Why Write?
Fundamentally, to write is to face ourselves on the page and to wrestle with our ideas. This process strengthens us as people. It clarifies our thoughts and character so that we can truly lead. Writing at the graduate and professional level is not just about reflection: its purpose is to share our hard-won knowledge in a way that others can understand.
Consider what you look for as a reader: clarity, organization, and simplicity. The craft of writing, then, is initially a task of critical thinking, of determining precisely what you want to convey; it subsequently becomes a matter of presenting your ideas to readers clearly and in an organized fashion.
Admiral John M. Richardson makes a case for writing in his article with Lieutenant Ashley O'Keefe, “Now Hear This – Read. Write. Fight.,” a short piece that calls on all Navy personnel to advance the mission by rigorously reading and writing. We highly recommend you take a few minutes to read it; find the article, plus some other wise words on writing, in the links.
Why Write? Links
- Article: CNO Admiral John Richardson and Lieutenant Ashley O'Keefe, “Now Hear This – Read. Write. Fight.,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, June 2016 Vol. 142/6/1,360.
- Article: Dmitry Filipoff, “Operationalizing the CNO’s Call to Read and Write,” Center for International Maritime Security, June 27, 2016.
- Article: "Flight Simulation for the Brain: Why Army Officers Must Write," Major Trent J. Lythgoe, Military Review, November-December 2011.
