Military Competence Research Articles

Prepared for what? Brazilian debate on military competence for public security operations

ABSTRACT The military domestic deployment in operations involving the use of force attracted particular attention in the last decades for challenging the traditional conception of the armed forces as instruments of foreign policy. It led to concerns about the adequacy of military training and equipment to act domestically against nonmilitary actors, which can be divided into three arguments: training adequacy, threat adequacy, and pragmatism. The present paper argues that these perspectives are embedded in contrasting normative conceptions about how the state’s violence is to be organized. In this sense, the technical narrative works as a mechanism of legitimation, through which claimants convey a sense of obviousness about the armed forces’ deployment, framing it as the only course of action available. This argument is developed through the analysis of the public debate on three military operations in Brazil: Operation Rio (1994–1995), Operation Arcanjo (2010–2012), and Operation Rio de Janeiro (2017–2018).

CBRN Disaster Hospital Response and Preparedness. An Italian Civilian Military Cooperation Teaching Model

Introduction:Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies need specific hospital preparedness and resource availability.Preparing to evaluate and manage victims from CBRN exposure events in one aspect of hospital preparedness, is often underestimated. Specific skills and capabilities are required to manage these events. Emergency department (ED) and hospital staff need adequate training to provide safe and effective care.Method:The Hospital Complex of Valtellina and Alto Lario (with three hospitals), in consideration of the geographic location amid mountains, far from urban hospital centers, decided to develop an intensive training program for the hospital emergency staff. Firstly, it was based on an eight-hour initial training program, using a combined civilian military approach that included hazard recognition, substance identification, site safety, response roles, PPE use, and decontamination procedures. The CBRN Operational Unit (for prevention of chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear risks) of the 1st Territorial Unit of the Auxiliary Military Corps of the Order of Malta Italy led such training session showing that a military approach to CBRN threats can be used with civilian and military competencies and tools in managing specific hazardous events hospital first responders may face.Results:A drill exercise was performed on a radiological fall-out incident to test the hospital’s emergency response staff preparedness. Hospital management and decontamination procedures were analyzed to treat victims as well as first responders and to train hospital staff with few resources available.Conclusion:Hospitals need a specific level of preparedness to enable an effective response to CBRN emergencies. Skills and competencies of military personnel can be a resource in these kinds of events to train civilian personnel who are not normally acquainted to or confident to manage this kind of CBRN events, and can represent a new model and challenge of interagency cooperation in the disaster management of complex emergencies involving hazardous materials.

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.

Neurosurgical Consultation Referral from the Forces: Regarding 328 Patients Referred to the Department of Neurosurgery, Sainte Anne Military Hospital, France.

There are little data regarding elective referral to the military specialist, especially considering common pathologies such as spinal diseases, which, in the French forces, involve military neurosurgeons. An overview of the management of the military patient referred to neurosurgery consultation, especially considering spinal diseases that both constitute an operational healthissue in the forces and appear of special interest. The objective was to describe the reasons, demographics, and care pathways, addressed to the neurosurgeon. This retrospective, single-center study focused on all military patients referred for neurosurgery consultation at Sainte Anne Military Hospital in Toulon. Extracted data included demographic characteristics, army, unit, military specialty, the reason for referral, the diagnosis by the neurosurgeon, treatment, and outcome. From January 2018 to December 2019, 352 patients were referred for neurosurgical consultation by the unit general practitioner. Spinal disease (n = 297, 91%) was the most frequent reason. Lumbar degenerative disk disease accounted for 20% of consultations, regardless of the patient's unit or specialty. Most of the patients seen in consultation received nonsurgical management (n = 271, 82.6%). These patients mainly presented with cervical or lumbar degenerative disk disease (n = 99, 36.5%) or cervical or lumbar herniated discs (n = 57, 21.0%). Ninety-eight patients (29.9%) were referred exclusively for medical fitness assessment. Few patients experienced full resolution of their presenting complaint after management (n = 9, 2.8%). This descriptive study demonstrates the predominance of degenerative spinal diseases in military patients referred to neurosurgery. It reflects the importance of the medical and military competence required to maintain operational capability upstream and downstream of war traumatology. The description of the care pathways invites us to define more proactive multidisciplinary pathways for the management of these diseases in the armed forces.

SPECIFICS OF TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES FOR THE MILITARY: ANALYSIS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES ACADEMY IN SLOVAKIA

Language skills have always represented an integral part of the key military competencies. In order to modernize and enhance the foreign language education of future officers, a research project has been carried out and selected aspects of this project have been shared in this paper. It is based on the theoretical and empirical knowledge of foreign language education at the Armed Forces Academy of gen. M. R. Štefánik in Slovakia and the transition from on-site learning to e-learning with particular focus on multimodality in foreign language education.

Moderated Mediation in the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and the Effectiveness of Military Training for Reservists

This study focuses on the evaluation of the moderating role of psychological resilience in intrinsic motivation. These causal relationships were evaluated in terms of self-efficacy and perceived military competence, taking into account the effects of intrinsic motivation and psychological resilience. Five hypotheses were developed on the effects of the theoretically supported variable relations. The study data set was collected from the Active Lithuanian Army Reserve. In this study, 354 soldiers were investigated using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRE), the Self-Efficacy Scale (EFF), the Intrinsic Motivation Scale (INM) and the Perceived Military Competence Scale (PMC). The results of the analysis conducted showed that between self-efficacy and the growth of perceived military competence is a positive relationship both for soldiers with high and low points of intrinsic motivation. In addition, it can be concluded that reservists with higher internal motivation have more confidence in their abilities to act and achieve the set goals, which can have a significant impact on reservists' readiness to improve their military competence. Similarly, self-efficacy appears to be vital in improving military competences among soldiers with less intrinsic motivation. Moreover, soldiers with higher intrinsic motivation and higher psychological resilience probably increase their military competence due to the pleasure they derive from participating in military exercises.

Military Competence-in-Use in the Expeditionary Era: A Swedish Example From Missions Abroad

In Swedish military policy, the concept of kompetens (competence) describes the skills and capability of military personnel. Furthermore, “competence-in-use,” a multidimensional conceptual tool, has been used for decades in Swedish military instruction and training without having ever been empirically proven. In this pilot study, designed as an exploratory case study, we will try to connect theory to practice by examining the actual situations in which military competence is used. This article has two aims: First, to examine the relevance of the concept of competence-in-use in Swedish military practice abroad, and second, to combine and evaluate two methods in an exploratory case study. To capture firsthand experiences of real combat situations, we selected a sample of 28 firsthand narratives from Swedish service members. Our mapping identifies the blurred transition between combat and noncombat situations. By way of conclusion, we suggest that our analysis tool is further tested, for example, in comparative studies between nations.

WILLIAM MARSHAL IN BATTLE OF DRINCOURT (1166): THE BEGINNING OF FLOWER`S OF CHIVALRY CAREER

The article, based on an episode (the battle of Drincourt, 1166) from the biography of “the flower of chivalry" by William Marshall (set out in the “History of William Marshall” composed by the Anglo-Norman poet Jean in the first third of the 12th century), deals with the strategies and practices by which the young knight could earn social capital and military competence at the `proprietorial warfare`. Such kind of warfare completely dominated in the military culture of the Medieval West. This warfare was shaped by four main factors: a. the dominance of land as a form of wealth; b. the limited competence of government; c. the state of technology which, broadly, favoured defence over attack; d. the geography and climate of the West. The battle of Drincourt was a typical one for proprietorial warfare. The reason was the conflict over land ownership. The immediate cause of the conflict in 1166 on the border of the Duchy of Normandy was the deprivation by the English King Henry II of his old enemy William Talvas, count Ponthieu from his inheritance in South Normandy. The territory of the county of Ponthieu was located north of Normandy at the mouth of the river Somme. Talvas, along with his allies, counts of Flanders and Boulogne, invaded the Norman County of Eu. Drincourt, a frontier fortress that covered the Normandy capital Rouen from the north and expectedly was under attack. The seigneurs who defended it acted in very weak interplay with their monarchs. The chief royal military administrator in the region, Constable of Normandy Richard du Hommet, left Drincourt immediately after receiving news of the enemy's arrival. The battle took place around and inside the fortified settlement, the victory went to the side that was on the defensive. The terrain played a major role in the battle. William Marshall proved himself in it as a model knight, and his first success largely determined his further advancement on the social hierarchy in Western medieval society. Although the poet Jean's message is inscribed in the apologetic knightly biography, the author - or authors, if we agree with David Crouch that the poet put the original Marshall’s storytelling on the poem, it composed without any snobbery focus to proves of noble combatants. Poet described all military techniques of the day: from the iconic knight's mounted shock combat with couched lance to the use of household tools such as a hook to knock down walls in a fire. The poet colorfully conveyed the chaos and spontaneity of tactical concepts of the proprietorial warfare. Old feudal conflicts divide the leaders, the invaders enter the battle incoordination, giving the defenders time to regroup and even rest - the ambush of Marshall in the sheep detachment repeated twice confirms it. The poetic description of the Battle of Drincourt is also of key event to the understanding of William Marshall's fighting skills, for which he largely built his political career.

Reserve Soldiers’ Psychological Resilience Impact to Sustainable Military Competences: On the Mediating Role of Psychological Skills (Effort, Self-Efficacy, Proactivity)

This research aims to explore an analytical model, gauge the interplay between psychological resilience and achieved military competencies, and examine an intermediary role of effort, proactivity, and self-efficacy. In this study, 337 reserve soldiers from Lithuania were investigated with the Lithuanian Military Training Competences Assessment Scale, Resilience Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), and Proactivity Scale. Our findings highlighted the importance of the psychological resilience of reserve soldiers due to its positive relationship with the personality traits. Implicit interconnectedness between psychological resilience and psychological skills together with military competences was researched, and it became evident that self-efficacy determined a statistically important mediating role (indirect effect = 0.264 **, p < 0.05) between reservists’ psychological resilience and perceived military training course results. However, the other components included in the study did not have a mediating effect (effort indirect effect = 0.03, p > 0.1; proactivity indirect effect = 0.094, p > 0.1). The research findings are important because of greater prominence of the role of reserve troops in military operations around the world and achievements in the domain of security and defense. This study has great theoretical and empirical value in making decisions concerning the psychological resilience of reserve soldiers’ promotion and sustainable improvement of military preparedness strategies.

Justification of military professional competences required by graduate officers

Introduction. The current international geopolitical situation and modern technical level of weapons, military and special equipment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation place high demands on gr aduates of higher military educational institutions (vvuz), on which the defense capability of our Motherland, the strength and power of its army directly depends. Therefore, the training of officers is one of the most important priority areas of military construction of the Russian army. An important role in this matter belongs to the military professional training of young officers, the readiness of graduates of higher education institutions for future service in the military, military administration bodies, educational and research organizations, the formation of their responsible and interested attitude to their work. The successful solution of the problem of military vocational training of graduates of higher education institutions is possible with the help of a competent approach set out in the Federal State Educational Standards of Higher Professional Education of the third generation (FGOS)Problem statement. The main objective of this work is to substantiate the military-professional competencies received by cadets during their studies at higher education institutions.Methodology of the study. In the course of this study, methods of analysis and synthesis were used, a set of measures was carried out, including collection, comparison, generalization, ranking, formulation, targeting.Results. Based on the results of the work carried out, the most important military professional competencies of future officers were substantiated. Graduates of higher military education institutions should be able to conduct combat training classes with subordinates; organize the daily service activities of subordinates; ensure the safety of military service of subordinates; ensure the strengthening of military discipline in a subordinate military unit.Conclusions. The article considers and substantiates the definitions of “competence” and “competency”, “professional competence of military personnel”, which most accurately correspond to the modern educational paradigm that is based on personality-oriented learning and competence-based approach, currently implemented in the Russian education system. The conclusions are formulated based on the results of consideration and analysis of these terms. In addition, based on the analysis and synthesis of the content of the current FGOS for higher professional education and the requirements for the training of specialists of the Military Training and Scientific Center of the Air Force “Professor N. E. Zhukovsky and Yu. A. Gagarin Air Force Academy”, as well as relying on the results of an expert survey of corresponding relevant categories of the permanent staff of the Air Force and representatives military units, a number of relevant military-professional competencies were substantiated, which it is advisable to form among officers-graduates of the higher military educational institution. The results obtained in the work can be applied not only in higher military education institutions, but also in edu cational institutions of other departments.

The essence and structure of military skill

The article deals with the issues of military competence, the integrative quality of officers, representing a set of professionally significant qualities, the ability and willingness to solve professional problems and tasks that arise in real situations of military activity, using knowledge, skills, abilities, professional and life experience, values and culture. The military-professional skill of military labor and including military-professional knowledge, skills and abilities, which are, on the one hand, the prerequisites for the successful activity of the future officer, on the other hand, neoplasms, they themselves develop and are enriched with knowledge in the course of study and service of the future specialist.

Reframing the Guardianship Dilemma: How the Military’s Dual Disloyalty Options Imperil Dictators

Dictators confront a guardianship dilemma: military agents are needed to defeat mass outsider movements, but these agents can overthrow the ruler from within. In existing theories, rulers prioritize coup-proofing measures unless they anticipate strong outsider threats. Then dictators prioritize military competence. I reframe the guardianship dilemma around the central idea that militaries can choose between dual disloyalty options. In addition to staging a coup, militaries can defect by not fending off popular uprisings or rebellions. Dictators fear competent militaries not primarily because of their coup threat but instead because they often survive intact following a regime transition. Low motivation for competent militaries to save the ruler undermines their rationale of guarding against outsider threats, even if they pose a low coup threat. Consequently, rulers prioritize competence under narrow circumstances. Only radically oriented outsider movements that pose an existential threat to all regime elites induce loyalty from a competent military.

The philosophy of Be, Know, and Do in forming the 21st-century military war-front competencies: a systematic review

ABSTRACT 21st-century military operational environment is characterised by changeability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Hence, the military primarily aims to groom and develop essential competencies of the soldiers for success and survival. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesise 21st-century military war-front competencies to connect to the philosophy of Be, Know, and Do to analyse what a soldier must Be, what a soldier must Know, and what a soldier must Do to successfully fulfil the responsibilities and assigned roles. This philosophy relates 21st-century military competencies to the best set of meta-competencies according to the functionality in the operational environment. The study identified 300 pieces of research and 15 military field manuals published in various journals and databases. For each research, purpose, corresponding competencies, and criteria were used to analyse competencies. This research aims at preparing a conceptual framework of 21st-century military war-front competencies.

Характеристика военного искусства боевых действий повстанческой армии Е. Пугачева при осаде Оренбурга

The paper aims to describe the military strategy of Y. Pugachev’s army during combat operations near Orenburg. The article discusses such issues as efficiency of strategic and tactical decisions, military skills of Pugachev himself and the military potential of his army. Scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that relying on archival sources, the researcher for the first time analyses the rebellion leaders’ military competence and the rebellious army’s strategies during siege of Orenburg. The research findings are as follows: the author identifies the most obvious mistakes made by the rebellion leaders, reveals objective and subjective causes of the rebellion defeat.

The Role of Political Competence in Training Cadets at Higher Military Education Institutions during the Integration Process into NATO

The article considers the conditions for the formation of political competence of cadets of highermilitary education institutions of Ukraine. The necessity of strengthening humanitarian training, in particularpolitical orientation, as well as the necessity of mastering the direction of civil-military cooperation isconsidered. The standard basic plan, standards of military education of NATO member countries areanalyzed in detail. The conditions for reforming higher education in Ukraine are considered. The article alsodwells upon consequences of unformed political competence in society, including the lack of national unityand the existing political confrontation based on ideological and socio-economic differences; lack of legalculture and legal nihilism of citizens; ethno-national and social problems in society stemming from politicalignorance. The activity of the International Association of Military Pedagogy and its role in the training ofmilitary specialists are considered. The need to strengthen humanitarian training in higher militaryinstitutions is described as a basis for training that meets the standards of NATO member countries. Themain normative documents in which the course of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO is prescribed areanalyzed. It is concluded that in the world the political competence of a future officer is no less importantthan their military competence, because under certain conditions it allows preventing military conflict and avoiding human casualties. Also, the successful experience of the processes of formation of politicalcompetence in future officers in foreign countries acquires important practical significance in the process ofvocational training in higher military education institutions of Ukraine. It is concluded that the political spaceis constantly changing, the development of information and communication technologies generates anuncontrolled or specifically biased information flow of news, and therefore unformed political competence isa threat to national security. It is also emphasized that the motivational component for the formation ofpolitical competence in future officers depends in part on the desire of the person for self-development andself-improvement.

ТЕОРЕТИКО-МЕТОДИЧНІ ЗАСАДИ НАВЧАННЯ ВІЙСЬКОВО-СПЕЦІАЛЬНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН МАГІСТРІВ ВІЙСЬКОВО-СОЦІАЛЬНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ:ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНЕ ДОСЛІДЖДЕННЯ

Introduction. Experimental research was reviewed and way of a scertaining and generating experiment was exposed concerning introducing technique of development of military and special competence of master sofmilitary and social management based onthe grounds of the content presentation in the process of teaching military and special disciplines. Purpose. The a imof generating experiment was toexamine effective nessof the teaching military special disciplinest echniqueof masters of military and social management. Methods. Authenticity of the got results is well-proven by means of methods of mathematical statistics.Results. The article presents tages of organizing and conducting a pedagogical experiment and the resultsof development of military and special competence of mastersof military and social management base don the ground sofve rsatilestructural and functional techniqueof a content presentation in the process of teaching military and special disciplines. Aiming to very fying maturitylevel of military and special competen ceofmastersof military and social management, we haved evelopedan experimental research program. In 2016-2019 ascert aining and generating experiments were conducted in the National Defence University of Ukrainen amed after Ivan Cherniakhovskyi, the National Academy of the National Guardof Ukraine, the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukrainen amed after Bohdan Khmelnytskyi. Ascer taining experiment in cluded the following stages: – determinati on of accuracy; – determination of the currentstate of the teaching military and special disciplines of masters of military and social management; – development of researchhypo thesis.In the control groupeducation of the future master sof military and socialmanage ment was conducted under traditional technique of teaching military and special disciplines whilein the experimental groupanin novation techniqueof the content presentationin the processof teaching military and special disciplines was applied. There sultsofex perimental research of special military competence development in the process of teaching military and special disciplines for student of ficersin the higher military educational in stitutions were summarized; a level of maturity of special military competence of masters of military-social management was analysed. There sults of generating experiment in the control and experimental groups in dicated advantages of military and special competencete chnique effectiveness of the student off icersin the experimental group. Originalit. Results of the experimental researchindicate that in troduction of the applied techniqueduring educational processin the higher military educational in stitutions improve smaturity of military and special competence of masters of military and social management. Conclusion Experimental study confirmsourhypothesisthat effectiveness of professionalactivity of masters of military and socialmanagementis higherif directive military and special competence development basedon competent approach and introduction of the applied techniquein to the educational processin the higher military educational in stitutionstakeplace.

Military pedagogy: problems of military pedagogical research of didactics and education of military personnel

Article examines development of military pedagogy as a necessary means for the versatile training of future officers, modern problems of military pedagogical research of didactics and education of military personnel. There are also specified methodological foundations of domestic military pedagogy and its application in modern conditions of development of military education, issues of the level of competence of officers when working with personnel are touched upon. Formation of military professional competencies are reflected.

The role of the affective in interpreting in conflict zones

Abstract This article explores the role of the affective in interpreting in intractable conflicts. Drawing on the results of a participatory research project exploring the lived experiences of civilian interpreters and Spanish military personnel who worked in Afghanistan, the article argues that emotions shape the interpreter’s behaviour and have an impact on the interpreter’s positionality. There are differences, however, between national and local interpreters, which stem from their previous experiences and how these have shaped their understanding of the conflict. This has also led them to develop different attitudes that influence their perception and interpretation of reality. Accepting that emotions do exist and that they influence the interpreter’s decisions and behaviour should inform the design of tailored training programmes. The key aspects of a well-informed training programme are therefore not limited to language and culture, professionalism and ethics, and military competencies, but also include awareness about the role of emotions.

The Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade’s development potential in the context of regional security

Since January 2017 the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) is fully operational to influence and shape not only regional security but also international peace out of Europe. Its development potential can contribute to support Ukraine in its current military reform as well as in an accession process to NATO. It can positively impact military competencies, capabilities, and capacities of all founding nations and contribute to a stronger regional identity based on common values, interests, experiences and threats perceptions either. Now is the time for the founding nations to decide whether to keep a status quo of the brigade or to further build its “trademark” upon its strengths and competencies. If they choose the second option, the Brigade has to become more visible and active in the security sphere which leads to the necessity to demonstrate its effectiveness and utility in practice. The purpose of this article is to answer the questions: where is the development potential of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade and how it can be used in the context of strengthening both tripartite cooperation and security in the region. In the introduction, the author collides different perspectives on the future of LITPOLUKRBRIG. In the first part, he argues that the brigade can help Ukraine to join the Euro-Atlantic family. In the second part, he justifies that the brigade can have a positive impact on military capabilities development and the interoperability of the armed forces of all founding states. In the third part, he justifies that the brigade has the potential to shape regional security. In the fourth part, he argues that LITPOLUKRBRIG can contribute to building a stronger regional identity and tripartite cooperation based on common values, interests, experiences and common threat’s perception.

КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНІ ЗАСАДИ УПРАВЛІННЯ РОЗВИТКОМ ВІЙСЬКОВО-СПЕЦІАЛЬНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ МАГІСТРАНТІВ В УМОВАХ УНІВЕРСИТЕТСЬКОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article reveals conceptual bases of management masters of the development special military competence control. Development special military competence control is considered as one of the modern conceptions of special military competence development of management masters. System of means and principles of the development special military competence control as necessary one for effective special military competence development management masters.