I have now completed my initial research on all three learning theories.  I have been fascinated in different ways by behaviorism, cognitivism, and social learning theory.  After my research I have concluded that each of the three theories have unique advantages and disadvantages. 

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     I have to say that the social learning theory is my favorite.  I think that for many reasons the social learning theory has really hit home for me.  As a soldier this learning theory has explained many ways in which I have become accustomed to learning over the past 25 years.  When I was a young soldier, I always looked up to my leaders and modeled their behavior to elicit my performance and aide in my learning. 

     The social learning theory places emphasis on learning within a group and reduces some classical teaching requirements from the teacher.  In the United States Army, we do this every day.  The social learning theory model plays a vital part in the way we learn as soldiers, whether it is with after action reviews or sergeants time training.  According to (Davidson, 2010), “Carl von Clausewitz, the father of modern military thought, military learning and military change were a simplistic matter: If, in warfare, a certain means turns out to be effective, it will be used again; it will be copied by others and become fashionable; and so, backed by experience, it passes into general use and is included in theory” (page 9).  This thought could not be more evident in both the social learning theory and today’s military.  In my vast experience of many years of combat we as soldiers and units’ model what has been successful for the units we replace.  We build on their techniques, tactics, and procedures as a learning organization to ensure we as an Army continue to get better and find ways to defeat our adversaries in combat.  The ability for us to model behavior and learn in combat is a matter of life and death. 

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     Whether it is the imitation of mimicking someone’s behavior, or modeling the process of being shown a behavior and learning from it, the social learning theory can be seen in my profession daily.  The success of a young soldier usually includes mimicking great leaders so that one day they can replace them in the ranks.  Good leaders institute vicarious reinforcements and punishments to either encourage or discourage the behavior that so many of our soldiers’ model.  This method is evident within the very creed we live by.  The NCO creed states (U.S. Army,1973) “I will be fair when recommending both rewards and punishments”.  This has always been the intent of my profession.  Using rewards and punishments to achieve the desired learning outcome.  The hope is that one day the soldiers I develop can replace me and will serve as the next generation soldiers’ model.

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     Everyday in the military we strive to build a soldier’s self-efficacy by convincing them they can do anything they put their mind to.  We coach, teach, mentor, and push them continuously to the point that they accomplish anything they put their mind to.  This must be balanced with self-regulation in that we also teach them to control their careers and decision making through rigorous goal setting, self-reflection, and self-evaluation.  We use individual development plans and monthly performance counseling to ensure self-regulation is met daily. 

  Incentives within the United States Army are a foundational building block to developing our young soldiers.  These incentives come in many forms from verbal encouragement, time off, awards, promotions ect… The incentives we provide for performance as a soldier is critical in their learning, development, and potential as a future soldier.  This incentive not only helps the individual but serves as a model of learning for the rest of the soldiers within the formation.  The intent is as the soldiers are incentivized in front of their peers, it will in turn spark others within the formation to be that next soldier standing tall.

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     In the end, the social learning theory is most relatable to me as a professional soldier for 25 years.  Before my research into the social learning theory, I would have never known there was a formal name for my learning.  I now realize that I was more familiar with this learning theory than I could have ever imagined.  After all, I have been learning like this my entire adult life.