An Cosantóir

strategic review | 23 course are: the furtherance of excel- lence in the officer's profession; the use of the military decision-making process to reach balanced outcomes; and the further development of critical thinking among students. Inculcating critical thinking permeates every element of the course. In Semes- ter 1 during the Land Component phase, students are encouraged to hone their analytical and communication skills at the military tactical level through a series of progressively challenging staffing exercises conducted both in the classroom and on the ground. These exercises test students both individu- ally and in groups. But critical think- ing is also encouraged and nurtured throughout other elements of the course: for example, through exposure to new ideas and concepts, through research and through reflexive thinking and learning. Students are encouraged to 'think outside the box' both in their classroom participation as well as in assessed assignments in areas such as defence and international studies, command leadership and HRM studies, strategic studies, stabilisation studies and joint studies. The ability to think critically is vital for the military officer in dealing with com- plex scenarios that can be thrown up by the uncertainties of a rapidly changing modern world. It is no longer enough to be just technically competent and knowledgeable – a different mindset is required in this new environment, other- wise one will not survive. Another development since 1999 has been the attendance of international officers on the SC&S Course, and to date we have had students from Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ger- many, Malta, Pakistan, Sweden and the US. In addition to the rich knowledge and experience that these officers bring, which are of obvious practical benefit, they also provide an alternative perspec- tive to problem solving by challenging the mental models of their Irish coun- terparts. Interaction with our visiting students challenges potential stereotyp- ing and offers alternative perspectives in the decision-making process. It is important to note that the MA LMDS programme compliments and enhances this educational effort by developing further the qualities of independent and innovative thought. This dynamic and flexible programme has adapted and developed through feedback from instructors and students, as well as two comprehensive external reviews – the most recent in 2010. The workshops and group work conducted with students have adapted to raise the bar in terms of the quality of research while simultaneously developing the critical faculties of the student officer. An Cos: How important is military edu- cation in the 21st century? Col Meehan: Successful organisations are receptive, learning organisations that have the ability to grow and adapt. The DF is a learning organisation and in reality has been since its establishment. One just has to look at the foresight of the military mission to the US in 1926 that led to the establishment of the Military College. Successful military organisations need to be intellectu- ally agile in order to out-think and out-smart their adversaries. To quote Eric Hoffer; "The central task of educa- tion is to implant a will and facility for learning. It should produce not learned but learning people." This learning has to be contingent and continuous. Our military education curriculum must be broad enough to provide new academic horizons and deep enough to whet in- tellectual curiosity for all Officers, NCOs and Ptes. The current environment in which we operate is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, with an exponential rate of change. In order to survive in this environment, officers, and indeed all ranks, must develop their ability to think critically and use the concept in their decision-making. Critical thinking helps the military leader master the challenges faced in this ever-changing environment. It can help the officer, or NCO, to understand how to bring sta- bility to a volatile world. The strategic setting has now become more complex and ambiguous, requiring officers and NCOs to be able to think, analyse, per- suade and adapt, rather than applying well-rehearsed procedures. In addi- tion, the intellectual content of routine military work now has a higher intel- lectual content for more officers than previously, stemming from work at the operational level. The military education process has been a major contributing factor in the successful prosecution of our missions overseas since 1958. Irish officers have successfully held senior command appointments in a variety of missions over the years and capable, well-trained educated officers and NCOs have often supported them. The appointment of Lt Gen Pat Nash as Operation Commander EUFOR TCHAD/CAR and Col Michael Beary as Mission Commander EUTM Somalia continues this trend and reflect again the success of our military educa- tion systems. An Cos: Are there any new developments in the pipeline for the C&S School? Col Meehan: The introduction of the MA LMDS has contributed greatly not only to the standard of education in the DF but also to the good standing of the DF in various circles of public, academic and business life. The recent introduc- tion of the Strategic Leadership Course has continued this positive develop- mental momentum. In addition, many members of the DF have privately undertaken studies outside the organi- sation up to and including doctorate level. This has created a large pool of intellectual capital. In order to mark the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the MA LMDS an academic conference is scheduled to take place UNTSI on 08/09 March. The theme of the confer- ence will be 'Military Education in the 21st Century'. The conference will also showcase some of the achievements and initiatives made by the DF in the area of senior officer education. During the conference we will be launching the publication of a book commemorating the 10th anniversary of the MA LMDS and showcasing excellence in research. Indeed the conference itself, the first of its kind, represents an important step in encouraging critical thinking and high quality research, as well as establishing the credentials of the Military College and the Defence Forces Training Centre as centres of excellence in military education. THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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