Critical thinking anchored in a solid general culture at the service of the profession of arms: Reflections on the education mission of military academies

Abstract This essay is a reflection on the challenges faced by military academies, while developing in naval and officer-cadets, the ‘singular mindset’ required to prepare them for the professional responsibility awaiting them as future officers of the armed forces. As vocational schools, the main purpose of military academies is to train leaders of the armed forces with a comprehensive training and education programme, including, in most countries today, university studies. The choice of a specific academic discipline is of less importance, as there is no single or unique way to become an officer. The most important thing is that the education provided at military academies leads to the development of critical thinking rooted in a solid general culture at the service of the profession of arms.