By MAJ. JAMIE SCHWANDT
Editor’s note: The Long March volition live on unopen for inventory the calendar month of August. We regret whatever inconvenience this causes our loyal customers. In an effort to continue yous reasonably content as well as focussed, nosotros are offering re-runs of some of the best columns of the year. We value your custom as well as promise yous volition stick around for . . . the Long March. I possess got spent the past times twelvemonth beingness graded, evaluated, as well as assessed equally a pupil at the U.S. Army Command as well as General Staff College (CGSC). After graduating as well as reflecting over the past times year, I volition at nowadays grade, evaluate, as well as assess CGSC. You volition discovery that I am extremely candid as well as pride myself inwards speaking my mind. If yous are offended past times this, hence I recommend yous halt reading now.
So, how did CGSC do? Let’s possess got a look.
Core as well as Advanced Operations Course
Grade: C
The reliance on MDMP to solve every employment was mind-boggling to me. The usage of this methodology as well as outdated tools as well as programs severely express our mightiness to gain value-added knowledge. MDMP is a linear as well as stiff step-by-step method for solving uncomplicated as well as complicated problems. It’s likewise bad nosotros alive inwards a complex world. While CGSC attempted to brand feel of data during the goal of our centre curriculum through a cumulative exam as well as oral presentation, it did non atomic number 82 to knowledge.
Critical Thinking
Grade: D
Critical thinking instruction was a curt but did innovate us to some worthwhile information. However, later writing “What’s incorrect amongst FM 3-0? Lots,” I was informed that leadership was extremely angry at my writing. They desire critical thinkers equally long equally it’s non directed at them.
Ethics
Grade: F
The failing marker is due inwards large usage to ethical failings inwards multiple areas – primarily the school’s policy regarding the dismissal of important servicemembers.
Leadership
Grade: D
Overall, the leadership curriculum provided some value-added data as well as introduced us to some skillful models as well as frameworks. The overall intelligence was well-received past times most. It was the lack of actual mission command past times CGSC that demonstrated to us that they create non practise what they teach.
History
Grade: B
This was i of the rare cases where nosotros truly looked at state of war from unlike perspectives, but nosotros should possess got examined more. The American Way of War is non the only agency of war, as well as I personally experience nosotros missed an chance here. We should possess got looked to to a greater extent than theorists exterior of Clausewitz, Jomini, as well as Napoleon. Why non Genghis Khan, John Boyd, or T.E. Lawrence? Overall, I was pleased amongst our history instruction as well as our instructor. If anything, history exceeded my expectations.
Tactics
Grade: D
I volition live on the commencement to admit, I create non possess got much experience inwards this subject. However, I was non impressed amongst the teaching provided. We were entirely provided data – no thinking was required. As long equally yous knew the “what” as well as “where” of placing symbols, yous were skillful to go. It was non of import to know “why” yous placed a symbol inwards a specific location at a specific time.
Electives
Grade: B
This is a subjective assessment, equally it depends on the electives yous take away to take. Personally, the absolute best course of instruction I possess got e'er taken spell inwards the armed forces came during this time: Red Team Members Course. For those of yous unfamiliar amongst it, or questioning if yous should possess got it or not… yous absolutely should! You volition non regret it. The University of Foreign Military as well as Cultural Studies (UFMC) Center for Applied Critical Thinking is non usage of CGSC. So, the best course of instruction I completed came from an organisation exterior of CGSC.
Overall Curriculum
Grade: D
This may seem harsh, but listen me out. The curriculum offered faculty members aught flexibility. Outside of the Red Team school, an instructor’s best bet was to stick to the slides. At times, they were forced to instruct outdated as well as useless information.
Another glaring negative hither is the usage of PowerPoint for everything. I am reminded of a famous quote past times Steve Jobs, “People who know what they’re talking almost don’t demand PowerPoint.” The only exception hither was the Red Team Member Course, where the usage of PowerPoint is banned.
MMAS
Grade: F
Although I did non participate inwards the Master of Military Arts as well as Science (MMAS) program, I did endeavour to start it. As a pupil entering the college amongst a doctorate, I idea I had quite a flake to offer. I shortly came to realize CGSC did non mean value students amongst advanced degrees had anything to offer. Apparently, yous possess got to live on a large bargain earlier yous tin shipping away add together value.
It’s likewise bad CGSC doesn’t usage students to comport actual enquiry for actual problems inside the U.S. Army. That would render a huge create goodness to the armed forces as well as render valuable learning for students at the same time. Overall, I am glad I didn’t consummate the program, equally I sent a version of my enquiry to AUSA, where it was published as well as people truly read it. I may possess got been the commencement pupil e'er to write an entire thesis inwards the commencement calendar month of schoolhouse (in all actuality, it took me only a few days), only to drib the plan instantly later submitting it.
Grading as well as Evaluation: H5N1 lesson inwards throwing darts
Grade: F
CGSC does issue standards for grading as well as evaluation, but I create non believe they are followed. At times it felt grades were determined past times throwing darts. H5N1 personal electrical load of mine was the lack of assessment exterior of graded work.
Student Relationships
Grade: A
Overall, ii things stand upwardly out from my fourth dimension at CGSC:
I was thankful for much-needed menage unit of measurement time, and
I developed peachy relationships amongst other students. If I immature adult woman i affair almost my fourth dimension at CGSC, it volition live on the relationships developed over the past times year.
Faculty
Grade: C
Faculty at CGSC have a bad reputation, for which some rightfully deserve it, spell the bulk are truly pretty good. From my perspective, they were extremely express inwards what they could instruct equally the curriculum express their instruction. I personally enjoyed my staff group, but interaction amongst other faculty members dropped this marker significantly.
CGSC Leadership
Grade: F
There are some glaring problems inside CGSC that should have a closer examination. CGSC is confused on its purpose as well as identity. On i hand, they are trying to live on a command focused on preparation as well as command as well as command of students. They usage a dictatorial approach (complete lack of Mission Command) as well as rely on an overly redundant attendance tracking system. For example, I could live on physically nowadays inwards class, but if I forgot to depository fiscal establishment check a box online hence someone tin shipping away runway my attendance, hence I was non nowadays for duty. I am curious if this is an OER bullet for someone.
On the other hand, they are trying to deed similar an accredited institution.
CGSC Final Grade
Grade: D
Holistically, CGSC did non run into the standards of a contemporary academic establishment looking toward the future. If anything, the schoolhouse is looking to the past. This course of instruction would possess got been a perfect check if nosotros were preparing for state of war inwards the 1950s. Until nosotros acknowledge that the futurity of state of war should live on looked at past times those of us who volition truly take away it about, nosotros volition never innovate or movement frontward equally an organization.
Recommendations
I recommend the next changes to ameliorate CGSC:
Adopt the teaching methodology of the UFMC Center for Applied Critical Thinking (Red Team school).
Eliminate discriminatory policies.
Stop using the online pupil accountability tracking system. If nosotros are physically inwards class, nosotros should non demand to check-in online.
Stop relying on MDMP. Teach as well as apply to a greater extent than complex problem-solving methodologies to a greater extent than regularly, such equally the Army Design Methodology (ADM).
Revise the history curriculum as well as add together theorists as well as historical leaders such equally Genghis Khan, John Boyd, as well as T.E. Lawrence.
Sequence classes hence that they intertwine inwards gild to analyze as well as synthesize knowledge. For example, nosotros could usage a history or leadership lesson inwards Guerilla Warfare from Mao as well as apply it inwards tactics.
Use the MMAS equally a twain betwixt the Army Staff (or a CCMD Staff) as well as CGSC students inwards gild to operate on as well as enquiry actual problems inwards the military.
Empower faculty to alter as well as conform the curriculum throughout the twelvemonth based on pupil feedback inwards gild to render value-added noesis students tin shipping away instantly apply. If something should live on eliminated, empower them to eliminate it.
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