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Widen your view of adult education by learning how it is applied by the nation’s largest adult education provider: the military.

Woven through this issue is the common thread of sound adult education practice. Addressing applications specific to the military but relevant to civilian providers, it highlight the importance of developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for military leaders in an increasingly complex world. Chapters also address the intersection of higher education and particular military populat... MOREions, including civilian employees, active-duty personnel, veterans, and spouses. Finally, the sourcebook provides a glimpse into the future of both military education and adult education, highlighting the increasing bond between the two and their growing importance in the lifelong education of all Americans.  

This is 136^th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. Noted for its depth of coverage, it explores issues of common interest to instructors, administrators, counselors, and policymakers in a broad range of settings, such as colleges and universities, extension programs, businesses, libraries, and museums.

EDITORS’ NOTES 1
Jeffrey Zacharakis, Cheryl J. Polson

1. Evolution and Infl uence of Military Adult Education 5
John M. Persyn, Cheryl J. Polson

This chapter reviews how adult education principles have been integrated into military education and describes military initiatives that have contributed to adult education. Included is a comparison of implications for adult education identified in a 1947 study with the tenets of the new Army Learning Concept for 2015.

2. Beyond Training: New Ideas for... MORE Military Forces Operating Beyond War 17
Blaise Cornell-d’Echert Jr.

To meet future critical thinking and decision-making challenges for military members of all ranks, this chapter advocates for continuing change in military education. Outcomes-based training and education
is proposed as an appropriate avenue to meet these challenges.

3. Integrating Critical Thinking in the U.S. Army: Decision Support Red Teams 29
A. Steven Dietz, Eric A. Schroeder

Extending the discussion of the need for critical-thinking skills by military planners, this chapter discusses the use of nonmilitary Red Team members who serve as advisors to strategic planning teams. As objective outsiders, the Red Team members can help planners to explore alternative perspectives that may uncover possible unintended consequences within proposed strategic plans.

4. Development of a Graduate Education Program for U.S. Army Interns and Careerists 41
Steven W. Schmidt, Vivian W. Mott

This chapter outlines a postsecondary program created for military civilian employees and explains the collaboration between adult education program developers and military leadership.

5. Impact of Cumulative Combat Stress on Learning in an Academic Environment 53
Kevin Peter Shea, Sarah Jane Fishback

Based on recently conducted research, this chapter discusses how being in an academic environment increased the levels of stress of combatveterans. The chapter identifies and discusses five areas of concern.

6. Understanding the Importance of Life Mission When Advising Soldiers 65
Kristen Wilson, Natesha Smith

Academic advising is the focal point of this chapter. The authors argue for moving beyond prescriptive advising focused largely on transient program and enrollment requirements to one that fosters the examination of one’s life mission.

7. Understanding the Military Spouse Learner Using Theory and Personal Narratives 77
Ashley Gleiman, Stacy Swearengen

The authors of this chapter present personal narratives describing the unique barriers facing military spouses and dependents as they attempt to pursue their educational goals. Adult education concepts and theories provide the backdrop to help readers understand how these challenges could be mitigated.

8. The Future of Adult Education in the Military 89
Jeffrey Zacharakis, Jay A. Van Der Werff

This chapter discusses the role adult education plays in promoting an organizational learning environment. The authors contend that the future of military education depends on expanding the use of adult education approaches that better serve members of the armed services.

Index 99