REFLECTIVE THINKING

Reflective Thinking



Reflective Thinking

Introduction

Norman Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New Jersey. Due to his powerful and influential character, he was termed as “The Bear” and “Stormin Norman”. His personal and professional life tells a story that is narrated by various ups and downs of his life. He was the son of Superintendent of State Police. At one time, he was engaged in sensational case of kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh. Schwarzkopf, Sr. was a graduate of West Point and a member of the First and Second World Wars. Norman Schwarzkopf as a child dreamed of having an eminent military career. After the Second World War, Schwarzkopf's father helped build the police to the Shah of Iran, and the family moved to the Middle East. Later he studied at the Schwarzkopf schools of Iran, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. He mastered French and German languages. His story of life had a very clear vision since his childhood. He was fascinated by military and middle east.

Story of his Early Life

Youth

The story of his life starts from his youth. After high school, he graduated from the Military Academy Valley Forge, and then studied at West Point, graduating in 1956. Later he served in the 101st Airborne Division and the 6th Infantry Division, stationed in Germany. He left Germany in 1961, one week before the Berlin crisis. For two years, he attended the University of South Carolina and received a master's degree in military technology in the field working with guided missiles and returned to West Point (Grossman, 1995). Norman for the first time discovered the mysteries of the East in his youth. Thereafter, he traveled in Europe, according to the assignments of his father. He perfected his intellectual education and learned French and German. He also initiated the music and especially opera, which remains in the desert. His only distraction occurred when he traveled on the front.

Nick Names

As a result of his authoritative and burly stature, he was given various nicknames. He was called as “The Bear” due to his physical structure, as he was long, healthy, and they way he aggressively handled media. A multitude of times he has been admired by various influential people due to his outstanding leadership style. Apart from it, he was also called Stormin Norman due to his dominating and distinct personality. The way he dealt with the press by delineating his plans, ideas, and thoughts, were very strong. These personal and professional characteristics allowed him to earn various nick names.

Military

His military life delineates a story of leadership. Long after the military academy at West Point, and well after two hectic trips to Vietnam, Norman Schwarzkopf turns again to orient himself. With simple and definite ideas, he begins to observe changes in forces. In 1983, he prophesied the risk of an explosion in the Gulf and developed a plan of action. He foreshadowed what will be occurring eight years later (Swofford, 2003). Because of this intuition, and the fact that, nearly a year before the coup in Iraq, ...