Military Review English Edition January-February 2017 | Page 118
Writing as a Means to Improve
Soldier Competence
The Army can cultivate and better utilize soldier
competence by compelling soldiers to write articles
about professional military topics and by including
writing on operational matters as part of their daily
duties. They should conduct research, think critically, and study. These processes are inherent in professional writing, and are catalysts for developing competent and adaptive soldiers. Naveed Saleh concurs
that research is inherent in writing, and he reports,
“good writers spend about 80 percent of their time
actually writing. Good research helps you determine
what’s important with respect to the issue being
explored and much more.”10 Kate L. Turabian describes the knowledge-enhancing value of research,
stating that writing a research report increases one’s
knowledge on a subject and enhances one’s ability to
write.11 So, by compelling soldiers to research and
write on aspects of the military profession and also
as part of daily operations, the Army can help them
build the high level of competence vital to overcoming complex challenges.
116
Adm. James Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander Europe, addresses students from the
U.S. Naval War College and Senior Enlisted Academy during a visit
to the Naval War College 23 October 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island. In a 2008 article in Proceedings, Stavridis advocates writing for
publication. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric
Dietrich, U.S. Navy)
Dwight Eisenhower’s experience under the command
and mentorship of Maj. Gen. Fox Conner is a good example of how an emphasis on writing in daily operations
can enhance competence. While they were stationed in
Panama during the early 1920s, Conner had his young
protégé and operations officer write plans and operation orders on a daily basis, which grew Eisenhower’s
prowess as an operational planner. In a letter reply to
Eisenhower’s request for insights to help him prepare
for attending the U.S. Army Command and General
Staff College, Conner wrote,
You may not know it, but because of your
three years’ work in Panama, you are far better
trained and ready for Leavenworth than anybody I know. You will recall that during your
January-February 2017 MILITARY REVIEW