The Army Wants You to Write. Three Soldiers Explain Why
Aug 15, 2024
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Join Sgt. 1st Class Leyton Summerlin, Maj. Emily Lopez, and Lt. Col. Zachary Griffiths as they dive into the critical role of writing in the U.S. Army. They discuss the Harding Project and efforts to revitalize military publication standards. Personal stories reveal the deep impact of family legacy and career paths in shaping their views. They explore cultural barriers to military writing and upcoming initiatives to foster discourse. Discover how writing cultivates professional growth and innovative collaboration within the Army.
The Harding Project emphasizes revitalizing professional writing in the Army to enhance strategic thinking and adaptability in modern warfare.
Three soldiers share their personal journeys illustrating the transformative power of writing for professional development and open discourse within the military.
Deep dives
The Harding Project's Mission
The Harding Project aims to revitalize professional writing within the United States Army, focusing on re-establishing vibrant discourse through military journals. Influential leaders, including the Chief of Staff of the Army, have emphasized the importance of this initiative for ensuring that the Army remains intellectually engaged and capable of adapting to modern warfare. The push to encourage writing is fueled by the recognition that a lack of content in professional journals hinders the development of critical ideas and adaptability on the battlefield. By promoting writing, the initiative seeks to enhance the Army's overall strategic thinking and professional development, facilitating better preparation for future conflicts.
Personal Journeys to Writing
Several contributors to the Harding Project shared their personal experiences regarding their development as writers and the motivations behind their interests. For instance, Sergeant 1st Class Summerlin expressed how recognition for his writing efforts led him to join the Harding initiative. Lieutenant Colonel Griffiths highlighted how his frustration with branch magazines sparked his efforts to analyze the military's writing practices, eventually culminating in the Harding Project. Major Lopez described her shift from an initial disinterest in writing to discovering its significance as a civil affairs officer, where effective communication played a vital role in mission success.
Overcoming Barriers to Participation
A central challenge in promoting military writing is addressing the reluctance among soldiers to contribute due to fears of criticism or lack of guidance. The Harding Project aims to alleviate these concerns by providing resources and mentorship for potential writers, allowing them to develop their ideas into published works. In particular, the project emphasizes creating a supportive environment where soldiers can express contentious opinions without jeopardizing their careers. The emphasis on collaboration and mentorship seeks to empower individuals to share their insights, ultimately fostering a culture of open discourse and professional development within the Army.
Enhancing Accessibility and Cross-Branch Communication
The introduction of the Line of Departure website seeks to improve the accessibility of the Army's journals and facilitate cross-branch communication by providing a centralized platform for diverse topics. This initiative aims to ensure that crucial information and lessons are easily available to military personnel, enhancing their ability to stay informed and engaged with broader Army discourse. By featuring articles from various branches, the project intends to break down silos and encourage soldiers to consider how insights from other specialties can inform their own practices. Such interconnectedness is seen as vital for adapting to the complexities of modern warfare and enhancing overall military effectiveness.
The U.S. Army, from the chief of staff on down, is putting its weight behind getting soldiers to take writing and publishing more seriously as an important part of the profession of arms. From the Harding Project to the revitalization of branch journals to the Line of Departure website (coming this fall) to a special forthcoming issue of Military Review on the topic, there is a lot of energy, action, and momentum behind this. Three soldiers — one non-commissioned officer and two officers — join Ryan to talk about why professional writing is so important for the writing and the solider. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Sgt. 1st Class Leyton Summerlin, Maj. Emily Lopez, and Lt. Col. Zachary Griffiths. The views they express do not represent those of the U.S. Army, the Defense Department, or any part of the U.S. government.
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