Fort Leavenworth and Its Education Legacy

<p>In its 130 years of service to the US Army CGSC transitioned numerous times as an academic center of officer learning. In its early years the Applicatory School of Cavalry and Infantry was known derisively as the kindergarten where lieutenants learned the basics of soldiering as well as math and English. Later during the First World War Leavenworth Men were sought out to fill primary staff positions within division corps and army headquarters leading the US Army to success on the battlefields of France. During the interwar years the Command and General Staff School refined its applicatory instructional method and was responsible for educating thirty-three of thirty-four corps commanders who lead the US Army during World War II. Many of the Army's well know leaders during the Second World War names like Eisenhower Patton and Taylor later commented on their positive experiences at Fort Leavenworth and the tactical education they received. Following the Second World War the College changed. Requirements for officers to serve in higher echelon headquarters resulted in an expansion of the curriculum to include joint interagency and inter-governmental topics. During this period of change tactical and doctrinal instruction was reduced changing the dynamic of education where tactics was no longer preeminent. Additionally Fort Leavenworth adopted a collegiate philosophy changing its mythology of teaching from instruction to education. The adoption of ILE returned some of the tactical instruction focus but not to the level experienced by the officer corps during the interwar era. This monograph using a historical narrative reviews the education of mid-grade officers at Fort Leavenworth during two eras of instruction divided by the Second World War. Using the criteria of student and instructor selection teaching methodologies and curriculum it reviews both eras and makes recommendations to refine the current ILE curriculum to enhance the level</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>