On the Job Education

<p>In today's dynamic environment special operations forces (SOF) officers continue to provide a unique capability to execute complex missions. SOF officers deploy to areas where they must understand the culture communicate effectively in a foreign language and develop relationships with interagency organizations. SOF officers must have other avenues besides training and combat to learn these areas. The operational tempo for SOF officers is high and their total number in the military relatively low compared to conventional officers. Conventional officers have educational institutions at the major level that prepare them to understand today's operational environment but SOF officers have few options. Creating an education program for SOF officers centered on the three aspects of cultural awareness foreign language competence and interagency relationships will capitalize on SOF's uniqueness. In addition the education program will meet the major level education requirement in the most effective means. This paper seeks to answer the question of creating an education program for SOF officers by combining elements already in use by the military. The research looks to fill the learning gap for SOF officers by finding courses and programs to enable them to maximize personal and professional growth.</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>