• The Importance of Education for the Military Professional

  November 1, 2010

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  Education   army   ile   cgsc  

  Soldier and scholar are two words that are occasionally heard together to identify the ideal for what being a professional military officer represents. Indeed, these two terms represent and describe two very important, but typically different career fields. It is when the two can be properly joined and provided as a descriptor of a single professional warrior are they of most interest to current and future military students.

  A formal education is an important contributor to the development of leadership qualities and attributes that are crucial in the growth of a military professional. Education provides the essential foundation that is required for a professional Soldier to prepare for the realities that await him in the execution of his chosen profession. This education which includes both civilian and military academic studies provides the body of knowledge that when combined with personal and professional experience creates an environment that nurtures military leadership potential. One can think of academia as the laboratory where you can learn from the experiences and findings of others before venturing out into the professional arena yourself. An age-old adage that we have all surely heard provides warning regarding lessons being relearned if we do not pay notice to the history that has gone before us. This is especially significant for military professionals and leaders where the lessons of war can be most painful if we sway toward ignorance. Embodied within each conflict, within each war, and within the writings of the warriors who fought them are the lessons that give us an elusive glimpse of how we can prevent mistakes and overcome obstacles facing us in this time of persistent conflict.

  MAJ Tim R. Martin
  Student, ILE Class 11-01
  Fort Leavenworth, KS

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  "The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."

  submitted by Major Tim Martin on Nov 1 2010

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