Military Commissions Research Articles

Transition meets instability: Chad after Idriss Déby Itno

Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno died on 20 April 2021 on the front lines against rebels from the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT). Following Déby’s death, a military committee headed by his son, Mahamat Déby, seized power and initiated a transition that led to Mahamat’s election to presidency in May 2024. Domestic conditions have worsened in the interim, and the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel are now among the most unstable regions in the world. Idriss Déby was a key figure in regional security operations and employed gatekeeping and neopatrimonialism to direct resources towards strengthening Chad’s forces, but the prolonged transition has called into question the extent to which this strategy of rentier peacekeeping can be maintained. This article assesses why Chad is facing this crisis and how the transition has impacted domestic and regional conditions. This rests on theorisation of the Chadian state, analysis of Chad’s history and transition to date, and application of theories of gatekeeper states, neopatrimonialism and omnibalancing to assess where the state is headed in the immediate term, concluding that a transition lacking real democratic transformation will exacerbate rather than alleviate tensions in Chad and the surrounding region.

Implementing Tourniquet Conversion Guidelines for Civilian EMS and Prehospital Organizations : A Case Report and Review.

Since the first documented use of a tourniquet in 1674, the popularity of tourniquets has waxed and waned. During recent wars and more recently in Emergency Medical Services systems, the tourniquet has been proven to be a valuable tool in the treatment of life-threatening hemorrhage. However, tourniquet use is not without risk, and several studies have demonstrated adverse events and morbidity associated with tourniquet use in the prehospital setting, particularly when left in place for more than 2 h. Consequently, the US military's Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care has recommended guidelines for prehospital tourniquet conversion to reduce the risk of adverse events associated with tourniquets once the initial hemorrhage has been controlled. Emergency Medical Services systems that operate in rural, frontier, and austere environments, especially those with transport times to definitive care that routinely exceed 2 h, may consider implementing similar tourniquet conversion guidelines.

Protocol no. 5 of March 12, 1932. A legal approach with delayed effects on bilateral investigation of incidents at the Romanian Bulgarian border

In 1923, the Dobrogean Revolutionary Internal Organization – V.D.R.O. was created by reorganizing the revolutionary section of „Dobrogea” Society. Amid intervention by the Bulgarian authorities informed that the leaders of this group, influenced by the Bulgarian communists, were planning to start a revolt in the autumn of 1925, the Dobrogean Internal Revolutionary Organization – V.D.R.O split, creating a new organization called the Dobrogean Revolutionary Organization – D.R.O. – under communist coordination. From this moment, internally, a strong rivalry began between these terrorist organizations, V.D.R.O and D.R.O. Therefore, between 1925 and 1932, the irredentist activity of Bulgarian counties was reflected in numerous border incidents, investigated by joint military commissions, exchanges of fire between Romanian and Bulgarian border guards, mainly caused by fraudulent crossings of Bulgarian counties, who robbed the Romanian peasants of the villages near the Romanian-Bulgarian border and killed the Romanian border guards who surprised them as they tried to cross the border. In order to stop these events and their investigation in a good collaboration by both parties, in 1932, a protocol agreed by the Government of Romania and Bulgaria was concluded and signed, known as Protocol no. 5, which sought to implement a simple procedure and methodology adapted to a concrete situation in the joint investigation of border incidents.

Boris Sinani: 246 Days in the Life of a Participant in Revolutionary Events in Russia in 1917

From the example of Russian officer Boris Semenovich Sinani’s fate, the authors have attempted to reconstruct the events of the first days of the February Revolution, including certain aspects of the work of the “military headquarters of the revolution” - the Military Commission, as well as the reasons for the creation and nature of the functioning of the Union of Republican Officers of the People's Army. Through their research, the authors have revealed the complexity of the relationship between the Provisional Committee of the State Duma and the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, as well as the attitude of the Russian officers to the revolutionary changes in the country. The authors note that the name Sinani was taken as a pseudonym by Georgy Borisovich Skalov, another participant in the revolution and the Civil War, and this choice played a tragic role in the fate of the latter. The study is based on the analysis of the documents of the Union of Socialists of the People's Army stored in the State Archive of the Russian Federation, memoirs, and their comparison with published scientific works. The authors have also attempted to reconstruct the main lines of interaction and contradictions between officer groups during the Great October Socialist Revolution.

The contribution of public organizations to the creation of the Ukrainian National Army (1989–1991)

This study describes the main processes that took place during 1989–1991 in Ukraine during the creation of the Ukrainian armed forces. The role of the People’s Movement of Ukraine and political parties, in particular the Ukrainian Republican Party, Party of Greens of Ukraine, Ukrainian People’s Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party of Ukraine, in the formation of the Ukrainian army and the influence of these organizations on the processes that contributed to the formation of the Ukrainian armed forces are discussed. The articles published in democratic, central and republican press at the time were analyzed. The study also examines the way in which the events surrounding the creation of the Ukrainian armed forces were portrayed in the media (press). Military issues and the solutions proposed by the Ukrainian military committee (Kharkiv) at the meeting of Democratic Forces (Lviv) and the Second Conference of the People’s Movement of Ukraine were described. The article highlights the achievements of the scientific and theoretical conference of 2–3 February 1991, the Military Board of the People’s Movement of Ukraine, and the First Congress of Officers – citizens of Ukraine (including the most interesting proposals for the formation of the Ukrainian army, as well as other concepts that differed from the recommendations made during the Congress) and their impact on the formation of the Ukrainian National Army.

Barriers to Academic Surgery in the US Armed Forces: A Study of the AAS Military Committee

IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to explore current perceptions within the military surgery community to stratify key obstacles to pursuing a career in academic surgery and identify opportunities for mitigation. MethodsAfter receiving institutional review board approval, an anonymous electronic survey was distributed to military surgeons across all branches. Survey response data were collected and analyzed using chi-square test. ResultsThe response rate was approximately 22%. Of those who responded to the survey, most are interested in an academic career (61.5%); however, 64% believe this to be much more difficult as a military surgeon than as a civilian surgeon. The top three perceived obstacles include administrative obstacles (76.4%), operational commitments (65.8%), and lack of funding for academic pursuits (62.7%). Most respondents indicated that they have never received formal education regarding how to apply for research funding (84.5%) and most do not have a research mentor (60.9%). Additionally, 42.9% state that obstacles to an academic career in surgery impact their decision to leave the military. Younger surgeons were more likely to leave the military upon completion of their service commitment (67.9% versus 46.4% aged 20-39 y, P = 0.02). ConclusionsWe characterized the perceived challenges to academic surgery within the military. These barriers between academic surgery and military service risk medical force attrition, particularly in future generations of surgeons. Dedicated faculty billets (positions) with limited operational demands as well as associated mentorship and research funding may enhance the retention and productivity of military surgeons.

The historical role of scholars and public intellectuals in Uganda’s post-independence politics: A critical study of the gang of four

This paper explores the contributions of four eminent political figures namely Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo, Dani Wadada Nabudere, Omwony Ojok and Yashpal Tandon to the post-independence politics of Uganda. The quartet belonged to the anti-Amin groups in exile who participated in the Moshi conference in Tanzania with the support of President Julius Nyerere. They were dubbed the gang of four by President Godfrey Binaisa during his short-lived regime in 1979. The four had been members of the National Consultative Council (NCC) which served as the legislative arm of the UNLF government under Yusuf Lule and Godfrey Binaisa. Edward Bitanywaine Rugumayo chaired the NCC; in other words, he was the speaker of the then National Assembly. During his tenure as the chairman of the NCC, Lule was removed from office after only 68 days. After Lule’s overthrow, Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa was sworn in as president but shortly, he was also overthrown by the military commission under the leadership of Paulo Muwanga and Yoweri Museveni. The gang of four later to played a very critical role in academia and taught in many universities both within and outside Africa. The four never participated in the 2nd Obote regime; they were all in exile. However, they resurfaced after the fall of the Obote II and two of them; Edward Rugumayo and Omwony Ojok worked closely with President Museveni during his lengthy NRM regime and served in different capacities.

Guantánamo's Legacy

The military detention facility at the Guantánamo Bay naval base is the most enduring manifestation of the US “war on terror.” It is also materially and symbolically central to US torture, war crimes, and other egregious violations of law in the post-9/11 era. Since the first detainees arrived in 2002, Guantánamo has been the subject of controversy and debate, as well as a key setting for legal challenges to government policies. This article traces the legacy of the prison and the military commissions across four administrations. It demonstrates that the lack of a common understanding or shared narrative about what Guantánamo means or has meant is a product of entrenched partisanship that characterizes contemporary US politics more broadly. Guantánamo's confounding legacy reflects the lack of a national consensus about the role of laws and courts as guarantors of even the most basic rights.

Higher military education focused on quantifiable learning outcomes

This article proposes potential solutions for adapting higher military education to the trends of education centered on learning outcomes. These solutions are based on specific military competences captured by national specialized institutions and aim to meet the requirementsof the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The analysis and proposed model are based on the Sectoral Qualifications Framework for the Military Officer Profession (SQF-MILOF), which was proposed by the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and recognized by the Military Committee of the European Union in 2021. This approach is relevant because the ESDC system will serve as the basis for developing a model based on learning outcomes, adapted to the national framework for training future commanders and staff officers. The authors intend to promote this solution as one aligned with European standards.

Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines: challenges of using global mass vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines: challenges of using global mass vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

The Fight Against Corruption in the Chinese Army as an Important Component of the Work to Strengthen the Armed Forces. Part 2

The Fight Against Corruption in the Chinese Army as an Important Component of the Work to Strengthen the Armed Forces. Part 2

시진핑 시기 중국의 군개혁과 중·인 국경분쟁

Unlike other civilian leaders, Xi Jinping pushed ahead with sweeping military reforms after taking office as General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. This was a reaction to the situation in which the chairman had not been able to secure control of the military since Deng Xiaoping. Through anti-corruption, Xi Jinping eliminated high-ranking officials who used the military as a tool for personal gain, and tried to eliminate trafficking of official posts and factions within the military. In addition, through structural reorganization, the power of command of the military commander, who had been ineffective, was clarified. The 4 headquarters that interfered with the commander's command system were dismantled and reconstituted as an organization that assisted the military commission. The defense- oriented 7 military districts were also reorganized into 5 theater to prepare for both peacetime and wartime. And the army was established to break the grand army principle, strengthen the status of other forces necessary for modern warfare, and rearrange the composition of troops for them.
 The theater is not just a defense system, but a system responsible for operations. Accordingly, the eastern theater was responsible for Taiwan, the southern theater was responsible for the South China Sea and Vietnam, the western theater was responsible for India and Central Asia, the northern theater was responsible for the Korean Peninsula, and the central theater was responsible for the mission of the strategic reserve force. In general, it is evaluated that the risk of war in the Taiwan Strait, which is in charge of the Eastern Front, is the highest. However, the area where the largest number of troops are actually deployed is in the Western Front. There are two group army, as well as Xinjiang and Xizang military district. This is because west operation area is vast and its borders are very long, even though China has continuously pushed for weapon modernization. In addition, India is the only country that China does not have a border agreement with, and continues to confront each other across the LAC. In addition, the region should be responsible for operations in Central Asia in case of emergency. Therefore, west are organizing units and distributing weapons with the possibility of a small-scale armed clash or conflict rather than a large-scale war. In fact, it is judged that the possibility of an armed conflict in this area is much higher than in the Taiwan Strait.

Why the military committee is important to SAGES?

SAGES established a military committee in 2009 and since that time. It may not be readily clear why a traditionally laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical society should have a military committee whose members' primary mission is combat surgery. Military surgeons have a second mission, though, which is to provide care for all its beneficiaries in all the surgical subspecialties. They also have a third mission, which is to train the next generation of military surgeons. The aim of this paper is to discuss the relationshipwith SAGES that enables the military to succeed in these missions and the benefits it provides to SAGES. A historical review of the military committee and its activities since its inception in 2009. Through SAGES, military surgeons have a cost-effective means of developing professionally and receiving education in surgical areas outside of the battlefield arena, which the DOD does not provide. For 13years, SAGES has also provided an academic venue for research in these specialties. With the addition of military members, SAGES can access more surgeons and surgical innovation like surgery in space and worldwide telemedicine. The military committee also gives SAGES an opportunity to directly contribute to the care of military service members, retirees, and VA beneficiaries, which benefits the United Statesas a whole. SAGES and the military have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. The contributions of SAGES have undoubtedly saved and improved US service member and beneficiary lives. It has also improved the education and academic advancements of the military surgeons. SAGES also reaches more surgeons and has another platform for surgical innovation. The relationship should continue and be allowed to grow.

The Ming Dynasty Military Postal Relay System and the Relay Post Personnel

<p>驛傳是中國古代官方的交通、通訊系統，其運營有民遞、軍遞等不同形式。到了明代，驛傳作為一種特殊的徭役，雖然主要從民戶中僉派，但有一類特殊驛夫，稱為站軍，其應役場所稱為軍站。儘管站軍承擔著與民驛夫類似的公文遞送、置辦鋪陳之責，但其戶籍歸屬於軍戶，行政管理上也隸屬「衛所─都指揮使司─五軍都督府」這一系統之內。這一現象的出現，與明初對於元代「諸色戶計」差役的調整密切相關。隨著衛所軍士的逃亡，以及民驛折銀化的出現，從嘉靖年間起，各地巡撫也開始從軍費或各府庫調撥專款，為軍站提供協濟，同時軍站內部也出現了少量的雇役因素。這一改革在維繫邊防一帶的驛遞系統之際，也使得明末「一條鞭法」的精神滲透入衛所系統中，軍站與民驛得以進一步合流。</p> <p> </p><p>The postal relay system in ancient China served as the official method of communication and transportation and included both civil and military delivery. In the Ming dynasty, the postal relay system created a new special corvée labour status. Even though the majority of the work was assigned to civilian households, there remained a special class of workers, called Relay Postal Personnel (zhanjun). This group worked at sites that were designated military postal stations. The postal personnel were responsible for the delivery of official documents and managed the distribution of supplies—similar to that of civilian households—yet their household registration fell under the jurisdiction of military households and fell under the government administration which subordinated them under the military garrison system—the Commander-in-Chief of the Military Command—the Five Chief Military Commissions. The emergence of this phenomenon was closely related to the adjustments made in the early Ming dynasty to the corvée labour system inherited from the Yuan Dynasty. After the garrison guards fled their posts, and the emergence of the tax system of ‘splitting the silver taels’ was instituted at the civilian postal stations, every provincial governor from the mid-Jiajing era onward began to transfer funds from military budgets and the government treasury to provide assistance to the military stations. At the same time, military postal stations experienced a shortage of hired labor. These reforms shored up the the courier system in border areas and extended the spirit of the ‘Single-whip Method’ of levying taxes to the Garrison (weisuo) system, military postal stations, and civilian postal stations which could thus all develop along the same trajectory.</p> <p> </p>

Who Commands the Gun? Mobilization and Use of China's Armed Police

AbstractRecent reforms to China's People's Armed Police have changed the balance of authority between central and local officials, continuing a pattern of reduced local control and granting more authority to Xi Jinping in his role as Central Military Commission chairman. The new system, however, attempts to balance central control with provisions that allow local officials down to the prefecture level to take command in some circumstances. This system intends to allow for rapid mobilization in cases of social unrest or natural disasters, although a review of emergency response plans and other Chinese sources indicates uneven implementation. The risk is that centralization could slow emergency response, although the effects will depend on the nature of civil–military coordination at different levels. The paper describes new legal authorities, assesses implementation and challenges, and reaches conclusions about the implications for Chinese political control and emergency response.

Police prehospital trauma care and hemorrhage control training as an indicator for elevated performance: A systematic review of literature

The global escalation of terrorist and felonious assaults in the civilian environment along with the Emergency Medical Services lack of training in tactical emergency casualty care lead the police forces to look for new training strategies regarding penetrating trauma management from Law Enforcement Personnel. USA police agencies approached the military committee for guidelines due to similarities presented between civilian incidents and warfare. Therefore, modified Tactical Emergency Casualty Care programs were developed. These programs were also adapted by the Hellenic Police Force, along with German, Italian, French and British Police. The aim was to elevate Law Enforcement Officers medical knowledge and practical skills in bleeding control, tension pneumothorax and airway management using hemostatic dressings, tourniquets, decompression needles and nasopharyngeal tubes respectively, in an ongoing situation. It is evident that LEOs training nowadays is more demanding as far as it concerns severe and life-threatening injury management, resulting to increased self-confidence and medical skill development. On the other hand, such training should be accessible and cost-efficient to the majority of field-operating personnel.

China’s military strategy for a ‘new era’: Some change, more continuity, and tantalizing hints

ABSTRACT In 2019, China’s Central Military Commission adopted a new strategy for the People’s Liberation Army, titled the ‘military strategic guidelines for the new era.’ This was consistent with the past but framed by Xi’s political consolidation, growing threats from the United States and Taiwan, and a new military structure. This article documents the strategy and asks what would drive a more fundamental adjustment. It concludes that the strategy reflected a determination to focus the PLA on the necessary and the achievable, but a new direction could be influenced by changes in the strategic landscape, rapid modernization, or new operational concepts.

Do fears of normative commitments influence nominations to senior NATO military positions? The case of Trudeau with Vance

This article uses the Trudeau Government’s decision not to nominate General Jonathan Vance to the position of Chair of the Military Committee (CMC) as a basis to examine the extent to which states should fear alliance contributions. The authors examine if the decision could have been based on fears of expected yet “tacit” pressures to accept greater responsibilities and costs within the overall alliance framework. By analyzing “traditional” NATO alliance contribution data from 2002–2020 through six previous CMCs, this research examines whether incumbency in the CMC position is linked to an increase in material contributions to the alliance. The results of the analyses show that there is no direct relation between an alliance member holding the CMC position and increased alliance contributions. Nonetheless, this study contributes to the field of collective defence through an acknowledgement that states may not fear unstated alliance commitments and obligations as much as theoretically understood.

How Torture and National Security Have Corrupted the Right to Fair Trial in the 9/11 Military Commissions

Abstract Now passing its tenth year of pre-trial, the 9/11 military commission involves five men on trial for war crimes and terrorism in relation to the attacks against the USA on 11 September 2001. This article examines specific issues regarding the relationship between the prohibition against torture, national security and the right to fair trial that have arisen in the pre-trial phase of the case. The most obvious connection between the prohibition against torture and the right to fair trial has traditionally played out in the context of the exclusion of evidence obtained through torture. However, the frenetic nature of engagement between the defense and the prosecution in the courtroom reinforces that the US government’s efforts to hide the torture of the defendant victims diminishes the further range of protections that make up the right to fair trial, in particular this article examines various components of the right to an effective defense. In analysing these issues, the article contributes to the legal literature and understanding about the interrelated nature of torture and fair trial in the Guantánamo military commissions by demonstrating how efforts to conceal torture using the guise of national security prevents the defendants from fully engaging their rights to a fair trial in the 9/11 military commission.

MILITARY ENGINEERING STRUCTURES WITHIN NATO COMMANDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW DOCTRINAL PROVISIONS

According to the directives of the NATO Military Committee, ensuring the effective military engineering support required by the military engineering command and staff structures, as well as command-control (C2) arrangements at all levels. These C2 arrangements, the structural organization, and their general attributions are regulated in the new NATO Doctrine for Military Engineering, by which to recommend the implementation of the provisions in the organization of NATO commands, as well as of the commands within the NATO national armies. In the following lines, I intend to make a short presentation of the organization of military engineering structures within NATO commands, from different hierarchical levels, under the new doctrinal provisions, also, references to cooperation relations and some clarifications with on their general responsibilities. As the new NATO doctrinal provisions on the military engineering branch are being implemented in the Romanian Army, proposals are to be made to the decision-makers, to modify the military engineering command structures in the Romanian Army, to be similar to those within the NATO commands.