Bill,
Per my email I'm aware of two posts missing from the Ivory Coast thread and now understand that JMA's post with attachment is missing from the Suppressive Fire thread which is posted here.
Regards, Stan
Bill,
Per my email I'm aware of two posts missing from the Ivory Coast thread and now understand that JMA's post with attachment is missing from the Suppressive Fire thread which is posted here.
Regards, Stan
If you want to blend in, take the bus
"The Blog ate my homework." Teachers everywhere brace yourself for this new and improved alibi!
Robert C. Jones
Intellectus Supra Scientia
(Understanding is more important than Knowledge)
"The modern COIN mindset is when one arrogantly goes to some foreign land and attempts to make those who live there a lesser version of one's self. The FID mindset is when one humbly goes to some foreign land and seeks first to understand, and then to help in some small way for those who live there to be the best version of their own self." Colonel Robert C. Jones, US Army Special Forces (Retired)
I'm quite sure I made the best post of the year yesterday, and simply thought the lack of response was due to everyone simply admiring my work of art, and agreed that to comment on it would soild perfection.
Oh well, all dreams must end when we arise in the morning.
Ken White's entire history of warfare appears to have gone missing also
Same with my eloquent case study post on schools, development, and the tie-in to the law of requisite variety that had Bill thinking hard about moving on over to the CA side of things
Sapere Aude
I requested that the post be deletedSame with my eloquent case study post on schools, development, and the tie-in to the law of requisite variety that had Bill thinking hard about moving on over to the CA side of things
Steve, you know I'm a fan of Civil Affairs that is based on reality and the people's needs. I'm just not a fan of the endless of Kodak moments that aren't tied to any meaningful end. You guys are still heroes in my book, even if we disagree on execution. I think I put that in my post yesterday.
... I was just joking around with you in the above post Bill, I'll be glad to spring for beers/steaks sometime.
In the meantime consider that I do agree with your concerns on our execution issues. I often observe/consider/examine the organizational structure we field with respect to the skills and experience necessary to be successful in development/CA/diplomacy/security work.
Let's touch specifically upon education. In my experience education is a long term effort/pay-off (not short term) which requires a deliberate approach in order to be successful.
For example, we could think about if have we properly assessed the existing personalities and systemic capacities present in the area we are working in and the people we have/need working in it? Here are three things that I have been thinking about since we last spoke.
1. Does the Land (Germany)/State (US)/Provincial (ME)/Department (Latin America) Director General of Education have a demographic census, a current budget, plans for future budget requests, and functional staff?
2. Will he one day find a sticky bomb on his/families/friends/co-workers vehicles if he supports a new/refurbished school in a certain area/or fails to provide support for a new/refurbished school in that same area? What are the long-term security needs/issues which will shape his decisions?
3. Do we have the organizational capacity/patience/time to coach him on planning, budgeting, design, construction, operations & maintenance, training/retraining teachers, human resource issues for his staff, etc? What can we do about his long-term security needs?
Sapere Aude
It's late on this side of the world, almost missed this one Stan. Do they really build schoolhouses at ranger school?
Didn't do it when I had a chance, and I am too old now, but admire them all the same They say there were a few floating around at some of the Embassy's in Africa?
Sapere Aude
Steve,
Stranger things have happened on this end of the world !
My last 5 bosses were Rangers and several actually did have something to do with building school houses both here and in Sub-Sahara. Not that it was their MOS or anything, but that was the job at hand and so we did it.
Those that "float" around embassies in Africa would be a different sort of Ranger team. If they're there, you have a lot more problems than school houses to build
If you want to blend in, take the bus
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