I had a drill sgt in basic tell me that college teaches you how to let others think for you while the Army teaches you how to think for yourself. Being in basic training, I thought that statement was stupid. The older I get and the longer I stay in the Army, the more that statement becomes true to me.
2007-03-17 18:54:34 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
College teaches you the difference between letting other think for you and what the Army says.
My drill told me the same thing and wore me out of being in college at the time.
I went back there upon commissioning to find him. He saluted me and said,"I taught you to think for yourself, didn't I, sir?"
LOL!
We still have a beer together once in a while. He's retired, now.
EDIT:
Coragryph: The Army likes it when you take orders but doesn't teach it. We teach our junior leaders to think for themselves. A commanding officer isn't on that patrol in downtown Baghdad with them. That E6 or E5 is the diplomat, war fighter, peacekeeper, and major decision maker at that point.
We have to trust that our training doesn't fail him.
2007-03-17 19:08:58 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've been in the Army, fought in a war. Been to college (Bachelor of Science degree) and worked all my life. Now I'm retired.
The Army helps you stand on your own, and makes you into a productive person. But they also teach you to follow directions. I'm betting you've heard, " there are 3 ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way and the Army way".
College teaches you how to find out things on your own, how and where to find that information. How to take information from different sources, mull it over, and come to an intelligent conclusion.
You've been in the Army and have learned alot. Now go to college. You can't answer your question until you've done both. You won't regret it. You can't be too educated, but you CAN be uneducated.
2007-03-18 02:21:27 · answer #2 · answered by Sarge1572 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From everything I've seen, I cannot agree.
College is supposed to teach people how to think for themselves. Sadly, few people take the opportunity to learn that skill.
The military is supposed to teach people how to follow orders. It's just the necessities of life and combat that allow people to learn how to figure things out on their own.
2007-03-18 02:06:52 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have never been in the army... But in college I learned how to think for myself...
I guess if it makes sense to you then it must be true for you...
2007-03-18 02:06:10 · answer #4 · answered by lynn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's all PR hype!
2007-03-18 04:29:05 · answer #5 · answered by Barry auh2o 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋