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Game Forge => Professional Simulation - Digital and Tabletop => Topic started by: DicedT on August 16, 2012, 09:50:32 PM

Title: Hard Times at National Defense University
Post by: DicedT on August 16, 2012, 09:50:32 PM
I know a few people will be interested in this: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/16/cutting_school

Michael
Title: Re: Hard Times at National Defense University
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 17, 2012, 05:18:27 AM
"You know, if we just turn off our brains, we don't have to worry about how we might have to act on any good ideas we might accidentally generate!"
Title: Re: Hard Times at National Defense University
Post by: ArizonaTank on August 26, 2012, 09:11:02 PM
Quote from: DicedT on August 16, 2012, 09:50:32 PM
I know a few people will be interested in this: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/16/cutting_school

Michael

At least they still have Ft. McNair
Title: Re: Hard Times at National Defense University
Post by: Toonces on August 28, 2012, 09:10:25 PM
I was fortunate enough to be able to complete JPME II at the Joint Forces Staff College before I took my orders out here.  It was really a neat experience.  The school is amazing, great library, and the wargaming center was really cool.  The instructors were exceptional.  Our civilian instructor (former Marine Lt. Col.) was an SME on the Revolutionary War.  I learned so much about it (and many other things); we visited Yorktown while we were there and he guided us over the grounds.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to see the battlefield with someone who could tell you so much about it.

What I really liked the most is that it was a chance to check out from the daily grind of normal duty and go "think big thoughts" for a few weeks.  I had a chance to work with Army and Air Force bubbas, too, and it was interesting to see how they do things differently.  It is obviously an expensive place to run, but rarely have I felt so strongly that the education I received has paid off so well.  We recently had RIMPAC out here and I was amazed at how much of my JPME II coursework was directly applicable to what we were doing in the exercise.  I very strongly feel that the experience at JFSC has made me a much better officer.

Unfortunately there is a lot of military education that I have felt wasn't of much value for the time invested; JPME II and the JFSC/NDU was definitely completely in the other camp.  There must be better places we can save a few bucks than what this article suggests.
Title: Re: Hard Times at National Defense University
Post by: ArizonaTank on October 15, 2012, 07:19:47 AM
Quote from: Toonces on August 28, 2012, 09:10:25 PM
There must be better places we can save a few bucks than what this article suggests.

Completely agree.