Comparing learning environments in U.S. military officer educational settings: a field test

Area of Science:

• Military Education and Training
• Organizational Psychology
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Military officers require specialized training environments to develop leadership and strategic skills.
• Evaluating learning environments is crucial for optimizing military education and officer development.
• Previous research has explored factors influencing satisfaction in professional development programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare officer satisfaction with two distinct military learning environments.
• To identify key factors contributing to higher satisfaction in military education settings.
• To assess officer preference for specific military schooling locations.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to U.S. Army field grade officers who attended two military schools.
• Evaluation of multiple variables including institutional support, lodging, instruction quality, and installation culture.
• Statistical analysis to determine relationships between satisfaction variables and overall preference.

Main Results:

• A majority of officers reported higher satisfaction with institutional support at Fort Leavenworth.
• Satisfaction with institutional support was strongly correlated with lodging, instruction quality, and installation culture.
• 72-82% of subjects expressed a preference for the Command and General Staff College course at Fort Leavenworth.

Conclusions:

• Fort Leavenworth offers a superior learning environment for U.S. Army field grade officers.
• Institutional support, quality of instruction, and the environment of an active duty installation are critical for officer satisfaction.
• Findings suggest a strong preference for the Fort Leavenworth learning experience among military leadership.