Navy Region Naval District Washington Fleet and Family Readiness (FFR)’s Post

Rethinking Marine Corps Education: Fostering Critical Thinkers for the Future Battlefield The landscape of modern warfare demands Marines who can think critically, solve complex problems under pressure, and adapt to rapidly evolving situations. However, traditional Marine Corps education often emphasizes rote memorization and step-by-step instruction through lectures and demonstrations, potentially hindering the development of these crucial skills. This post proposes a shift towards problem-based learning (PBL) as an approach to cultivate critical thinkers and effective problem-solvers within the Marine Corps. While traditional lecture-based instruction has its merits in conveying foundational knowledge, it can inadvertently limit opportunities for critical thinking and independent problem-solving. Overreliance on rote memorization and step-by-step procedures can lead to Marines who are proficient in executing memorized routines but struggle to adapt to novel situations or think outside the box. This can be particularly detrimental on the dynamic and unpredictable battlefield of the future. PBL offers a promising alternative by placing students in simulated real-world scenarios and challenging them to collaboratively research, analyze, and propose solutions. This approach fosters critical thinking skills through: Active engagement Collaboration and communication Problem analysis and solution development Adaptability and critical reflection Introducing PBL into the Marine Corps curriculum would require careful planning and adaptation to the unique needs of military training. Here are some potential considerations: Selecting relevant scenarios: PBL problems should be grounded in real-world military contexts, simulating challenges Marines might encounter on the battlefield or during operational missions. Scaffolding the learning process: PBL can be implemented with varying degrees of complexity, allowing instructors to tailor the difficulty to the students' experience level and learning objectives. Faculty training and support: Instructors need appropriate training and support in designing and facilitating PBL activities to ensure their effectiveness. The Marine Corps has a proud tradition of producing skilled and adaptable warriors. However, the ever-changing nature of warfare necessitates a reevaluation of educational approaches. By embracing PBL and fostering critical thinking skills, the Marine Corps can equip its future generations with the intellectual agility and problem-solving prowess needed to thrive on the complex and dynamic battlefields of tomorrow. #learning #problemsolving #pbl #training #education #marines #usmc

PBL is a great way to change the learning environment.

Generally we see three responses to this topic in education: 1. Cynicism - It’ll never happen. 2. Denial - Usually due to a negative view of ‘security’. 3. Pragmatism. The threat has evolved somewhat in the last decade or two towards individuals operating by themselves. The individuals involved are usually relatively young, hence the Prevent programme. The content in this article has correlation to Martyn’s law and associated guidance to venues open to the public. There is a balance to find between educational establishments being open spaces where young people can be ‘free’ vs having a robust security plan, the two are not mutually exclusive. We provide Security Risk Assessments to help in this area, in my experience most colleges are underprepared, which is understandable. David Francis thanks for sharing!

The NWC curriculum must change and adapt to current and emerging needs. Part II. https://bit.ly/44QqI44

There are many ways to become an educator. Though many schools prefer to hire teachers with master's degrees, some people may find themselves drawn to teaching later in life after completing other education. Whether you're working on getting started in the field, have a non-teaching background or have expertise in another trade or profession, there are options available to you. Read our blog post to learn more about the alternative career pathways to becoming an educator. https://hubs.la/Q02g4qKD0 Pathways include: Teach For America: A nonprofit that recruits recent college graduates to commit to two years of teaching in low-income or underserved school communities. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support: A program that helps veterans and military professionals become teachers following active service. Technical Training: People who want to teach specific skills or trades, like automotive repair. Provisional Teaching Credentials: In rare circumstances, temporary teaching licenses may be granted to professionals whose extensive career, advanced degrees or life experience can stand in for teaching experience. #careerdevelopment

Do you have questions about how to support military-connected K–12 students? In the U.S. and around the world, nearly one million military-connected K–12 students are enrolled in public education. As dependents of active-duty service members, these students move every 2–3 years. Although these education transitions offer opportunities for learning, they can present challenges for educational continuity while also impacting students' social and emotional well-being.   In this month’s blog post by Patricia Moore Shaffer, we explore 5 ways public school staff can support military-connected students that we've observed through our evaluation studies of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant projects. Find the blog post link in the comments! #shafferevaluation #DoDEA #militaryconnected #militarystudents #militaryfamilies #k12 #k12ed #activeduty #clients #grantsupport #grantevaluation #projectevaluation #evaluation #research #studentsuccess #studentsupport #education #publicschool #teachersupport #teachertools #challengesineducation #socialemotionallearning

Did you here the exiting news? The Coast Guard is teaming up with technical schools to bridge mid-grade workforce gaps. Letters of Intent are paving the way for graduates to join as E4s or E5s, ensuring a skilled and diverse team. Kudos to the Coast Guard Recruiting Command for this forward-thinking collaboration! #CoastGuard #WorkforceInnovation Read more about it in this MyCG Article.

🎓 PreK-12 Education and The Vital Role of School Liaisons! 🌟 Did you know that every service branch has dedicated School Liaisons? They are the unsung heroes ensuring our service members' children receive the best education possible. Here's how they can help: 🔹 Education Advocacy: They champion for our military kids at local and state levels, making sure their unique needs are understood and met. 🔹 Legislative Advocacy: They're on the front lines, advocating for policies that benefit our military families' educational journeys. 🔹 Commander Advisor: Providing invaluable insights to commanders on educational matters, ensuring a supportive environment for our children. 🔹 Education Community Partnerships: Building bridges between military installations and local communities and schools, creating a seamless learning experience. 🔹 Integrated Defense and Crisis Action Plans for Schools: Crafting strategies to fortify the foundation of safety in times of crisis. 🔹 Public Schools on Military Installations: Fortifying partnerships with states to support and fund schools on the installation. 🔹 Military & Family Life Counseling Program: Offering vital support to families facing unique challenges. 🔹 Educator Professional Development: Elevating the skills of educators to better serve our military-connected students. 🔹 Transition & Deployment Support: Easing the academic journey during times of change and transition. 🔹 College, Career & Military Readiness: Preparing our students for a bright future beyond the classroom. 🔹 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Compliance: Ensuring smooth transitions between states for our military students. 🔹 Parent Workshops, Education Councils, Working Groups: Fostering a collaborative community for parents, educators, and stakeholders. 🔹 Scholarship & Grant Resources: Connecting students and schools with invaluable resources for educational success. 🔹 Support for STEM, STARBASE and JROTC: Encouraging a passion for innovation, leadership, and excellence. 🔹 Support for Recruiters and Geographically Separated Units: Playing a pivotal role in building the next generation of military leaders. 🔹 PreK-12 Challenges, Engagements, Initiatives, Homeschool, Special Education and more… Check out this quick video from Military One Source about this vital resource that is available to all Command Teams, Educators and Families.   https://lnkd.in/e8usy63 Where They Are…We Are 🌟📚 #schoolliaisons #milkids #milfam #FiveandThrive #education #notwithoutus 

Let's talk about timelines you should know for each state if you have a child in Special Education. This is especially important for our military families because different states have different rules and we may not think to look into these timelines. ***Remember some states' processes are different & some states may not have a timeline and may defer to IDEA which states best practice. 1. How long do they have to respond to a Special Education Evaluation Request? 2. How many do they have to provide the assessment plan and obtain parental consent? 3. When does the Evaluation start and when does it have to be completed? 4. When does the IEP Eligibility meeting have to be held? 5. When is the initial IEP created? When is the initial IEP implemented? 6. When does the annual IEP meeting have to be held? 7. How long do they have to hold an initial IEP meeting when moving? Whether in state or out of state? 8. How long do they have to respond to an educational record request? 9. How long do they have to respond to an IEP meeting request? 10. How long do they have to respond to an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) request? 11. How long do they have to conduct the triennial assessments? How long do they have to hold the triennial IEP meeting? What timelines would you add? Like, share, save, comment, and follow for more content like this! #SpecialEducation #EFMP #MilitaryChildren #MilitaryFamilies #Handbook #Timelines #IEP #IDEA

Across the US, military veterans are stepping into classrooms, helping to ease the nation's teacher shortage. With a 'mission-critical' approach, these veterans bring valuable skills such as resilience and leadership to their teaching roles. 🎓🇺🇸 Programs like Teach for America and ASPIRE to Teach are pivotal in transitioning these veterans into education, demonstrating that the spirit of service can extend into our schools. As they inspire students with their diverse experiences and dedication, it's clear that teaching is more than a job for these veterans—it's a new mission. We applaud these innovative solutions to teacher shortages and continue to advocate for better salaries for educators. #VeteransInEducation #TeachingMission #EducationReform https://lnkd.in/gKqADddp