ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ПІДГОТОВКИ ОФІЦЕРІВ ДЛЯ ЗБРОЙНИХ СИЛ РЕСПУБЛІКИ ЛАТВІЯ

Abstract

Introduction. Analysis of the foreign experience of the organisation and reformation of the armed forces in other countries, with the respective systems of military education being an integral part, reveals the specific national aspect of such activities in each country. In the meantime, there are some general methodological approaches used in military pedagogic practice across different countries of the world to be practicably considered and applied.Purpose. To carry out the analysis of the current state of the military education system of the republic of Latvia for integrating the experience of officer training in the course of further reformation of the national military education system. Methods. The system of the general scientific methods of theoretical and empirical research, in particular, the theoretical-methodological analysis of the problem and the relevant scholarly resources, systematization and generalization of the scientific information pertaining to the essence and content of the set objectives, monitoring of the existing system of military specialists training in the armed forces of the republic of Latvia, scientific generalisation, the general scientific methods of logical and comparative analysis, systems approach, peer review, analysis and interpretation of the obtained theoretical and empirical data. Results. The experience of officer training for the armed forces of the republic of Latvia was considered. The options to provide training of officers for the primary positions as well as the “trajectories” of the latter’s enrolment were outlined. The process of officer training for different armed services was analyzed. The information about the existing network of the military education institutions providing training for the tactical and operational grade officers for the Army Military Command, the Air Forces, and the Navy was represented. The terms and officer training trades on the tactical and operational levels were specified.Originality. The article was the first to comprehensively analyse of the officer training system for the armed forces of Latvia to the current models of military specialists training adopted in NATO member states.Conclusion. The existing military education system in Latvia has successfully underwent the period of transformation of the armed forces towards meeting NATO standards, building on the experience of military specialists training in the developed member states of the alliance and considering the peculiarities of the national educational system. It provides officer training in the required military trades in the unique military education institution – The National Defense Academy of Latvia, which autonomously provides tactical grade officers training for the Land Force, also training Air Force officers jointly with the Riga Technical University and navy officers in collaboration with Naval Academy. The training of operative and strategic grade officers is provided on the respective courses at the National Defense Academy of Latvia as well as the Baltic Military College.