Core Staff Skills in Today's Military?

CH (COL) Geoff Bailey — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:38:47 -0400

Has the loss of spit-shine boots and ongoing conflict in an asymmetrical environment created a loss of core skills such as proper military writing skills and the ability to perform as staff officers? If so, what should we do to fix it?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 28 at 2015 9:11 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:11:47 -0400

Sir,
You've presented an "If, then" question which doesn't quite follow. I "think" I see where you are going with it, so let me if I can follow the intended logic chain.

We have extremely basic skills like spit shining boots & ironing cammies, which are no longer relevant due to technological advances. Have these advances resulted in parallels with similar "attention to detail" related tasks like technical/professional writing?

As these tasks are essential for staff members, is it creating a hole, and do we need to find a basic skill to replace it, so we can learn "attention to detail" as a tier 1 skill?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 28 at 2015 9:50 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:50:45 -0400

I have heard many people say that our ongoing wars have distracted us from being good at our military jobs... which I find very ironic and quite opposite. I believe that our conflicts have made us better at our job, but there are people who still want to measure our military skills based on things that no longer matter so much (shining boots, etc.). Should Roman Legionnaires look at WWII soldiers and say that they lacked discipline because they didn't know how to buff a shield?

Our military is probably as strong right now as it ever has been. We need our military to fight the wars that we face, not to train to a manual which may be nostalgically outdated.

Can our staff officers become better? Of course they can, but I don't believe the myth that previous staff officers would be winning more battles today than those actually in the field.