Gary Anderson critiques the state of professional military education (JPME) in the U.S., connecting its shortcomings to poor decision-making during the Afghanistan evacuation. He argues that a 1980s reform shifted the focus from critical military theory and history to align more with civilian academic requirements. Anderson believes this lack of rigorous professional training played a significant role in the flawed strategic choices during the Kabul evacuation.
  

Key Points: 

1. The decision to evacuate through Kabul’s Karzai International Airport, despite its vulnerability, went unquestioned by senior military leaders.
2. Reforms in the 1980s changed the focus of military education, emphasizing masters-level degrees and “jointness” while sidelining rigorous study of military theory and history.
3. Current military educational seminars often lack experts in combined-arms combat or deep knowledge about the study of war.
4. Historically great military leaders, from Alexander to Patton, deeply studied the patterns of conflict and military history.
5. Anderson recommends a return to rigorous study of military history in command and staff colleges and decision-making exercises for better leadership training.

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2023/09/22/why-our-generals-cant-think.html