Putting Experience First

<p>This thesis explored the impact of the Army junior officer development model upon combat effectiveness. The research hypothesis was junior officers do not receive sufficient experiential development prior to implementation as direct leaders which may have a negative impact upon the combat effectiveness of the units they lead. This thesis defined the current Army junior officer development model surveyed the evolution of officer development and explored alternative models used by selected international armies. Research used qualitative analysis to evaluate impacts to combat effectiveness of direct units led by junior officers using four criteria: the occupational screening process of military personnel; technical competence and organizational stress; confidence judgment and the ability to lead by example; and empathy for and understanding of subordinates. Analysis of these criteria across multiple disciplinary sources revealed a bias toward degraded combat effectiveness of units led by junior officers without prior military experience. Analysis also revealed a common period of on the job learning used by many armies throughout history to immerse future leaders in military culture and operations. The thesis recommended the Army begin requiring two years of enlisted service as a pre-requisite of commissioning in order to provide more well-rounded capable direct leaders.</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><br>