Personal Career Development Plan Essay - 1401 Words

PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN Ruth Ann Loyd Jacksonville University Professional Nursing NUR352SI Kathleen Kavanagh September 4, 2013 Abstract My personal career development plan consists of short and long-term goals advancements in my education towards a MSN degree and moving into the nurse practitioner role. It contains the plans on how I intend to transition into that role along with the responsibilities, necessary education and license requirements. I have also listed the pros and cons of being a nurse practitioner and its potential liabilities. Study and time management plans are included along with stress reduction strategies. PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN My nursing career started as a dream, a dream I needed to†¦show more content†¦My selected mentor is Jerry Martin RN, BSN. He is a co-worker that has inspired me to return to school and that any dream is obtainable. Jerry has a degree in biology and was working as a ward clerk in our ER when I met him. He has a degree in biology and worked in finance before working at the hospital. Jerry states† I was unhappy with my career in finance and I realized I had drifted a long way from my education and my core belief. During a conference a guest speaker said â€Å"true happiness is found when you find the one thing you would do in life even if you did not get paid for it†. That was my â€Å"aha† moment.† G.M. Martin (personal communication, September 3,2013) Jerry entered nursing school in 2006 and graduated with a BSN in 2011. He is currently working toward a MSN and striving to be a FNP. He is a great nurse and it is a privilege to have him as a co-worke r and my mentor. After obtaining a BSN through Jacksonville University, I will enroll in an online nurse practitioner program. Once I receive my degree and am licensed as a NP, I will search for a job working with inpatient pediatric patients. A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse that has received additional training and education of that beyond a RN. They help with all aspects of patient care. They can work in inpatient and outpatient care. A NP educates patients about preventative care and their prescribed treatments. They can also preform independently or as part ofShow MoreRelatedPersonal And Career Development Plan1309 Words   |  6 Pages Assignment 6 Case Study Personal and Career Development Plan Murali Krishna Chagarlamudi CAR 100 600D – Career Planning and Development Virginia International University Dr. Theresa Poussaint April 20, 2016 According to Maxwell and Knox (2009), academics and practitioners have extolled the potential benefits of having a well-managed cooperate brand. They have also acknowledged that corporate branding brings new challenges that cannot be readily addressed within a traditional marketingRead MoreDevelopment Plan For The Professional And The Academic Field1521 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopment Needs Analysis Introduction Why a development planning is important to a learner who wants to succeed in the professional and the academic field? A development plan is defined as a structured and supported process commenced by learners to consider their own learning, performance and achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development. In another words, a development plan is an inclusive process, which is opened to all learners, in all higher education provisionRead MoreMy Nursing Philosophy : My Philosophy Of Nursing Practice1074 Words   |  5 Pageswell as through engaging in research to generate new knowledge which sustains nursing as a profession. Learning plan Career development is recognised as the realisation of personal goals and interests in one’s career (Kuijpers, Schyns Scheerens 2006). Thus, planning for my career direction, setting goals and knowing myself are critical for a successful career development. My career direction is set to be a clinical research nurse. Through Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)Read MoreSelf Assessment782 Words   |  4 PagesI scored a seven (7). Content and Development, which I scored a six (6). Organization, which I scored a six (6). Language Use and Style, which I scored seven (7) and Mechanics and Conventions, which I scored a seven (7). A score of 7 in a ranking system where a score of 6-8 indicates solid writing skills is one (1) away from excellent. My plan to improve my writing skills include the use of Purdue Owl and constant reference to APA formatting. Of course, no plan of performance improvement is completeRead MoreEmployee Training and Career Development Essay1296 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Training and development are important factors to the success of any organization. Each employee is a valuable asset that can either add to the success a company or contribute to its failure. Training supports and makes possible the development of new skills and knowledge. Offering training for employees at various levels within an organization assist employees develop the necessary skills and proficiency to be successful in their careers as well as prepare for new responsibilitiesRead MoreFive Year Career Development Plan1630 Words   |  7 PagesBylli All’s Five Year Career Development Plan Bylli All Human Capital Management/HRM 531 Dr. Penny Wilkins November 26, 2012 Bylli All’s Five Year Career Development Plan Introduction As I am currently the president and CEO of J-R Equipment, my career is where I always thought it would be. I was chosen by my mother to head this 50 year-old family business. My sole endeavor is to have it continue for another 50 years. More specifically, over the next five years my goal and base objectiveRead MorePersonal Development Review and Plan1519 Words   |  7 PagesPersonal Development Stage 1 Review and Development Plan Table of Contents Page Introduction My Personal Development Review My Personal Development Plan 3 4-5 6-7 2 Introduction At the Introduction to PD workshop I identified two broad reasons why I decided to pursue my MBA. The first was to develop my competence as a manager. The second and more important reason was to advance my career by making myself more marketable. The job market today is undoubtedly very competitive and I realisedRead MoreAnalysis On Different Employability Skills Covered Within This My First Year At University962 Words   |  4 Pages1. Terms of Reference Within this report and portfolio there is going to be analysis on different employability skills covered within this my first year at university and, evidence of how they are incorporated in my own development as a Business Leadership and Corporate Management student to successfully hold a placement for the next two years of my degree. 2. Why Employability Matters? Employability is a key determination around the way the world works. It ‘is about being capable of gettingRead MoreEssay about Personal Career Development: Course Review1012 Words   |  5 Pagesevents and available information to create a picture of where to go next. The purpose of this paper is to review the personal information from the career assessments taken in HS 585 Career Counseling at Bellevue University. The review will focus on this author’s personal results. This paper will combine the assessments with the author’s personal history to provide a context for future career goals. Assessment Summary The primary assessment performed and examined within the HS 585 course was the StrongRead MoreFive-Year Career Development Plan1145 Words   |  5 PagesFive-Year Career Development Plan Introduction: Career development is a continuous process of handling proactively work and changes in life in order to move forward and reach the goals set for a better future. It involves learning new skills, moving up in the position within the organization or altogether moving to new organization or even starting up a new business. A career development plan is created to set goals and how to reach these goals using your talents and skills in the working world

Essay Human Resources Challenge - 978 Words

Human Resources is an important department with in many larger companies and one that is greatly needed for such functions as; hiring, firing, insurance, and public relations. While in the past Human Resources has been able to operate with little friction from any outside influences, it would seem over the years some new challenges for this department have complicated their fairly standard sets of operations. These challenges while difficult to deal with are may not be enough to break down the functioning capacity of human resource departments, but challenges that are being faced by Human Resources because of technology, economic relations, and job descriptions are changing at a much more rapid pace than they once did. These ever changing†¦show more content†¦In the past employees were given the opportunity â€Å"to adjust and develop their skills†, however these days it is many employees are thrown head first into their new jobs and are expected to make their way aro und with no adjustment period (Walberg,2011,Para.3). The focus of training procedures is one that Human Resources has great struggles with. Though employees may benefit from further from advanced â€Å"education,apprenticeship, and training† there is a great deal of conflicting interests with funds and advancements that complicate decisions within HR department’s decisions concerning these areas (Walberg,2011,Para.3). The main focus of concern is investing time and money to train individuals since it may take up to 5 or more years to fully train an individual and during this span of time the money that is invested may well have gone to waste,because of changes in procedures, needed skills, or technology updates. The other aspect is if the employee decides that he or she will not be staying and moves on to another source of employment. These types of problems put Human Resources at a stand still since they are unable to decide what steps to take in improving the situat ion. It would appear that any steps taken would be a lost cause since they are incapable of providing a training that would enable an employee to become fully orientated before a different set of procedures or skills were needed to perform their job tasks. It is like an unending battle to gainShow MoreRelatedHuman Resource Challenges1124 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Resource Challenges All Human Resources Departments face challenges on a daily basis. Although the body of literature on the role of HR policies is growing steadily, several methodological ambiguities persist concerning the measurement of the contribution of HRM practices to organizational performance (Chenevert Trembly, 2009). When an HR department can implement the practices they are best at this will help their organization to become stronger. Some things to consider are if theseRead MoreHuman Resources Challenges : Indonesia1024 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Resources Challenges – Indonesia When conducting business in a foreign country, a company needs to consider several different business factors and challenges that might arise. As a company embarks on its venture in Indonesia, Human Resources department needs to be aware of the differences and key challenges that might arise. They need to be aware of key business challenges, key human resources challenges, and how to adapt some of the human resources policies and practices to culture/environmentRead MoreChallenges Of Management And Human Resources934 Words   |  4 PagesChallenges in Management and Human Resources The corporate culture of IKEA has a great influence on the company from the supplier to its customers. At IKEA, co-workers are expected to follow the principles set forth in the â€Å"Testament of a Furniture Dealer†, while managers are expected to be role models instead of dictators. IKEA’s corporate conduct establishes standards that follow a command that the IKEA business shall have an overall positive impact on people and the environment. IKEA motivationRead MoreHuman Resource Challenges Essay864 Words   |  4 Pagesjob of the human resource department in any organization is to conduct job analyses, plan job labor and recruit candidates, orientation and training of employees, performance appraisal, management of salaries and wages, providing incentive and benefits as well as communicating with management and employees (Dessler, 2011, p.2). Amid this myriad of responsibility they must still face exorbitant challenges that engulf them also. Two of the challenges tha t are facing many human resource departmentsRead MoreThe Challenges Of Human Resource Management872 Words   |  4 Pageson human resource management. One of the greatest challenges that human resource management faces in terms of workplace globalization is workplace diversity. Diversity is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : VARIETY; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization programs intended to promote diversity in schools.( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity) Human Resource ManagementRead MoreHuman Resource Management And Challenges Faced By International Human Resources1073 Words   |  5 PagesInternational Human Resource Management Paper code: 95.806 (b) Term 1 Lecturer: Dr. Robert Khan Assignment 1 Topic details: Development of personnel management to human resource management and challenges faced by International human resource department Word count: ----- Name: Bhushan Kanubhai Parmar Student ID: S2144200 Human resource management (HRM) is concerned with all parts of how individuals are utilized and oversaw in associations. It blankets the exercises of vital HRM, human capitalRead MoreThe Challenges with Human Resource Departments Essay1097 Words   |  5 PagesHUMAN RESOURCE CHALLENGES 2 The Challenges with Human Resource Departments In todays workforce, the job of a manager for a human resource department faces many challenges and act as the mediator for the employees, organizations, and other stakeholder needs are to be addressed on issues related to laws, policies, and interpersonal skills, managing personnel issues, and setting an environment to coordinate a multicultural workforce. The human resource department requires an orderly approach toRead MoreChallenges Facing Human Resource Professionals1609 Words   |  7 PagesChallenges Human Resource Professionals face in meeting the needs of the contemporary Workforce â€Å"In the War for Talent† In recent times, Human Resource Professional has faced a growing number of challenges in responding to the needs of the contemporary workforce and attempting to win â€Å"The War for Talent†. These include globalisation, increasing workplace diversity, technological change and an aging workforce among others. This essay will attempt to show that the three most pressing concerns the HumanRead MoreChallenges And Implications Of Human Resource Management1393 Words   |  6 Pages(Topic 3) Challenges and Implications Human resource management is arguably one of the most important departments in every organization. Just like other departments in the organization human resource management faces its share of challenges. One of the major challenges the department has been facing in the recent past is the trend in the mobility of human resources (Caulfield, 2010). Human resource mobility refers to the movement of employees either internally or externally. Internal mobility includesRead MoreChallenges Facing The Human Resource Department1314 Words   |  6 Pagesglobalization continues to boom, many challenges face the Human Resource Department. With employees and business spanning over many countries, continents and hemispheres, businesses will face cultural diversity, technology reliance, and many other risks that go along with international businesses. Human Resource departments have been forced to become more knowledgeable in the hiring, training and retention of managers in international busines ses due to these challenges. HR should first learn how best to

Singapore International Airlines free essay sample

This paper focuses on the history, growth and expansion of Singapore International Airlines (SIA). The following paper discusses how SIA, today, is one of the leading airlines of the world with more than $1 billion in liquid assets, while all major airlines of the world are reporting heavy losses and some are entirely dependent on bailout packages. This paper examines the airlines benefits of the most sophisticated in-flight services, extraordinary corporate values and pleasant cabin crew and explores how this airline has managed to emerge stronger from the current economic crisis. With Asian economies encountering the worst slow down in two decades, it is clear that most businesses are likely to suffer heavily. We have seen that with global economic decline, most industries in almost every part of the world is reporting significant losses and this process has also been accelerated by the September 11 attacks. In these negative times for businesses, it comes as a major surprise that some companies have not only managed to stay aloft but have also reported profits. We will write a custom essay sample on Singapore International Airlines or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One such firm is Singapore International Airlines. The corporation, which is the proud symbol of Singapores success, has been in operation for ore than fifty years now and for last 28 years, SIA has been moving in the right direction with sound revenues every year.

Vietnam The War We Should Hav Essay Example For Students

Vietnam: The War We Should Hav Essay The Vietnam War is one of the most disgraceful periods in American history. Not only did the greatest superpower in the world get bested by an almost third-world nation, but we lost badly. Perhaps this war could have been won, or even prevented in the first place. The United States could have and should have won this war, with a combination of better weapons usage, better tactics, and better support from their home country. Before the WarEven years before the war, Vietnam was a hotly disputed territory. Many countries had taken Vietnam over, and after World War II, Vietnam was in the hands of France. Obviously, the Vietnamese wanted their own country, and their long history of being a colony prompted the oppressed people to fight for their independence in the French-Indochina war. 7Ho Chi Min, a leader of the Communist party, organized the Vietnamese independence movement, Viet Minh. Asking for support from America first, Ho Chi Min did not want to have to turn to communist support for the freedom of his people. Since the United States viewed helping Ho gain his independence from France as a move against their own allies, they declined. It was only after Russia and China offered to help that Ho adopted communist ideals and wanted to make all of Vietnam communist. We will write a custom essay on Vietnam: The War We Should Hav specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Vietnam war started simply because Ho Chi Min and his communist supporters wanted South Vietnam to become communist after the South split off in 1954 to become its own democratic nation. The United States saw this as a threat to democracy, and using the Domino theory, successfully threw the U.S. into the one of the worst wars it has ever seen. If only the United States had looked past its petty alliances and helped another country gain its independence like we had gained ours so many years ago, this war would have been completely avoided. Unfortunately for the families of over 64,000 soldiers, it wasnt. Beginnings of a NightmareAs early as 1954, the United States started sending financial and military aid to South Vietnam, hoping to stop the spread of communism. The flow of military advisors from 700 to over 14,000 1 built up steadily through John Kennedys presidency, and after he was assassinated, Lyndon B. Johnson escalated the war to the point of no return. Johnson used the ludicrous domino theory to justify the military buildup in Vietnam. American people were so scared of communism by McCarthyism in the 1950s, that they were willing to do anything to stop communism where it started. The people of the United States let Johnson build up a huge force in Vietnam, and he was also almost unanimously backed by congress. By the end of the war, Johnson was so ashamed that he didnt even try to run for reelection. If the American populous would have stopped and thought about what they were getting themselves into and not jumped gung-ho into a frivolous war, their representatives wouldnt have felt so pressured to back Johnson. In 1964, the event every war-hungry Commie-killer was waiting for happened. In the Gulf of Tonkin, several VC torpedo boats reportedly fired on a U.S. vessel. 6 Even though the American ship sustained no damages, Johnson drafted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized him to use any force necessary to beat back the North Vietnamese. Congress never declared war or even directly authorized troops, but Johnson twisted enough words around to have his own little executive war. Early in the WarAt first, Johnson limited the conflict to an air war, hoping to pound away and demoralize the VC into submission. He used planes such as the B-52 bomber and the F-4 Phantom to try to win the war as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the United States air power had many shortcomings. The F-4 Phantom was the latest and greatest piece of technology out there during Vietnam. Manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas, this plane was capable of multiple roles, as a dogfighter, bomber, recon, and support aircraft. However, the F-4 had its share of problems. First, the engineers who designed it neglected to mount any type of gun on the F-4A through the F-4D, thinking that the Phantoms frightening compliment of missiles could take out any enemy threat. They were wrong. Not having a gun made the dogfighting role of the Phantom extremely hard, because the AIM-9 and AIM-7 missiles were not as effective at closer ranges against the enemy MiGs. Only after almost 2 years was the F-4E Phantom fitted with a 6-barrell gatling gun. 4 Also, many pilots were poorly trained, only having 6 weeks of training as opposed to the customary 1-year. These excitement-hungry flyboys, these air cowboys had a voracious appetite for combat, but were ever-cognizant of the end of their tour of duty. .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .postImageUrl , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:hover , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:visited , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:active { border:0!important; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:active , .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2 .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2acdda68f402315d52429db00d23eee2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Great Expectation Essay SettingThe B-52 Stratofortress was the largest bomber ever produced at that time. It could deliver its massive 60,000lb payload up to almost halfway around the world, and could do it at an altitude that VC MiGs couldnt even reach. 4 There were, also, shortcomings in the use of the B-52 also. During World War II, the allies could depend on decimating the industry of their enemy, thus destroying its fighting power. As will be explained later, the VC didnt rely on industry and big guns, but guerrilla tactics and small arms. The U.S. also believed by bombing the living hell out of the population centers and by using napalm, the enemy would be demoralize d and surrender. Both of these hypotheses proved to be direly wrong. By bombing industry, the U.S. just wasted billions of dollars and precious time and manpower for nothing. Also, the bombing of population centers rallied the enemy and brought the North Vietnamese closer together, instead of its actual goal. Napalm was also another mistake. By using a flammable jelly to literally burn up all of North Vietnam, the U.S. not only killed more civilians than soldiers, but also raised several ethical questions. Napalm coated anything it came within reach of, and burned continuously for up to a week. Doctors who treated napalm victims said their wounds would still glow green with heat at night, while the patients writhed in pain. Also, many international scientists and influential people around the world protested the use of napalm very adamantly. Yet another type of bomb was dropped by the B-52s, this one containing a large amount of the defoliating gas, Agent Orange. Hundreds of millions of acres of jung le were destroyed and even more fields and rice paddies were poisoned because of Agent Orange. South Vietnamese farmers complained about the detrimental effect Agent Orange had on their rice paddies, and its use flooded camps and cities with refugees from outlying areas where entire crops were destroyed. Agent Orange was supposed to eliminate the VCs advantageous hiding places, but it only turned the people we were fighting for against us even more. Even more so, Agent Orange cause countless birth defects and deadly illnesses in returning vets. Thousands of soldiers came back with reoccurring sicknesses, and even cancer. 6 The use of Agent Orange was perhaps one of the largest mistakes made in Vietnam. By simply thinking ahead, weighing the consequences of using weapons such as napalm and Agent Orange, the U.S. quite possibly could have won the Vietnam War completely through the use of air power. More tonnage of ordinance was dropped in any given week during Vietnam than during all other wars in the history of the world combined. One would think this would make the war easy to win. Unfortunately, ethical problems and lack of planning made it impossible to settle the war in the air, thus forcing the U.S. to invade with ground forces. Westmoreland and the Ground WarPresident Johnson chose General William C. Westmoreland to command the land forces in Vietnam. Westmoreland, a tall, rugged man from South Carolina, was know for his enthusiasm, and for always having good news from the front lines. Westmoreland commanded over 500,000 troops at the peak of the war, and was still unable to crush the Viet Cong, as hoped by most of Washington. 3 But there were many factors that contributed to our startling defeat on the ground in Vietnam. The first and foremost was the difference in tactics between the Americans and the North Vietnamese. The VC were ruthless soldiers, who, even though sometimes poorly trained, fought with as much drive and enthusiasm as the best trained soldiers in the world. The VC used something called guerrilla tactics. They would recruit children, tie themselves to trees, use babies as bait for booby traps, and other unethical things. American soldiers stopped accepting the drinks offered to them by young Vietnamese boys after a few unfortunate GIs found out the ice was really crushed up glass. These and other fighting techniques such as strapping explosives to kids and having them run up to soldiers, were a few of the toils U.S. soldiers had to deal with. Also on the tactics side, the entire U.S. offensive consisted of a myriad of search and destroy missions. S D missions involved a patrol, (usually 10-35 soldiers), going out of the base and finding (then killing) the enemy. Unfortunately, the b ooby traps placed by the VC and the fact that they knew the land and could hide, meant the S D missions were like throwing soldiers away. In fact, more U.S. soldiers were killed from booby traps than any other cause of death in Vietnam. Weapons were another problem in Vietnam. Again going back to World War II, the massive armored assaults that won the war for the allies were useless in the dense jungle. U.S. armor was limited to using M113 troop carriers with machine guns on them, instead of using the more effective M60 tanks and artillery. 3 So Westmoreland was forced to rethink tactics, as well as use weapons and strategies untested in the history of American warfare. .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .postImageUrl , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:hover , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:visited , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:active { border:0!important; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:active , .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522 .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1553b108f8ff5598ac29a00e614d7522:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Importance Of The Byzantine Empire EssayOther difficulties with weapons were rampant. The M-16, a revolutionary new infantry rifle, was prone to frequent jams as well as water damage. And in a country when it rains almost every day, that wasnt good news. Also, U.S. commanders underestimated the power of the Viet Congs weapons, thinking that they only had muskets and bolt-action rifles. But since the Chinese and Russians were supplying the VC with modern AK-47s and other similar arms, the officers were faced with one nasty surprise after another. Weapons, though new and advanced, can still have weaknesses, and the battlefields in Vietnam exploited almost all the weaknesses of our weapons. However, with tactics that could use the strengths and all but eliminate the weaknesses, the ground war would have also been a snap. This shows that relying too heavily on technology and not enough on battle-tested weapons can be downright deadly. Leaders, Washington, and the Morale IssueWhile Johnson and Westmoreland had loads of support at the beginning of the war, as the American people started to see that the war was unwinnable, their support began to decline. 1 in 5 of every soldier who fought- and died- was drafted, 1 and this caused distress among the public. Draft cards were burned publicly, schools walked out in protest of the war, and even large music events were held to somehow stop the fighting. With all this public opinion against the war, one would wonder why the fighting continued. The reason is evident to us now, considering that hindsight is 20/20. General Westmoreland manipulated the body counts for both side to make it look like we were always winning. Not only did Westmoreland lie, but he failed to mention that the pool from which VC and NVA soldiers came from was almost the entire country. With lawmakers telling you one thing and the television telling you another, what would you think. Obviously, it is ex tremely hard to fight a war where your home country doesnt even support you putting your life on the line. Life on the battlefield wasnt exactly pretty, either. Daily firefights, dead comrades, and officers who were fresher than you were were a few of the troubles grunts had to deal with on the battlefield. Drug use was rampant, soldiers would get high before battles to help them forget about what they were doing. 4 Mutiny was common, and the amount of soldiers who went AWOL was higher than any other war. With soldiers who didnt know what they were fighting for and people at home who didnt support you, what else could go wrong? Only one thing, and it happened to go wrong. The largest reason why we lost the war is very apparent, and fits in nicely with this section. When one is fighting for a countrys independence, and the citizens of that country dont support the efforts, trouble abounds. 7 The South Vietnamese were not happy about U.S. soldiers being in their country, and it showed . Every day, thousands of South Vietnamese joined the Viet Cong, so the American soldiers never knew who to trust, and who to shoot. Not having the support of the people youre fighting for is the worst curse that can be bestowed onto a military. Westmoreland and Johnson should have figured out the root of the problem before sending more troops, and the problem was that the American weapons were destroying the peaceful farmers fields and burning their villages. For a people as far away from the conflict and as apathetic towards the war as they were, it is surprising we lasted this long without being forced to capitulate. The saddest chapter in American history could easily have been avoided, with a combination of good leadership, planning, preparedness, and morale. Perhaps in the future, American soldiers will know what they are fighting for, be equipped for the conditions, and not be thrown mercilessly into the meat grinder of an already-lost battle. Only the future, however, will tell Bibliography (Note; numbers are used for identifying citations)