Many of the great management thinkers had military backgrounds, going back as far as Xenotron or Sun Tzu. The need for discipline, strategy and solid leadership in positions of command in the field of conflict provided a solid base for ex-military men entering the world of business and management,
In more modern times, Adair was called up for National Service and was a lecturer at Sandhurst, Hertzberg was an NCO in the US Army, Humble was in the Signals Regiment of the British Army, and Peters served in the US Navy in the Vietnam War.