Assignment example

Reflection and Discussion of Andrew Collins American Military Before I undertook this I always thought that an army officer’s primary goal was to learn and practice military warfare, so that I could become a better military personnel in future. However, after a few months of undertaking the course, I have realized that this view is very limiting since a military officer’s duty is more than just combat. There are other factors to consider like leadership and innovation.
According to Kramer, I have learned the importance of understanding the inner workings of the Executive and Congress in matters pertaining to the national budget and how their decisions have a direct impact on the functions of the armed forces. In particular, the responsibilities and roles of Congress and the Executive Branch in matters relating to defense acquisition, have been an eye opener (Kramer, 2012).
In addition, I have come to appreciate the role played by Congress in matters of defense and particularly its role in determining whether the U. S goes to war and if it does, the amount to be set aside for defense in the budget. I have been able to have a deeper comprehension of the Budget and its influence on not only the military, but also on other sectors of the economy which has made me realize the importance of the Presidency. Since the President sets the agenda for the country, I have come to realize that big differences in the military can be altered by an individual winning the presidency. The influence of the presidency cannot be understated and this has made me have a deeper appreciation for national politics, since they have a great impact on policy.
A lot of times, people overuse the term life-changing experience, but I am certainly not one of those people. The work and discussions held in class have indeed made me a better student and a far more informed individual. For instance, I now comprehend that masculinity and machismo in the military is not how wars are won, but through logistical planning and management which is aided by technology.
According to Barrington et al., the role of technology in the military cannot be ignored any longer. The use of drones and other computerized airstrikes are what sets the U. S from all the other countries in the world. Our military supremacy is primarily due to our strong economy and our superior logistics warfare management. As indicated, the role of the U. S economy is fundamental to the success of the military. A closer analysis of this role has been informative and particularly the relationship between the impacts of the U. S economy on the transportation sector and logistics management (Barrington, 2014).
For the last few months, I have been assessing the course objectives in anticipation of the courses and for the most part, I have been thoroughly informed. However, one section of the courses objectives seems to allude me, especially relating to Crisis planning. I have found the description of the workings of Deliberate Crisis Action Planning vague and the intended objective of this objective a little confusing.
Therefore, I am of the opinion that instead of focusing on learning objectives, the learning experience and retention level of knowledge acquired would be improved if the intended goals or expected outcomes of the course was given priority over the learning objectives and content coverage. Personally, adopting this rationale would certainly aid me in assessing my progress over the course, by matching it with the optimum desired results of undertaking the course. However despite the ‘ shortcomings’, it has been my outmost pleasure to have had the opportunity of pursuing this course.
Reference List
Barrington, R., & Saxena, S. (2014). The History of Navies Around the World. Chicago: Britannica Educational Publishing.
Kramer, Mattea. (2012). A Peoples Guide to the Federal Budget. Northampton, Mass.: Interlink. Print.