Commandant Reflection Paper

COMMANDANT REFLECTION PAPER (CRP) â€Å" Reflection, in the context of learning, is a generic term for those intellectual and affective activities which individuals engage to explore their experiences, in order to lead to new understandings and appreciations. It may take place in isolation or in association with others† Boud, Keogh & Walker, 1985, p19. INTRODUCTION 1. The 15-week Command and Staff Course (Executive) at Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College exposes officers with myriad of learning opportunities in professional military education and training.Correspondingly, the different modules conducted throughout the course serve as touch points for officers to reflect on their personal learning and development journey. 2. Consequently, officers need to dedicate time to journal their reflections at each juncture of the course not just for record purpose but more so to gauge their progress in professional and personal development and growth. OBJECTIVE 3.The objective o f the Commandant Reflection Paper (CRP) is for the officers to take ownership to reflect, journal and share on their professional and personal learning, development and growth throughout the 15-week Command and Staff course (Executive). REFLECTION TITLE 4. The reflection is titled â€Å"Are you ready to Lead? † 5. In your reflection, you should consider the following questions: a. Referring to the CSC(E) Graduate word picture (See Figure 1), how has attending the GKS CSC prepared you to Lead? What aspects of the course have developed and prepared you for your future roles in the SAF? b.How much do you think you have developed in both the professional and personal competence? Figure 1 Organisation Knowledge Comprehend changes and trends in strategic environment Adaptive to organisational challenges that arises Military Technology Adept at applying military technology in developing innovative operational concepts and capabilities and fully appreciate the impact of future techno logy trends and developments Military Operations Comprehend military operations in a Joint environment Decision Making Competently arrive at timely decisions based on systemic analysis of the relevant context, factors and values Life-Long LearningInspire to life-long learning Develop self awareness & personal mastery CSC(E) Graduate Word Picture c. Apart from the course curriculum, what else have you learned and developed in this journey that you feel will better prepare and serve you in the years ahead? d. What would be your leadership and values philosophy? and e. What other aspects do you think are needed to further prepare you to Lead? DELIVERABLES 6. Officers are to journal and share their reflections at the end of the course at syndicate and course level.Insights gleaned from syndicate and course levels sharing will help to further strengthen individual CRP. 7. Details on the paper are listed below : a. Word Count. 2000 – 2500 words. b. Presentation and Submission. (i)End of Course. Officers are to share your reflections in relation to the CRP title at the end of the course at Syndicate level on 22 Nov (Thu) from 0830 to 1020 hrs and at Course Level from 1030 to 1220 hrs. (ii)Submission of Paper. Officers are to submit the paper, both in hard and soft copies, by 23 Nov 2012 (Fri) 0830 hrs. c.Officers are strongly encouraged to develop the habit to pen down reflections regularly such as at a daily or weekly basis, or after each lesson, sub-module or module to chart your reflection paper. Mapping your reflections as a frame is a suggested method as you could build on the frame going through the course. CONCLUSION The CRP serves as a self-reflection on how each officer has developed and grown during the CSC(E) journey, in preparation to lead. Officers should also capitalise on this process and internalise it as a culture of reflection in the course of their military career and beyond. Prepared By : LTC Terence Goh