Military Review English Edition September-October 2013 | Page 38
Principle (promotion beyond ability) as applied to character serve to cast serious doubt on the adequacy of the assumption that actions develop character. Assumption: Leaders will develop personal character commensurate to their increasing responsibilities through self-guided study, reflection, experience, and feedback. The assumption that leaders will develop personal character commensurate to their increasing responsibilities through selfguided study, reflection, experience, and feedback not only raises some tricky questions that are not adequately answered, but also conflicts with current Army survey data. Even assuming that leaders will find adequate time to effectively develop their character as the Army expects, several important questions need to be addressed: ? How does a leader objectively assess his/her own character and then meet the Army’s expectation for developing it appropriately? ? Does what an individual studies and reflects upon actually matter? To wit, is studying the philosophical or religious teachings of Buddha, Mohammed, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Plato, Immanuel Kant, Jesus Christ, Nietzsche, or Confucius of equal benefit and value? ? Is unguided reflection useful without the application of adequate critical thinking skills and mentorship?
Does what an individual studies and reflects upon actually matter? To wit, is studying the philosophical or religious teachings of Buddha, Mohammed, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Plato, Immanuel Kant, Jesus Christ, Nietzsche, or Confucius of equal benefit and value?
? What should commanders be doing to ensure leaders have the correct experiential learning opportunities to develop their personal character? Army doctrine is nearly silent on what to study and offers remarkably little insight or assistance for
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