Military Review English Edition July-August 2014 | Page 11

Cadets in Strategic Landpower

another branch or functional area corresponding with
their STEM knowledge. Biochemistry majors could be
assigned to CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological,
or nuclear) defense units. Computer scientists could be
assigned to cyber units. Materials engineers could be
assigned to research and development. These positions
should be tailored to the talent rather than filled by the
usual approach of plugging in an available person to fill
the needs of the Army at the time.
Senior Army leaders have said the Army needs
highly educated officers to fight and win the technologically advanced wars of today and tomorrow. If this is
true, the force needs a better way to recruit and use the
talent it covets. Using the same approach as usual and
hoping for different results is not going to work.

Language and Culture

Photo from U.S. Army Cadet Command

Central tenets of the strategic landpower are regionally aligned forces and an emphasis on the human
interaction in war. Effectively recruiting and training
talent for regionally aligned forces is imperative, and
among the most important skills needed are language
and culture skills. Given that most of the Army’s

near-future talent is or soon will be enrolled full-time
in higher learning institutions, it makes good business
sense to find students who already know or are studying
languages and cultures. The best language learners and
nonnative speakers of any language are those who started learning additional languages when they were young
and maintain their skills through ongoing use and study.
Currently, the Army does not seek to identify
future lieutenants with skills in, or even an aptitude
for, foreign languages. As we reposition ourselves after
two long campaigns, the strategic landpower concept
can guide us to correct this faulty practice. The Army
should require, or at least encourage, all cadets seeking
a commission to take foreign language classes while
enrolled in ROTC. Near commissioning, the Army
should administer the Defense Language Proficiency
Test. The Army could use language proficiency scores
to assign officers to regionally aligned units in which
they could use their language skills right away. As with
STEM graduates, the Army should ensure lieutenants
with language skills get to use them before they start
forgetting. This practice would be an example of true
talent management. Language learners need ongoing

U.S. Army cadets participated in physical training with Togolese cadets at Pya, Togo, in 2013.
MILITARY REVIEW  July-August 2014

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