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Chazak Rescue: Training Minds for Action

Nick - Chazak Education Instructor

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January 21, 2025

     

George Orwell famously wrote, “If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.” What does writing have to do with being an international first responder? At the beginning of the 1.3 segment English Composition class I took a few minutes to make my case. From the perspective of an Ed instructor, it was important to instill in cadets the attitude that writing develops the mind to think critically, analyze, and execute our mission of bringing hope and relief to the most vulnerable in the world. The foundation of writing is the thesis statement which sets out the argument of a piece of writing. Cadets were given the assignment to write a paper arguing a point. Topics included the role of social media in the lives of adolescents, global warming, the necessity of the electoral college and the Christian’s response to warfare. To develop the critical thinking abilities, cadets were asked to give their own opinion on a subject. When arguing a point, personal beliefs and convictions flow easily but we often fail to stop and recognize our own personal biases and assumptions. After completing the initial essay, cadets were then asked to write a second paper from the opposite point of view. After writing their own view, cadets had to stop and construct a reasonable argument that supported the opposing view. This is no easy task.

The importance of writing what was called the “flip-flop essay” was to recognize that it is easy to overlook the flaws and weaknesses in our own argument. We can paint the opposing side as extreme and unreasonable when in reality we are committing a logical fallacy. This logical fallacy is known as the “straw man argument,” where an individual creates a false representation of the opposing viewpoint only to slam-dunk on their opponent. For example, one cadet argued the benefits of consuming moderate amounts of coffee, and then when arguing the opposing view, found that much of the evidence he built his initial argument on was based on assumption, and the studies that were used as evidence were questionable.

Coming back to the initial question, what is the importance of sharpening the academic and critical thinking mind of cadets? Cadets consider this question as they go through the highly rigorous and academically demanding 1.3 segment. As part of our mission of challenging cadets’ body, soul, and spirit, the mind should not be overlooked as a powerful tool that is well worth the investment. The role of critical thinking in our world is often overlooked but is imperative in the lives of first responders. We teach cadets not only what to think, such as the use of tourniquets, the structural integrity of buildings, and confined space rescue, but also how to think. Practicing medical triage in mass casualty events, creating organization in chaotic environments, and managing competing demands in a world in crisis are all elements that are emphasized in the initial two years of cadet training. These skills require a cadet to think on their feet, which I believe requires a great deal of critical thinking. This ability is sharpened in the classroom later then to be executed on the field.

As an Ed instructor, one of the greatest privileges is to watch the growth and transformation of cadets over their two years in Chazak Academy. For me this involves teaching English Composition as well as the core expositional and survey Bible courses. It also involves being a dummy in medical scenarios where my leg has been tourniqueted an inordinate number of times. Through it all, the time and investment in each cadet has more than worth it, as I have seen cadets develop not only arguments for academic writing, but also their life thesis – finding the purpose for why they do what they do.

           
                                       

     
           
                                       

     
           
                                       

     
           
                                       

     
   

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