Advancing Military Professionalism through PME

Academic Program

July 25–27, 2023

English | Français

Information Note
Schedule
Syllabus
Biographies

Program Overview

Presented by:

Colonel (ret.) Tim Mitchell

Session 1  |  July 25, 2023

Defining Military Professionalism

Presented by:

  1. Dr. Kelly J. Ward
    Interim Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs, National War College
  2. Dr. Emile Ouedraogo
    Adjunct Faculty Member, Africa Center

Objectives:

  • Define “professionalism” and why it is an important characteristic for effective militaries
  • Examine the status of professionalism in Africa’s security sector, particularly within the military.
  • Assess the challenges to professionalism in the security sector and the costs of weak professionalism in African military, police, and intelligence services.
  • Examine the role of security sector leaders in advancing professionalism in Africa’s security sector.
Session 2  |  July 25, 2023

PME’s Role in Establishing Military Culture

Presented by:

  1. General Gary Brito
    Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
  2. Dr. Jeff Peterson
    Director, Character Integration Advisory Group (USMA)

Objectives:

  • Discuss the challenge of contrasting goals and practices: we want to produce officers that understand the rule of law, tactically proficient morally strong, citizen soldiers, but we often only teach tactics.
  • Discuss the acculturation of military professionalism through PME, including through academies and pre-commission courses.
  • Introduce the training vs education paradigm.
Session 3  |  July 26, 2023

Adult Learning: Andragogy and PME

Presented by:

  1. Dr. Barbara Kellerman
    Senior Lecturer, Harvard JFK School
  2. Brigadier General Joyce Sitienei
    Director, IPSTC

Objectives:

  • Assess the challenges of adult education.
  • Demonstrate the importance of the combination of education, experience, and life-long learning.
  • Consider other best practices in executive education in and outside of PME.
Session 4  |  July 26, 2023

Teaching Critical Thinking Best Practices

Presented by:

  1. Dr. Brad McCallister
    National War College
  2. Dr. Dave Dworak
    Provost, U.S. Army War College
  3. BG Luke Yetala
    Commandant, Malawi Defense Force Command and Staff College

Objectives:

  • Describe how the U.S. National War College approaches developing critical thinking skills in its students.
  • Present in depth discussion of approaches to teach critical thinking through exercises, wargames, and experiential learning.
  • Present examples of teaching critical thinking through case studies.
  • Present working examples of both and share examples solicited from participants.
Session 5  |  July 27, 2023

A New PME Roadmap

Presented by:

  1. Dr. Stephen Mariano
    Provost, Naval War College
  2. Colonel Major Mahamadou Magagi
    Senior Military Liaison Officer, DPPA-DPO

Objectives:

  • Look at security trends and make determinations on when and how to adapt PME.
  • Describe how the US fits PME and doctrine to the nation’s challenges through its PME institutions.
  • Share lessons learned and challenges in aligning PME to fit national security threats.