The U.S. Army Professional Development of Officers Study: A Critique

Recent media reports and internal Army officer preference surveys cast a shadow on the quality, timeliness, scope and substance of Army professional education and training. A new Army study, Professional Development of Officers PDOS, provides a structure for future planning and execution. Specific study findings, approaches and recommendation are reviewed and analysed. Assessments revealed a range of observations between achievements and shortcomings. PDOS appears to form a necessary structure for professional officer development, and will succeed to the extent proper resources are available. Integration of the study into officer career development efforts is a necessary requisite.