Educating Warriors History, Theory and Practice

Educating WarriorsHistory, Theory and Practice Dr Peter Gray 19th February 2014

Stereotypes

Stereotypes ‘It’s the steady force-feeding of the same old horse pills of history, taught in something resembling a Travelodge’ Robert Fox ‘Combined college launches Forces into a new era’, Daily Telegraph, 28 February 2001,

Stereotypes • The military as: • Military intellectual, like military intelligence as the great oxymoron • Military History – nearly dead generals writing about long dead ones. • Only interested in long forgotten battles and the tactical minutiae of the trenches, great sea battles and air combat. • Getting a new idea in requires forcing an old one out.

Stereotypes • BBC Coverage • BofB Veteran • Flt Lt Michelle Goodman

Some Realities & Challenges • Armed forces in action since1990 + the Falklands in 1982 • ‘Realities of combat’ no longer a talking point • Been there, seen it, done it • Now what?

So What benefit is Education???? • Emphasis on Education versus training • Societal Issues • Expectation of genuine development • No longer a job for life • Genuine thirst – not least for meaning

So What benefit is Education???? • So what do we teach? • Beyond the tactical • Context of the battles and campaigns • Sir Michael Howard’s Depth and Breadth • Ethics, legitimacy and legality • Context in PESTLE

Stereotypes?? • A new paradigm?? • Exceptions to the rules?

Educating Warriors History, Theory and Practice