Military academies teach critical thinking skills

 

How do military academies teach critical thinking skills?

How military academies teach critical thinking skills is an interesting study. Here are some examples:

1. Most military academies have integrated critical thinking among the learning objectives of their academic curriculum to develop the mastery of this intellectual competence. Learning critical thinking should be done from the perspective of its professional use
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2. Critical thinking should be taught early in an officer's career. A systematic and Socratic instructional approach along with major writing assignments ensure that critical thinking skills translate onto paper as well
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3. Critical thinking abilities can be individually developed by studying
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4. Critical strategic thinking training is a form of training that prepares military leaders to think strategically in a variety of critical circumstances. It equips military leaders with the tools to accurately analyze situations, question strategy and discern effective responses in their active duty
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5. The military needs to elevate critical thinking as a core competency of its profession – from top to bottom – and incorporate it into every aspect of training and education
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In summary, military academies teach critical thinking skills by integrating critical thinking among the learning objectives of their academic curriculum, teaching it early in an officer's career, using a systematic and Socratic instructional approach, incorporating major writing assignments, and providing critical strategic thinking training. The military needs to elevate critical thinking as a core competency of its profession and incorporate it into every aspect of training and education.

Citations:

[1] Teaching Professional Use of Critical Thinking to Officer-Cadets Reflection on the Intellectual Training of Young Officers at Military Academies Danic Parenteau Royal Military College Saint-Jean https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Journal-of-Military-Learning/Journal-of-Military-Learning-Archives/April-2021/Parenteau-Critical-Thinking/

[2]Developing Critical Thinking Military Officers Thor Martinsen Naval Postgraduate School, Thor Martinsen https://digitalcommons.usmalibrary.org/mathematica_militaris/vol25/iss1/2/

[3]  Seidule, History at West Point: Teaching Critical Thinking to Future Army Officers, Colonel Ty Seidule, PhD, is professor and head of the Department of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point. 2017 https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/january-2017/history-at-west-point-teaching-critical-thinking-to-future-army-officers

[4] Guillot, Critical Thinking For The Military Professional Col W. Michael Guillot https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Chronicles/guillot.pdf

[5] IDB, Critical Thinking for Military Leaders, https://www.idb.org/critical-thinking-for-military-leaders-2/

[6]Steve Ferenz,The Death of Critical Thinking in the Military? Here’s How to Fix It.  https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/01/14/the_death_of_critical_thinking_in_the_military_heres_how_to_fix_it_656486.html

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