In the modern world filled with complex dilemmas and rigid requirements, training to build the necessary skills is one of the most important tasks that one will need to follow. Training as a part of acquiring new abilities and ensuring that they remain in one’s inventory of competencies in the future is one of the most challenging tasks. However, by following some of the principles of training set by the U.S. Army, one will be able to train effectively and retain the needed skills. Although the manual contains an entire list of training principles, it seems that the ideas of training as one fights and training to standard lead to the best outcomes as training principles due to their focus on building the ability to approach specific problems independently.
The importance of training as one fights is the principal standard that is engraved into the process of personal and professional development in every domain. Starting from the early education stage, the idea of learning from experience and applying the gained knowledge to further practice has been perpetuated in most people as the guiding principle for success. Indeed, while learning the theory is critical to one’s ability to analyze a specific issue, it is also essential to see how theory is transformed into practice, which training as one fights provides. Moreover, the said principle also teaches one flexibility and resourcefulness.
In turn, training to standard should be viewed as the second most important principle since it encourages one to follow set criteria for success and ensure that critical norms are met. As a result, one can measure one’s performance and introduce attainable objectives for further improvement. Training to standard also implies that one can use specific guidance in shaping one’s learning trajectory, which is essential for developing independence in learning. Therefore, training to standard should be seen as the second most important army principle that is applicable to the civil setting as well.
However, the suggested way of looking at the army standards is not the only perspective. It is possible to argue that the rest of the principles have an equal or even greater amount of importance, depending on one’s stance on how life challenges can be overcome. In addition, the standard of training as one fights might be considered as an intrinsic quality of human nature that occurs instinctively and, thus, does not need to be trained specifically. Instead, one could focus on developing the qualities that do not come as naturally and, thus, provide a greater challenge. Nevertheless, the specified two standards seem to make the foundation for success in the modern world, especially in education and business. Therefore, with the identified skills developed and standards followed, one is likely to become self-sufficient.
By teaching learners to approach problem-solving independently and utilize the available tools appropriately by learning through experience, the principles of training as one fights and training to standard appear to be the most important ideas to follow. In order to succeed, one has to be flexible and learn from one’s mistakes, which the two standards in question provide. Although the ideas of training as one fights and especially training to standard could be interpreted in several ways, the notions of continuous learning and the ability to derive important conclusions from one’s previous experiences are very inspiring since they provide one with a large amount of agency and control. Thus, the principles of training as one fights and training to standard should be considered the cornerstone guidelines for succeeding in one’s professional development and personal growth.
Bibliography
- Department of the Army Headquarters. AR 350-1 Army Training and Leader Development. Washington, DC: Army Knowledge Online, 2016.
- Department of the Army Headquarters. Train to Win in a Complex World. Washington, DC: Army Knowledge Online, 2016.