Strong will unites forces for change.

Key Takeaway

Leverage decisive leadership.

Themes

leadership strategy unity

Mood

determined strategic

Type

analysis leadership

When to use this quote

- combat operations
- policy shifts
- team alignment
- training programs

Key Concepts

military command organizational change

Questions to Reflect On

- How can teams sustain change without one person?
- What risks arise from centralized authority?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on a single leader can cause fragility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Military strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-strategy/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [ The most important part of \[Russian\] support is the aerial support, which is very essential, they have very strong firepower, and at the same… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-most-important-part-of-russian-support-is-the-aerial-support/)

[Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/)

> [“This is the war where we change. This is the trickster war. It's where we disappear, just like they desire us disappear. I spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/this-is-the-war-where-we-change-this-is-the-trickster-war-it-s-where/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

> [“War will change people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-starmer/war-will-change-people/)

[Aaron Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-starmer/)

> [How do we stop war we stop fighting our selfs we stop fighting the way we were ment to look and act. Because war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-white/how-do-we-stop-war-we-stop-fighting-our-selfs-we-stop-fighting-the/)

[Marcus White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-white/)

> [More than any single action by the government since the end of the war, this one would change the face of America with straightaways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/more-than-any-single-action-by-the-government-since-the-end-of-the/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [I do not want to talk about the war, because I cannot change history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-do-not-want-to-talk-about-the-war-because-i-cannot-change-history/)

[Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/)

> [“You fight a war to change the world, and it changes into a world with no place in it for you, the fighter. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-fight-a-war-to-change-the-world-and-it-changes-into-a-world-with/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The Blitzkrieg strategy was designed to exploit the flinch of the enemy—he must collapse at the sight of what appears to be overwhelming force.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-blitzkrieg-strategy-was-designed-to-exploit-the-flinch-of-the/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [Since the events of September 11, weve rightfully changed our military strategy so were now taking the fight to those individuals who aim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gerlach/since-the-events-of-september-11-weve-rightfully-changed-our-military/)

[Jim Gerlach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gerlach/)

> [“Well before Trump, we had wars fought as televised entertainment. The 1990 Gulf War was dubbed the first video-game war, complete with its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/well-before-trump-we-had-wars-fought-as-televised-entertainment-the/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [My center is giving way, my right is pushed back, my left is wavering. The situation is excellent. I shall attack!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/my-center-is-giving-way-my-right-is-pushed-back-my-left-is-wavering/)

[James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/)

> [He who wishes to fight must first count the cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/he-who-wishes-to-fight-must-first-count-the-cost/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“One of the most frustrating aspects of the Vietnam war from the Army's point of view is that as far as logistics and tactics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-most-frustrating-aspects-of-the-vietnam-war-from-the-army/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“the Home Secretary, a young man of thirty-seven, impossible to ignore, who, from his inappropriate post, had pelted the Prime Minister during the crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/the-home-secretary-a-young-man-of-thirty-seven-impossible-to-ignore/)

[Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/)

> ['Bombshell' is a remarkable podcast. In the course of it, three people who know what they are talking about cover 'military strategy, White House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hepworth/bombshell-is-a-remarkable-podcast-in-the-course-of-it-three-people/)

[David Hepworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hepworth/)

## More by Jack Keane

> [I'm a New York kid, so when I saw that plane that hit the first building, I suspected it was terrorism - blue sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/i-m-a-new-york-kid-so-when-i-saw-that-plane-that-hit-the-first/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [I read people; that's one of my strengths. It's not that I can't be fooled, but I'm not fooled often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/i-read-people-that-s-one-of-my-strengths-it-s-not-that-i-can-t-be/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Russia, their number one client in the Middle East is Syria; that is their foothold in the Middle East. They want to have influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/russia-their-number-one-client-in-the-middle-east-is-syria-that-is/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [This radical Islam is a religious-based ideology. And you actually have to, when you deal with the ideology, you have to attack it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/this-radical-islam-is-a-religious-based-ideology-and-you-actually/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Air power will not defeat ISIS. It has not been able to deny ISIS freedom of maneuver and the ability to attack at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/air-power-will-not-defeat-isis-it-has-not-been-able-to-deny-isis/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [ISIS is on the offense, with the ability to attack at will, anyplace, anytime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/isis-is-on-the-offense-with-the-ability-to-attack-at-will-anyplace/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Fighting forces, particularly ground forces, have to operate on the basis of unit cohesion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/fighting-forces-particularly-ground-forces-have-to-operate-on-the/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Al Qaeda has overplayed their hand. What the al Qaeda do when they go into a town or village or a neighborhood inside a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/al-qaeda-has-overplayed-their-hand-what-the-al-qaeda-do-when-they-go/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [President-elect Trump wants to win them if you're going to be involved in a war. I don't think he wants to be involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/president-elect-trump-wants-to-win-them-if-you-re-going-to-be/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [We have a sufficient political class, and the military doesn't have to get involved in high national office. The days of doing that, post-Civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/we-have-a-sufficient-political-class-and-the-military-doesn-t-have-to/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [One of the banners I would put up in front of any American president and new administration is 'Do not overreact to your predecessors'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/one-of-the-banners-i-would-put-up-in-front-of-any-american-president/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Qatar has funded and helped arm ISIS. They also, as we all know, fund Hamas. That's got to stop. And we've got to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/qatar-has-funded-and-helped-arm-isis-they-also-as-we-all-know-fund/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [Russia and China completely disagree with the international order that was established after World War II, and they're trying to take it apart right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/russia-and-china-completely-disagree-with-the-international-order/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [In Washington, D.C., in 2006, Democrats had long since given up on the war in Iraq in terms of any tangible political support for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/in-washington-d-c-in-2006-democrats-had-long-since-given-up-on-the/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

> [The thing I have in common with Donald Trump is, about a dozen years ago, we got a 'Man of the Year' award in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/the-thing-i-have-in-common-with-donald-trump-is-about-a-dozen-years/)

[Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

[Explore all 80 Jack Keane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/)

## More Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on the ground - and to get everybody on the same page - was accomplished by the sheer force of Dave Petraeus' will.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Keane"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a-war-to-change-in-stride-to-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a-war-to-change-in-stride-to-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/jack-keane-8492_army_to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a_326983.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on…” — Jack Keane",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jack Keane",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To get an Army that's already...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a-war-to-change-in-stride-to-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a-war-to-change-in-stride-to-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
