The Importance of Studying History
Abstract
It is important for military professionals to take time out of their busy schedules to study military history? Yes, it is very important for "all" military professionals to study military history at every opportunity available. "The problem with being too busy to read is that you learn by experience (or by your men's experience), i.e., the hard way, by reading, you learn by other's experiences." (LTG James Mattis, VGT-50, H101 USASMA, putting personal experience into perspective). The following will shed some light into why I feel it is important to study history. It is very important to learn, not only from our mistakes, but from the mistakes of other countries. When applying this knowledge, we not only have a better understanding of our enemies but a better understanding of ourselves when certain situations arise. When we become better educated, we have a better chance of resolving a crisis before a conflict arises or defeating an enemy when necessary. Leaders have constantly spent more time basking in peacetime pleasure and not focusing on our soldiers on realistic cross-training for various future wars. Based on all the wars that we have fought and /or have read about, should be enough to remind all leaders that having one sole focus in what type of war we train for will lead us down that treacherous unforgiving past in history. One operation we can learn from, as noted by the author, is the Basilan Operation. "The Basilan Operation was the case of American troops applying lessons and techniques learned from their experience of occupation in the Philippines one hundred years before." (Imperial Grunts by Robert Kaplan).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1121077
Entities
People
- Johnny Hart
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy