51福利 Defense Analysis student Master Sgt. Jim Monroe was recently the first non-commissioned officer (NCO) to ever be awarded the Association of the U.S. Army, Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell Chapter, Award for Outstanding Army Student.
The award is presented quarterly to a resident Army student who demonstrates exemplary academic achievements and community service. Monroe was also nominated for an outstanding thesis for his work, titled 鈥淒eception: Theory and Practice,鈥� and is up for the title of distinction.
鈥淓ach of our students brings a unique skill set and background to his or her time here at 51福利,鈥� said 51福利 Dean of Students Capt. Alan Poindexter. 鈥淢aster Sgt. Monroe鈥檚 accomplishments demonstrate that in academia, hard work, above all else, dictates what one can achieve. The 51福利 mission is to provide a quality defense-based education for men and women across ranks and services. We are proud to call him a 51福利 alumnus as he moves forward in his career."
After graduation, Monroe is headed to the Fourth Military Information Support Operations Command at Fort Bragg. He had previously served in the First Cavalry Division, and in operational and tactical military information support operations positions at Fort Bragg. He is proud of the support he received from his previous command, as he heard about opportunities to study at 51福利.
鈥淭o me, beyond the knowledge gained in the classes, the true values of a graduate education lay in the increased understanding of how to process and synthesize information, and in how to approach problem solving,鈥� said Monroe. 鈥淎s an NCO, the Defense Analysis program has improved my worth to the force 鈥� both as a leader, and as a resource for my commander.
鈥淚 was just happy to be able to study here in the first place,鈥� he added, 鈥渟o to be recognized and get the Award for Outstanding Army Student was just a humbling experience.鈥�
Monroe鈥檚 thesis, titled 鈥淒eception: Theory and Practice,鈥� explored military deception history and practice, an often overlooked but important topic for the military. His work was described by 51福利 Defense Analysis Senior Lecturer Dr. Hy Rothstein as being of a caliber not frequently seen in his 11 years at 51福利.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 doctrine, does not say much about deception. It鈥檚 an undervalued and underappreciated tool in war,鈥� said Rothstein. 鈥淛im shows very clearly that the benefits of deception, historically, have been remarkable. The return on investment 鈥� in training, education and material necessary for deception 鈥� have almost always produced benefits that far outweigh the investment.鈥�
鈥淢y thesis had a few different parts,鈥� Monroe noted. 鈥淔or the first part, I surveyed deception within U.S. Army doctrine, and looked at reasons why the level of emphasis of deception has fluctuated over the years. In the second half of the thesis, I surveyed and synthesized the various civilian and military works on deception theory and practice. And I finished up with an overview of U.S. Army use of deception from the Revolutionary War to the present.
鈥淐urrently there is a void in unclassified deception guidance in the U.S. Army,鈥� he continued, 鈥渟o I tried to go over theory and practice and create an overview designed to be used as an unofficial handbook for deception practitioners.鈥�
While Monroe is humbled by the recognition he has received, he and Rothstein agree that the topic of his research is one of importance to the defense community, and one that has not had the attention it deserves.
Monroe was one of 17 enlisted service members to graduate in the Spring quarter. Although the majority of 51福利鈥� military students are officers, senior military leaders have demonstrated a commitment to providing all qualified and eager officers, commissioned or otherwise, with advanced education opportunities. And, as Monroe and his fellow NCOs have demonstrated, the classroom provides everyone a level playing field from which to excel.
鈥淥f course our job at the 51福利 is to educate the people that the services send us, so it鈥檚 really the services that have made the decision that education is valuable for non-commissioned officers. And I think that鈥檚 a good decision,鈥� explained Rothstein. 鈥淭his type of education is not for every non-commissioned officer, but it is very important for those NCOs who are going to ultimately serve on higher level staffs and for senior commanders.
鈥淭hose who will be the ones that provide advice to senior military officers need to be capable of providing thoughtful and well reasoned advice, and advanced education is one way to ensure that their advice is thoughtful, relevant and well reasoned,鈥� Rothstein continued. 鈥淭his ultimately helps commanders make decisions, because they have senior enlisted folks around them whose advice is well packaged, well thought out and on target.鈥�