In the military and civilian arena, lifelong learning has become vital. In this competitive and demanding world today, changes are constantly occurring, and they all call for advancements in education to catch up with new knowledge and skills. In this essay, we will evaluate the value of lifelong learning and the unique features of lifelong learning in the Army through the perspective of a military professional. The ability to learn and adapt quickly becomes increasingly important as the rate of change quickens, impacting both professional and personal development.
In the military, individuals must seek knowledge as it will help them persevere through many challenges. Lifelong learning aids people in getting to a position where they can maintain innovative forces that can quickly adapt to global issues. Military personnel are frequently offered training to help them develop professionally by equipping them with advanced skills. Setting aside educational programs teaches them to improve their work every day. With regular education, people in the Army can develop a creative culture.
In the Army, education is valued, and the more educated an individual is, the higher the chance they have of securing a higher rank. Therefore, lifelong education offers soldiers different avenues to acquire their degrees just as they serve their duties, usually to the individual’s advantage and the organization they are working for. Lifelong education opens doors to better opportunities for the individual.
Continuous education bears benefits and challenges that influence personal and professional life. One significant challenge is the need to meet any set deadline and be able to balance conflicting aspects such as work-life and school-life balance. In any field, for instance, in the military, balancing work and school life plus committing to family responsibilities is challenging at times (Pappas,2022). As a result of this time constraint, learning must be successfully integrated into already busy schedules through effective time management and organizational skills.
Another challenge is financial issues. Costs are often associated with pursuing higher education, particularly in formal settings. People may have to deal with budgetary restrictions regarding tuition or related expenses. Access to traditional educational institutions can be difficult for military personnel due to frequent deployments and relocations, so innovative solutions are needed to overcome these obstacles.
There are also benefits to lifelong learning. An individual can gain new skills and knowledge that help improve one’s professional competence and create career advancement opportunities. Constant training allows soldiers in the military to be more effective overall by ensuring they are always ready to perform any operation in their line of duty.
Lifelong learning enhances personal development and creates confidence and a sense of accomplishment—a higher sense of self-efficacy results from learning new ideas and becoming proficient in a new skill. A love of lifelong learning that attracts immediate professional needs is also fostered by learning. Critical thinking improves leadership abilities in both military and civilian contexts, allowing people to handle challenging situations with assurance and effectiveness.
Continuous learning also fosters a positive outlook and a sense of personal fulfillment. Gaining new knowledge and abilities, whether via formal education or skill development, offers a person a feeling of purpose and accomplishment. This optimistic view of personal growth promotes resilience and mental health. There is a ton of pressure in the military and civilian worlds, and to ensure people work in a less intense state, such people in that profession ought to have a favorable view of things.
Lifelong learning entails developing new personal interests and things that a person loves doing in their free time. In the Army, their work or line of duty exposes them to so much stress and tension; therefore, to reduce stress and ensure their well-being is maintained, they are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. This entails the individuals doing what they like. In the Army, members are urged to participate in extracurricular activities that enhance general well-being and ensure a stress-free life.
Technology is a very vital aspect of lifelong learning. Technology has made it possible for people in every field to secure online education anywhere in the world in their comfort. The idea that people in a specific geographical location cannot secure education because of some barriers has been erased by the development of technology (Billing et al., 2021). Technology offers much-needed flexibility in learning.
Mobile phones and tablets have made it possible for people in any profession and any location to acquire education at their own speed with less pressure. People in the Army can research new things at their comfort, and through this, they become more knowledgeable. The military has begun incorporating virtual reality into training programs. This helps them utilize technology and learn skills that will help them become ready to deal with any situation they face (Billing et al., 2021). We also must acknowledge that the development of artificial intelligence aids soldiers in developing good decision-making skills.
Leadership dramatically influences the culture of the Army in lifelong learning. A culture where continual learning is encouraged and celebrated is fostered by leaders who highly value education and personal development. In addition, in a private organization where their leader intensely celebrates the success and education of the individual, people working in such an organization are likely to pursue higher learning (Annis,2020). Leaders ought to support their staff to secure higher learning.
Individuals who never stop learning or have a higher quest for education tend to have a heightened sense of curiosity and think critically. This helps them become more resilient in their line of duty. They can solve personal matters better, and in their military line of duty, they can solve issues affecting them.
More so, lifelong learning drives individuals out of their comfort zones and pushes them to improve. Lifelong learning exposes people to various experiences and helps them understand and view things in life from a different and better perspective than people who are not educated (Sridaran et al., 2021). Persons who pursue lifelong learning tend to be very open-minded; they reason empathetically, and in situations where they are forced to work with a team, they do that without strain.
Lifelong education promotes increased flexibility. In this rapidly changing world, people in any profession ought to have a flexible mindset. They ought to have a perspective that is always ready to welcome change, as with changes comes better fruits. People who pursue lifelong learning can adapt to any changes in their workplaces and see these changes as a chance to progress in their careers. Life-long education helps increase a person’s chances of securing better employment opportunities (Sridaran et al., 2021). Professional growth attracts personal fulfillment, which makes a person live a happy career.
In conclusion, lifelong learning is essential to civilian and military life. Pursuing new interests, formal education, and utilizing technological innovation enables people to prosper. In a world that is constantly changing, change is highly recommended. The Army strongly focuses on lifelong learning, which produces a highly trained and flexible workforce and establishes a standard for individuals to follow in their civilian lives. In the 21st century, people are advised to continue learning for personal and societal success.
References
Annis. F (2020). Why is the Army Preparing for 21st Century War with a 19th Century Approach to Learning? https://mwi.westpoint.edu/army-preparing-21st-century-war-19th-century-approach-learning/
Billing .D.C ., Fordy .G.R ,Friedl .K.E ., Hasselstrom .H .(2021).The Implications of Emerging Technology on Military Human Performance Research Priorities. Volume24,Issue10,Pages947-953. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244020307866
Pappas. C . (2022). 5 Common Continuous Training Challenges to Overcome. https://elearningindustry.com/ongoing-training-hurdles-how-continuous-learning-and-lms-help-you-overcome
Sridaran .K ., Bakshi .R ., Reynaldo .R .(2021) .Transforming Mindsets for Resilience and Growth. DOI:10.4324/9781003229735-4
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356765346_Transforming_mindsets_for_resilience_and_growth
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