Hungarian Defence Forces Research Articles

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

Diseases and Non-Battle Injuries (DNBI) in HUN Missions Based on EPIHUN Reports

The Medical Service of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) has been playing and taking an important role in the elimination and medical stabilization of several regional crisis areas since 1991. These medical protection and “back-ups” literally mean the medical support of our military forces take part in different tasks besides this fulfilling the special tasks of preventive medicine. The medical data collected from the different tasks and missions have been gathered systematically in order to be informative. From 2008 on we manage data collection with a real-time surveillance report system, the so called EPIHUN (Hungarian Epidemiological and Patient Turnover Report), which have been collected from different aspects and analysed from force health protection aspects. With the DNBI data from the system the authors are analysing the preventable diseases morbidity state and tendencies of the EUFOR (European Union Force), KFOR (Kosovo Force), MFO (Multinational Force and Observers) and UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) missions on a 2013 data base. It could be surprising that the morbidity data are very similar to the values seen among military collectives living in barracks during the conscription era of the armed forces. Most DNBI are acute respiratory diseases and diseases of the digestive system, which is important information in medical preparation training before deployment.

Hungarian defence forces in NATO multinational operations (highliting the Polish-Hungarian cooperation)

<i>Nowadays, the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) have several multinational tasks all over the world. These are changing constantly due to the expansion of the different missions. In the beginning, HDF personnal were participating individually (officers, NCOs), and later by sub-level power in NATO and EU operations. The Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) mission in Afghanistan was the most successful operation of the HDF, which was terminated in March 2013. Hungarian soldiers gained considerable experience in Iraq too, where they served in a Transport Battalion under Polish command (Multinational Division). Based on these facts, this article presents some Hungarian aspects of multinational operations.</i>

Evolution of Hungarian Security Policy Thinking in 1989–1999, with a Special View on the Hungarian Defence Forces

Hungarian security policy thinking has gone through basic and crucial changes in the past two decades. As a result, we can see a kind of “evolution”, which began from a former Soviet satellite status and continued through a role seeking period to active membership in the Euro–Atlantic community. One of the most significant security and defence policy changes can be seen with regard to the shaping and restructuring of the Hungarian Defence Forces.This paper seeks to explain this evolution in the period of 1989–1999 with the support of the János Bolyai Scholarship awarded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Non–destructive Material Testing (Ndt) Techniques Applied for the Life Extension Program of the Aircraft in the Hungarian Defence Forces

Most aircraft in the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) were planned back in the 1960s and 70s. Accordingly, strategies of operating and maintaining these aircraft reflect the level of engineering, technology and diagnostics of that era. However, since the mid 1990s until today a new generation of modern aircraft (JAS–39 EBS HU Gripen, MiG–29 tactical fighter aircraft) have been used in the Hungarian Defence Forces. By using these third and fourth generation fighters, new, modern operating and maintenance environment and systems have also been introduced. This publication is aimed at providing a short overview of Non–Destructive Material Testing; a very special segment of the many diagnostic testing methods used during life extension programs.

The Modernization of the Armored Combat Vehicle Fleet of the Hungarian Defense Forces in Terms of Mobility

The Hungarian Defence Forces (Magyar Honvédség) have several off–road combat vehicles of different ages and condition. One can find tracked– and wheeled equipment, such as battle tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, special purpose vehicles, and engineering machinery among them. Some of these devices are now obsolete, the exchange of the rest is becoming due. This study looks at the armored combat vehicle portfolio of the Hungarian Defence Forces, seeking an answer to the question what the role of the mobility of armed forces is; are only wheeled or tracked equipment needed, or both. I am going to review, on the basis of the main sources of literature, what results have been achieved in national military–technical life, in the field of mobility, by comparison and an examination of a selection of military use off–road vehicles.

The Characteristics of Women Soldiers’ Profession Socialization, Integration, Adaptation and Their Emphasized Fields of Manifestation in the Different Types of Corps

The acceptance of women soldiers still poses questions in the organization of Hungarian Defence Forces although they are more than a countable amount of active members in the last decade. Besides this, their professional socialization in military jobs could be problematic in some ways. Professional socialization is highly influenced by the type of corps (fighting; fight–supporting; serving–supporting) where the woman soldier fulfils her duty, because henceforth she will adapt herself to the requirements and expectations of the corps in question. In order to map the differences of the corps from this aspect we have organized focus groups and by doing this our “hidden aim” was to promote the acceptance of women soldiers and facilitate them in their socialization. As a result we have gained information on the problematic points of adaptation, also the specification of the different types of corps from this point of view. These data will be shown and interpreted in this article.

The Effect of Specific Environmental Features on the Activities of the Hungarian Defence Forces in Afghanistan

The environment ― primarily the weather and the terrain ― always has consid- erable impact on the success of military operations. We have numerous examples in military history when the extreme environment and the hostile weather rendered the implementation of the military leader’s plans difficult or even prevented them. These days when the consequences of climate change play an increasing role in our everyday lives we have to pay special attention to the utilization of the experience gained in our missions. The soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces are among the first to meet climatic extremities, considerable temperature fluctuations and diseases unknown so far. This attention is made even more important by the fact that our presence extends from Africa to Asia, thus facing extreme circumstances is inevitable. Concurrently we also have to prepare ourselves for the extremely warm or cold weather in our own country. Both the preparation of our soldiers, their clothing and assets, and our operational procedures have to be thought over. This is the only way to enable our soldiers to concentrate solely on their duties thereby increasing their efficiency and safety. We will review below the practical experi- ence gained by our soldiers in the operations in Afghanistan.

The evolution of the Hungarian security policy thinking between 1989-1999, with a special view on the Hungarian Defence Forces

The evolution of the Hungarian security policy thinking between 1989-1999, with a special view on the Hungarian Defence Forces

Experience in the Use of Military Forces in Flood Protection

The tasks of the Hungarian Defence Forces have changed significantly due to the evolving security challenges. While the level of traditional threats has decreased, there are new challenges approaching, which influence the sense of security in society. These are terrorism, the effects of climate change (floods, snow storms) and cyber crimes. To face the risk factors defined in the National Military Strategy we are in need of changes in preparation, in the set of military assets and in the educational framework. As a result, officer and NCO training and education will be transformed too. We are looking for solutions which can raise the security level of our soldiers in domestic tasks and abroad in international missions.

A New NATO Member’s Perspective: Hungary’s Army and Homeland Security

The last decade has brought substantial changes in the security environment for Europe, and the Euro-Atlantic region in general. Hungary has not been immune from these trends. Some aspects of these changes appear on their face to be positive, since the possibility of a purely European war was lessened, and the regional-ethnic conflicts of the 1990s have settled down, at least in a military sense. Nevertheless, new security challenges have emerged—most notably terrorism—that may require military intervention. The Republic of Hungary is currently in the process of developing a National Military Strategy, which—in accordance with the Basic Principle of the Security and Defense Policy, the National Security Strategy, and the Defense Reform —meets the challenges of this new era. The ultimate goal of maintaining the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) is to support the enforcement of Hungary’s national security interests. It is imperative, therefore, to clarify the role of the HDF, the principles of engagement, and the primary courses of technical development and funding that will best support that mission.