The Importance Of Army Training And Education

Introduction
The army works under a lot of duress in an environment that is not only dangerous but also keeps changing. Thus, it is important that soldiers are adaptable, creative, and agile to survive in such an environment. Although agility, adaptability, and innovativeness can be achieved by experience, training and education of soldiers is critical in the creation of agile, adaptive, and creative soldiers (Grossman, 2001). Hence, governments must ensure soldiers are educated, trained, and developed to have the intellectual and physical capacity to study, understand and adapt to the prevailing security conditions (Grossman, 2001). Particularly important is the adequate training and education of army leaders and joint and interstate military
Nonetheless, the level of education is not optimal for the creation of agile, innovative and adaptive soldiers who can survive in chaotic and volatile military conditions (TRADOC, 2015). Without reorganization and upgrading, the training will not produce the best soldiers but will become less efficient by the day. Hence, an educational experience that would create adaptable, agile and innovative soldiers is recommended.

The first problem with current army training is the assembly-line approach that focuses on thousands of soldiers graduating just to have the numbers. The training also focuses on specific levels and types of expertise (Grossman, 2001). This approach to army training was developed a century ago and emphasizes mass production of soldiers. It pays less attention to quality, which is a requirement for survival in the chaotic 21st century military environment. Current army education and training is also constrained by its structural approach, slow curriculum development, and a rigid instruction methodology (TRADOC,
The first strategy is reinvestment in and transformation of the institutional educational programs for army officers and noncommissioned officers (Kilner, 2002). Such investment and transformation would prepare soldiers for the for the increasingly difficult, dangerous and complex security job (Kilner, 2002). For courses or training programmes that are not relevant, the education should be reorganized to take the format of university education. The reorganization would augment the academic thoroughness of the course and multiply the opportunities for army personnel accreditation. Importantly, the reorganization into university style of study would improve the quality of the military units.

The first advantage of adopting a university system of educating and training army officers would be the alignment of the education programs for different classes of officers in the military, including commissioned officer, warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, as well as education programs for civilian officers in the military (Kilner, 2002). All these officers’ training and education would be accommodated in a single academic structure and calendar, thus helping in streamlining military education and