Using "Critical Thinking" everyday across the Army

2014-11-03T08:31:36-05:00

I recently led our brigade LPD on Critical Thinking including a class just with our field grade officers and sergeants major, and another with company command teams.
I approached each with "so what?" What does critical thinking mean to each of these populations and how do we use it to improve ourselves and our units.

I offer the same questions to this body of professionals:
-What is critical thinking to you and how does it apply to your daily work?

-To what level have your leaders encouraged critical thinking and how have they done so?

Thanks!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 11:31 AM

2014-11-03T11:31:14-05:00

Sir I am glad you brought up this topic it is very relevant in today’s environment. There needs to be critical thinking at all levels of leadership. I am currently taking a class for my degree on this topic. I currently work international security cooperation cell for my state. There are many aspects and levels of critical thinking that go into it on a daily basis. I wish the army would implement a class on it for professional development (i.e. make it a requirement)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 11:53 AM

2014-11-03T11:53:26-05:00

Excellent question. Allow me a quick story: as a 2LT, our BN CDR required us to write quarterly book reports and I was quite proud of my first submission. I reviewed GEN Schwartzkopf's book "It Doesn't Take a Hero" and put great effort into my report, ensuring I followed the Army writing style, recalling what I'd been taught about writing for a BN CDR in ROTC and OBC, even having my CO CDR review it first. I was excited to see what the BN CDR thought about my work ... until I read his hand-written note at the top of the cover sheet. He wrote, "Jake, did you apply any critical thought to this report?" That was it. I was crushed but it really got me thinking about the idea of critical thought, of applying my own ideas to understand a problem or experience. It forced me to better understand that our commander didn't want officers who could simply regurgitate what an author said was important or recite an FM or AR. He wanted officers who could think, who could apply what they learn to new problems, and who could clearly articulate what they were learning, thinking, and doing.

In my opinion, critical thinking describes the way we should approach many of the problems we face as military leaders but it does not describe the way we should approach every problem. Battle drills remove the need for a lot of thinking in certain situations and instead enable us and our teams to very quickly react appropriately. Regulations and SOPs enable us to to accomplish routine tasks correctly and without unnecessary discussion and corrections.

Critical thinking is necessary for tasks outside of those covered by battle drills, regulations, and SOPs. When we're on a staff going through MDMP, it is quite easy to simply follow a checklist without applying much thought. We owe it to our organizations to understand what our higher command wants from us and to approach the problem creatively seeking more than a battle drill or SOP solution. When we're in command roles, critical thinking is necessary as we consider how to make our organizations better and prepared for future uncertainty. This requires us to read and know history, regulations and manuals, but also requires to apply that knowledge in a creative way.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 4 at 2014 9:15 AM

2014-11-04T09:15:04-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Great question and one I think we as leaders sometimes forget to apply. Thankfully we have moved away from the Zero Defect Army and our leaders are allowed to apply critical thinking to problems and solve them in new and unique ways. I hope with the impending draw down our leadership will continue to teach and encourage this type of thinking. It is the only way IMHO we will survive.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 4 at 2014 9:28 AM

2014-11-04T09:28:23-05:00

- What is critical thinking to me: the study of clear, reasoned thinking and making clear, reasoned judgements.
- How does it apply to my daily work: Working in TRADOC necessarily means tackling long term problems related to DOTMLPF (doctrine, organization, training development, material, leader development, personnel, facilities) and institutional individual training. Critical thinking should be used more often than it is. Too much is only powerpoint deep.
- To what level have leaders encouraged critical thinking: Talk about it a lot but don't apply it as often as they talk it.
- How have they done so: LDPs to talk critical thinking, MDMP to solve various problems.

Response by LTC Bo Worley made Dec 14 at 2014 5:00 PM

2014-12-14T17:00:00-05:00

USACC is really pushing this "critical thinking" doctrine. "Get your Cadets to think about a problem and its solution." Get them to focus on the problem solving process versus the answer.

How do you solve the problem? what steps are involved? what resources do you need?
those are questions that they want us to get our Cadets to consider.