I don't really see power point as being a problem. I've been in the military, and have been through numerous power points. What some people probably don't know about the military is that you are constantly training. This is true especially in theater. Our enemy is always coming up with new ways of attempting to disrupt our mission.
The military's need to convey information in an effective way is really no different from a company's need to convey information. They need to get the information across in an effective manner in the least amount of time possible. Like businesses and universities, they use power point to convey that message in a timely and effective manner.
The other thing a lot of people take for granted when thinking about our military is that they come from the same place you and I do. For all but a select few, they've gone to the same schools as civilians. When you join the military, there is no class on how to prepare a power point presentation. You either got the training in school, or you learned it by trial and error on your own.
Just like a presentation made in class, they are not required to use power point. If they would like to give a briefing using just a written outline, nobody cares as long as the message is conveyed in an effective manner. Leaders generally give their information using power point because it is simply more effective. Also, the article greatly exaggerates how often power point is used in briefings.
I believe it may be more effective to offer a short one or two day school on how to use power point effectively. This class could also be integrated into some of our leadership courses. In the enlisted community, the current leadership training does not talk about power point at all.
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