Imagining the Future of Professional Military Education in the United States: Results from a Virtual Workshop
Abstract
In recent years, professional military education (PME) institutions have made a sudden shift to distance learning, which began during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Studies show that COVID-19 and pandemic-related disruptions have significantly affected military policies and readiness and negatively affected education for both students and educators across all education levels. In these conference proceedings, we summarize the results of a one-day joint PME (JPME) workshop that we conducted with JPME stakeholders to identify areas for change following the COVID-19 pandemic. During the workshop, participants from various PME institutions and J7 Directorate representatives discussed objectives, requirements, capabilities, and implementation options for the ongoing evolution of PME programs. Participants generally agreed on PMEs goals but tended to disagree on the means for achieving them. Consensus centered on providing PME students with communication skills, joint warfighting strategies, and critical thinking skills and preparing these future leaders for an evolving national security environment. Participants also agreed on the PME requirements to achieve the above objectives by building stable resources, improving advocacy, and identifying clear expectations and responsibilities. However, when the discussion moved to implementation, one group primarily focused on talent management related topics (e.g., recruitment and retention of faculty) and research while the other group focused on stakeholder management, stability in funding, and continuous experimentation in the delivery of education. These results highlight several opportunities for PME moving forward, including using the general agreement on objectives to create clear documentation, leveraging technology adopted during the pandemic, and building a diverse student body. The findings also describe several possible barriers that may complicate the implementation of PME objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 18, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1199397
Entities
People
- Emily Ellinger
- Marek N. Posard
Organizations
- RAND Corporation