Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military From: mcgp1!flak@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Dan Flak) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: The Value of a Military Education Message-ID: <14511@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 6 Mar 90 04:22:43 GMT References: <14399@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc, Seattle, Wa Lines: 60 Approved: military@att.att.com From: mcgp1!flak@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Dan Flak) In article <14399@cbnews.ATT.COM> ames!ames!claris!portal!cup.portal.com!mmm@uunet.UU.NET writes: > > >From: >I have some old Air Force ROTC books, and I think they are really superb >examples of clear and effective textbooks. The subject matter they cover >seems to have great applicability outside the military sphere... >My question is: is a military education a valuable thing? Would such an >education make a person well-qualified to, say, run a restaurant or a >hardware store? Or would a military education be a slow and inefficient >way to learn skills which could better be learned in some other way? Our company hires an educational firm to come in and teach business subjects to its managers. One of the courses is "Effective Presentations". I took it over 20 years ago in ROTC. Back then we called it "How to give a briefing". In my practical experience, I have briefed General Officers. They want pretty much the same level of detail and format as do company vice presidents. My company memos are basically a modified military format letter. The military format makes a good outline for organizing thoughts. We have had some discussions in our office about "executive excusions". You know, where you go out into the woods and learn about teamwork and develop self confidence. I called it basic training. Even if your primary job description in the military is to kill people with an M-16, you also learn how to live away from Mom and Dad, how to live on a paycheck, and how not to depend upon the state for every aspect of your life. You learn about self discipline, personal accountability, and pride of accomplishement. >And even if it is a good form of education, what are its principal >weaknesses? The military sometimes adopts the "one sledgehammer fits all" philosophy. That is, if a particular procument scheme is good for the B-2 bomber then it must be good for a hammer. You now have reason why it costs $700 for a coffee pot. (There are other, legitimate, reasons). My personal philosophy is "Get things done in accordance with the regulations when you can, and in spite of them when you have to". Many military "managers" are afraid to step "outside the box". Regulations are *guidance*. They are not a substitute for good judgement. Some people just don't like to think. They *always* look for the "how was this done before" answer to the problem, and will sometimes force fit a solution that's not appropriate to the situation. They fail to see that not all of the answers are "in the book". -- Dan Flak - McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., 201 Elliot Ave W., Suite 105, Seattle, Wa 98119, 206-286-4355, (usenet: thebes!mcgp1!flak)