Transforming Initial Entry Training to Produce the Objective Force Soldier

Abstract

Transformation of the US Army to the Objective Force generates the requirement to transform Army training to produce the Objective Force Soldier (OFS). The OFS will be different from today's legacy soldier, and will need a different set of knowledge, skills and abilities. The requirement to "see first, understand first, act first, and finish decisively," implies not only greater knowledge, but also a measure of wisdom normally equated with more senior officers (noncommissioned as well as commissioned). Today's training base, in particular, Initial Entry Training (IET) produces structured learners who perform well in the legacy force, but lack the knowledge and wisdom to be able to perform satisfactorily in the OF. This paper addresses incorporation of underused and unused adult learning theory to transform IET to produce adaptive learners rather than structured learners. Of the many adult learning theories that exist, Situated Learning is the learning model of choice that if adopted can speed the transition of soldiers from today's structured learner to the OF's adaptive learner. Within Situated Learning, the concept of conducting IET under a Cohort model is also explored.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 23, 2003
Accession Number
ADA414927

Entities

People

  • Christine E. De Graff

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Training
  • Deployment
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Instructors
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Psychology
  • Recruiting
  • Schools
  • Students
  • Teaching Methods
  • Training
  • Training Management
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design