By: Ms. Simmons, Beverly, SLO, JB MDL
Want to Level Up Your Writing? Treat It Like a Mission
Writing—whether it's a report, an essay, or a memo—is more than just putting words on a page. For a professional Soldier, effective writing is a mission-critical skill. It reflects your discipline, sharp thinking, and ability to communicate under pressure. Sound familiar? That's because strong writing, like successful missions, requires a plan, execution, and constant improvement.
Here's how to boost your writing game fast—by applying principles straight from the battlefield:
1. Strategic Mission Planning – Always Start with an Outline
Before any mission, a solid operations order is non-negotiable. You need to know the objective, lay out the plan, and prepare your assets. Writing works the same way. Before you hit the keyboard, sketch out a quick outline. Identify your main objective (thesis), your support fire (key arguments), and your exit plan (conclusion).
Think of it like a five-paragraph OPORD—if you plan the structure first, you'll write with purpose, direction, and confidence—no more wandering off-target mid-paragraph.
2. Precision Targeting – Be Clear, Direct, and On Point
When you're engaging a target, precision matters. The same goes for writing. Don't fire off rounds blindly—make every sentence count. Avoid filler words and vague phrases. Be straight to the Point, just like a well-aimed shot from a marksman.
Whether you're drafting an NCOER bullet, briefing notes, or an academic paper, clarity and impact should be your priorities. Your audience—just like a command team—doesn't have time to dig through fluff to figure out what you really mean.
3. Intelligence Recon – Do Your Research Like a S2
No good operation kicks off without intel. Writing without research? That's going in blind. Before drafting, gather facts, statistics, quotes, and credible sources. Whether it's doctrine, peer-reviewed studies, or real-world examples, good intel strengthens your writing and gives your arguments more firepower.
Think like an intelligence officer: the more informed your plan, the more effective your execution. Weak sources or shallow thinking will get your writing torn apart faster than a sloppy mission brief.
4. Adaptive Warfare – Your First Draft Is Just Recon
You wouldn't roll into a real op without adjusting to the enemy's movements, right? Writing is the same—you've got to adapt. The first draft is your recon; the real work comes when you start revising. Clean up clunky wording. Reorganize for flow. Strengthen weak arguments.
In the Army, you're expected to adjust on the fly and tighten up your tactics. Your writing deserves that same attention. Revise until it's mission-ready.
5. Conduct an After-Action Review – Get Feedback and Improve
Every good mission concludes with an After Action Report (AAR). What went right? What fell short? What do we fix for next time? Your writing should go through the same process. Ask a peer, a mentor, or even your chain of command to give it a read.
Get honest feedback, then apply it. That's how you grow. Whether it's writing for PME, college classes, or your daily reports, input from others sharpens your edge and helps you avoid repeat mistakes.
Final Word: Writing Is a Leadership Skill
Bottom line—good writing reflects good leadership. It's how you inform, persuade, and represent your thoughts under pressure. If you can brief a mission, you can write a strong paper. If you can lead a team, you can guide a reader.
So next time you've got to write something meaningful, don't just wing it. Plan it. Execute it. Refine it. And get feedback. Treat it like a mission—and own the outcome.
Ready to execute? Let’s go hero, make your next writing task a success.
