WRITING investments it has made in education . Soldier education and training rank high among the Army ’ s priorities despite budget and workforce reductions . The 2015 unveiling of the Army University evidences the service ’ s commitment to invest in soldier education . According to its charter , the Army University “ represents a greater investment in our soldiers and civilians through improved education that will increase competence , character and commitment .” 1 Typically , people and institutions invest to yield maximum returns , which raises the question : How can the Army maximize returns on its investments in soldier education ? In other words , how can the Army better tap into the soldier expertise it is cultivating through sustained investments in education ?
An increased emphasis on writing can help the Army effectively utilize the soldier expertise it is cultivating through sustained investments in education . Implementing The U . S . Army Operating Concept : Win in a Complex World requires growing competent , innovative , and adaptive leaders consistent with some of the concept ’ s operational tenets . 2 By emphasizing writing , the Army can enhance soldier competence , innovation , and critical thinking — this article highlights how , and it posits ways the Army can get soldiers to write more , and better .
Literature on Writing
There is considerable literature on writing , and a brief examination will help provide context and clarity on ensuing arguments about the utility of writing to the Army . Some works on writing discuss the importance and benefits of writing well , but much of the literature on writing seeks to improve writing skills in some respect .
Clear written communication is important and beneficial . The Army understands the importance of clear written communication and promotes it in manuals . For example , Army Regulation ( AR ) 25-50 , Preparing and Managing Correspondence , promotes effective written communication within the ranks . It defines effective Army writing as being “ understood by the reader in a single rapid reading and … free of errors in substance , organization , style , and correctness .” 3 Other examples of the Army ’ s appreciation of , and commitment to , effective writing are the now-rescinded AR 600-70 , The Army Writing Program ( 1985 ), and Department of the Army Pamphlet ( DA Pam ) 600-67 , Effective Writing for Army Leaders ( 1986 ). In
DA Pam 600-67 , then Army Chief of Staff Gen . John A . Wickham Jr . referred to the fateful Charge of the Light Brigade — a failure based partly on unclear written orders — at the 1854 Battle of Balaclava . Wickham stated , “ one way to assure … clear and concise communication is by improving the quality of our writing .” 4 This perspective is shared by some in the Army . For example , in his well-written 2011 article in the Military Review journal titled “ Flight Simulation for the Brain : Why Army Officers Must Write ,” Maj . Trent Lythgoe echoes the critical importance to the Army , as well as the benefits , of writing well . Lythgoe highlights a link between writing and critical thinking , arguing that “ writing , although valuable as a communication medium , is most valuable as a powerful way of thinking .” 5
Among the numerous works that seek to improve writing skills , Henriette Anne Klauser ’ s book Writing on Both Sides of the Brain stands out as a key enabler to writers and aspiring writers . Klauser helps writers manage their creative , free-writing tendency vis-àvis their strong impulse to edit and correct . 6 William Zinsser ’ s On Writing Well counts among the salient works about writing improvement . Zinsser tackles common challenges in writing , such as simplicity , style , and techniques — for tenses , grammar , and mechanics . 7 James Kilpatrick ’ s The Writer ’ s Art also describes writing techniques , insights , and examples for both professional and aspiring writers . 8 Naveed Saleh ’ s The Complete Guide to Article Writing : How to Write Successful Articles for Online and Print Markets , is notable for its emphasis on the importance of research in writing successful articles , and for its insights on excelling at the writing craft in general . 9
Maj . Hassan Kamara , U . S . Army , is an armor officer and an assistant product manager assigned to Program Executive Office Missiles and Space , Redstone Arsenal , Alabama . He has served on the U . S . Forces Korea Joint Staff ( J-3 ), and , prior to that , commanded a Stryker infantry company at Fort Bliss , Texas , and an armor company in Iraq . He holds a BA in political science from Arizona State University , and an MA in security studies from the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School . Kamara is also an honor graduate of the U . S . Naval War College Command and Staff Course .
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