Attributes assist in defining what an officer should be and contribute to leader actions. Army leader attributes are described in three categories - mental, physical and emotional. Included in this category are will, self-discipline, initiative, judgment, confidence, intelligence and cultural awareness. Included in this category are health fitness, physical fitness, military bearing and professional bearing. Included in this category are self-control, balance and stability.
Skills are synonymous with competencies.
They are abilities or competencies that one develops and uses with people, with ideas and with things. Competence is of primary importance for all Army officers. The Army recognizes that officers must develop four types of skills. Technical skills reflect competence with things. Tactical skills refer to the ability to put together technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills and apply them to warfighting tasks.