© 2011, Small Wars Foundation June 7, 2011
Army Learning Concept 2015:
These are not the droids you are looking for
by Michael C. Sevcik
In the profession of arms, the scientific and technical approach is appropriate for learning
basic and repetitive skills. Technical and mostly unimportant problems lend themselves to this
scientific approach to learning found the recently released Army Learning Concept 2015 (ALC
2015).
Unfortunately, our Soldiers rarely operate in the high ground where the scientific and
technical approach is appropriate. Our Soldiers conduct of full spectrum operations, face
uncertainty, ethical dilemmas and ill structured problems both in garrison and during combat
operations. A meaningful and relevant learning strategy should descend into the challenging and
messy environment of ambiguity and face the complex leadership, team-building and
moral/ethical issues. These problems simply do not lend themselves to the “technical approach”
to learning found in ALC 2015.
Introduction and Problem
This paper illustrates two fundamental flaws in TRADOC‟s ALC 2015 approach to
learning. First, the ALC 2015 argues, “The US Army‟s competitive advantage directly relates to
its capacity to learn faster and adapt more quickly than its adversaries. In the highly competitive
global learning environment where technology provides all players nearly ubiquitous access to
information, the Army cannot risk failure through complacency, lack of imagination or resistance
to change. Outpacing adversaries is essential to maintain the Army‟s global status and to fulfill
its responsibilities to the nation.”
While the premise of faster learning and adapting quickly as
a competitive advantage from ubiquitous access through technology may sound logical, it is a
false and dangerous assumption. What makes any resource a strategic and importantly a
“sustained” competitive advantage is not ubiquitous access but rather its “scarcity.” The US
Army will gain and maintain an advantage over rivals by having something that others do not.
Outpacing adversaries is certain to fail and will cost millions, perhaps billions of dollars, if we
rely predominantly on a technological approach to learning as advocated in ALC 2015. Every
Army on the planet has a ubiquitous access to information through technology and the internet.
The Army‟s scarce but brilliant and undeniable strategic resource lies not in technological
solutions but in our leadership. The US Army is simply the very best leadership factory on the
Obi-wan Kenobi to the Imperial Storm Troopers guarding access to Los Isley Space-port in Star Wars: Episode IV
- A New Hope, 1977. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/quotes
TRADOC Pam 525-8-2, The US Army Learning Concept for 2015, released 20 JAN 2011.
Ibid, page 5, Chapter 1-1. Purpose and scope
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