Professional Military Training Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of the Management Activity Training Of the Cadets, Studying in the Logistic Specializations

The specific properties of the military professional activity of the Logistic officers are characterized by a high level of responsibility and taking of management decisions under limited time and material resources. They put forward definite requirements to the complete professional training of the future Logistic Officers and in particular to their management activity. In this connection the revealing of the possessed by the Cadets from the Logistic profile structural peculiarities of the management activity and management effectiveness appears to be an actual direction for the improvement of the military professional training and for the timely taking of high quality management decisions. The target of research is the military professional training of the future Logistic Officers, while the subject of research is the training for management activity of the Cadets from the Logistic specializations. The aim of the research is to reveal the state of the structural peculiarities of the management activity and of the management effectiveness of the future Logistic Officers.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FORMATION OF MILITARY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN THE CADETS TO BE TRAINED IN LOGISTICS SPECIALIZATIONS

The social, political and economic changes in the Bulgarian society leave their traces in all spheres of the public life, in particular of the military education system. The implemented in the Republic of Bulgaria reforms assign to the Vasil Levski National Military University the task to train logistic officers at a high level of professional skills, who are ready to solve efficiently the assigned tasks. The specific character of the logistic officers’ activity sets increased requirements to their management skills and abilities and to the management effectiveness, related to them. In connection with this the disclosure of holdings of cadets from different specializations logistics management, organizational and communication skills is the topical trend to disclose ways to improve military professional training and formation of readiness for a timely and quality management decision making. The research target is the military professional training of the future logistic officers, while the developed in the course of their military professional training management skills, management, organizational and communication skills of the future logistic officers are subject of research. The research aim is to analyze the acquired in the course of the military professional training of the future logistic officers management skills and abilities and the related to them management effectiveness. The methods of research are: a theoretical analysis of the military education literature is used during the research; also the methods of inquiry, statistics, substantiation and general conclusion.

Improved Hybrid Opponent System for Professional Military Training

Improved Hybrid Opponent System for Professional Military Training

DEVELOPING THE READINESS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY OF THE CADETS

The tasks being solved by the military units, which are part of the Bulgarian Army, require the possession of high-level knowledge and abilities for organizational activity from the newly promoted Logistic Officers. While performing his functional obligations, the Logistic Officer must promptly and thoroughly estimate the received task, duly organize the activity of the subordinated units and personnel and organize the collaboration with the State authorities, with the business, non-governmental and further organizations.The research target is the professional military training of the future Logistic Officers, while the research subject is the developing of readiness for the organizational activity of the Logistic Officers in the course of their professional military training. The aim of the research is to outline the lines for improving the process of developing of readiness for the organizational activity of the Logistic Officers in the course of their professional military training. The research methods are: a theoretical analysis of the literature for military education and of the standard documents is made in the course of the research; analysis and synthesis of the scope and the contents of the basic definitions, being used in the elaboration; abstraction; conclusion and analogy.

RESEARCH ON THE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND ABILITIES ACQUIRED IN THE MILITARY EDUCATION SYSTEM

The socio-economical changes in the Bulgarian society leave their traces in all spheres of public life and in the military education system in particular. The implemented reforms in the Republic of Bulgaria assign to military higher schools the task to train officers with management skills and abilities at a higher level, ready to solve efficiently complicated and versatile tasks. The specific character of the non-combatant officer’s activity, sets increased requirements to their training and assurance of its effectiveness. The non-combatant cadet’s management skills and abilities appear to be significant indicators of improving the effectiveness in the military professional training for management activity and developing a readiness for the timely taking of quality management decisions. The research target is the professional military training of the future logistic officers. The research aim is to analyze the acquired skills and abilities in the course of professional military training management and to related to them management effectiveness. The methods of research are: theoretical analyses of the military education literature, inquiry, statistics, substantiation and general conclusions.

ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MILITARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONING AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PREPARATION OF CADETS FOR MILITARY PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

The realisation of the goals and priorities of the National Security Strategy and the National Defence Strategy, as well as the realisation of the activities in the National Program "Bulgaria in NATO and in European Defense - 2020", and the Investment Plan-Program of the Ministry of Defense to 2020 set new tasks to the military educational system of the Republic of Bulgaria and in particular to the logistics officers preparation. The tasks have a complex character and include: improving the quality and competitiveness of the military education, increasing personal cadets’ satisfaction in the process of training, and improving the organisation and content of the military professional training of the future officers. Military education is a complex, adaptable and flexible system which is developed in unity with the complementary system of the civic education in Bulgaria. The target of research is the military professional activity, while the subject of research is the military professional activity of the Logistic Officers. Methods of research: during the research a theoretical analysis of the military educational literature and of the normative documents was used; analysis and synthesis of the extent and the contents of the basic concepts, used in the elaboration; abstraction; substantiation; general conclusion and analogy.

Research of the Communication and Organization Management Competences of the Cadets During Their Military Professional Training

The system for military education in the Republic of Bulgaria is developing in conformity with the national and European legislation and according to the guidelines of NATO for organizing and conducting of the personal training of the armed forces staff. The striving is for a more complete utilization of the information technologies, based on WEB-training, simulators and training devices and for the implementation of modern education and learning technologies. The aim of „Vasil Levski‖ National Military University is to prepare highly qualified officers and specialists with higher education, who should be able to perform an active cognitive and research activity, to perform their duties professionally and with competence and possessing the knowledge and competences needed for the management of the human and material resources. The refore it‘s necessary to develop effective education programs, to carry out a constant monitoring of the quality of the training and based on them to perfect the educational programs and technologies. The military professional competences for ensuring the national security in peacetime and for protection of the state territorial integrity and during the accomplishing of international and coalition duties for participation in operations in response to crisis should be main criteria for evaluation of the education quality. The target of research is the military professional training of the future Logistic Officers, while the subject of research is developing of communication and organization management competences during their military professional training. The aim of the research is to reveal the condition of developing the communication and organization management competences during their military professional training for the implementation of the management activity of the future Logistic Officers.

Developing the Readiness for the Organizational Activity of the Cadets

The tasks being solved by the military units, which are part of the Bulgarian Army, require the possession of high level knowledge and abilities for organizational activity from the newly promoted Logistic Officers. While performing his functional obligations, the Logistic Officer must promptly and thoroughly estimate the received task, duly organize the activity of the subordinated units and personnel and organize the collaboration with the State authorities, with the business, non-governmental and further organizations. The research target is the professional military training of the future Logistic Officers, while the research subject is the developing of readiness for the organizational activity of the Logistic Officers in the course of their professional military training. The aim of the research is to outline the lines for improving the process of developing of readiness for the organizational activity of the Logistic Officers in the course of their professional military training. The research methods are: a theoretical analysis of the literature for military education and of the standard documents is made in the course of the research; analysis and synthesis of the scope and the contents of the basic definitions, being used in the elaboration; abstraction; conclusion and analogy.

Research on the Management Skills and Abilities Acquired in the Military Education System

The socio-economical changes in the Bulgarian society leave their traces in all spheres of public life and in the military education system in particular. The implemented reforms in the Republic of Bulgaria assign to military higher schools the task to train officers with management skills and abilities at a higher level, ready to solve efficiently complicated and versatile tasks. The specific character of the non-combatant officer’s activity, sets increased requirements to their training and assurance of its effectiveness. The non-combatant cadet’s management skills and abilities appear to be significant indicators of improving the effectiveness in the military professional training for management activity and developing a readiness for the timely taking of quality management decisions. The research target is the professional military training of the future logistic officers. The research aim is to analyze the acquired skills and abilities in the course of professional military training management and to related to them management effectiveness. The methods of research are: theoretical analyses of the military education literature, inquiry, statistics, substantiation and general conclusions.

(Research of the Motivation for Management Activities of Cadets in the Course of Their Military Professional Training)

Bulgarian Abstract: В условията на усъвършенстване на въоръжените сили на Република България, въвеждането в експлоатация на нова военна техника и въоръжение, оптимизиране на организационно-щатната структура на военните формирования, нарастват и изискванията към качеството на подготовка на курсантите от Висшите военни училища. Випускниците на Национален военен университет „Васил Левски“ е необходимо да бъдат подготвени за изпълнение на техните функционални задължения и да имат положителна мотивация за постоянно повишение на професионалната квалификацията, за усъвършенстване на военнопрофесионалната си дейност в съответствие с динамично променящата се среда на сигурност и за решаване на многопластови задачи. Готовността на бъдещите офицери за подобна дейност се основава на придобиването на задълбочени военнопрофесионални знания и умения и на формирането на подходящи нива на мотивация за управленска дейност. Като бъдещи офицери настоящите курсанти трябва да познават потребностите на подчинените си, да могат да използват и прилагат различни мотивационни методи, с оглед повишаване нивото на собствена мотивация и мотивация на техните подчинени, и с цел достигане на високо професионално представяне. Във връзка с успешното усвояване на професията офицер би следвало да се изяснят кои са основните фактори мотиватори, подтикващи индивида към дейност, как те се постигат в хода на обучението и каква е ролята на личното усилие за индивидуалното и колективно представяне на обучаемите. Обект на изследването е военнопрофесионалната подготовка на бъдещите логистични офицери, а предмет на изследването е формирането на мотивация за постигане на положителни резултати и за избягване на неуспехи и на страха от провал в хода на тяхната военнопрофесионална подготовка. Цел на изследването е да се разкрият състоянието на мотивация за постигане на положителни резултати и на мотивация за избягване на неуспехи и на страха от провал при военнопрофесионалната подготовка за осъществяване на управленска дейност от бъдещите логистични офицери, English Abstract: At the terms of improvement of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, the commissioning of new military equipment and armaments, optimize the organizational structure of military units, and increase the quality requirements for training of cadets of higher military schools. The graduates from the Vasil Levski National Military University is necessary to prepared to fulfill their functional duties and have positive motivation for continuous improvement of professional qualifications, for improvement of military professional activities in accordance with dynamically changing security environment and for solving the multi tasks. The readiness of the future officers for such activities is based on the acquiring of depth military professional knowledge and skills and the formation of appropriate levels of motivation for management activities. As future officers present cadets should know the needs of their subordinates, they can use and apply different motivational techniques to increase the their own level of motivation and the motivation of their subordinates, and in order to reach highly professional competences. In connection with the successful implementation of the profession officer” should clarify what are the main motivating factors encouraging individuals to work, how they are achieved in the course of training and the role of personal effort for the individual and collective training. Object of the survey is a military professional training of future logistics officers and the subject of the survey is the formation of motivation to achieve positive results and avoiding failures and the fear of failure in the course of their military professional training. Aim of the survey is to reveal the condition of motivation to achieve positive results and motivation of avoiding failure and the fear of failure in military professional training for the implementation of management activities of future logistics officers.

(Research of the Value Orientation and Structural Peculiarities of Management Activitiesof Cadets in the Course of Military Professional Training)

Bulgarian Abstract: Специфичните особености на военнопрофесионалната дейност на логистичните офицери се характеризира с високо ниво на отговорност и вземане на управленски решения при ограничени времеви и материални ре- сурси. Те предявяват определени изисквания към професионалната подготовка на бъдещите логистични офицери. Всеки човек представлява органична система, в която си взаимодействат генетичните и социалните фактори и неговото поведение е резултат от това взаимодействие. При всеки индивид това взаимодействие е различно в конкретните си прояви и това води до обособяването на различия между хората и до уникалността на всяка личност. Ценностната ориентация определя жизнена- та концепция и философия на индивида, отразява отношението му към себе си, към външния свят и към други хора и формира ядрото на неговата мотивация.Ценностната система на индивида е строго индивидуална и специфична. Всеки индивид ранжира ценностите по важност и ги подрежда в някаква йерархия. Ценностната ориентация предполага способност за оценяването на всяка човешка дейност. Именно тя предполага и изборът на конкретни жизнени цели и средства за постигането им и предопределя резултатите от този избор за всяка личност. Обект на изследването е военнопрофесионалната подготовка на бъдещите логистични офицери, а предмет на изследването е формирането на ценностната ориентация и структурните особености на управленската дейност в хода на тяхната военнопрофесионална подготовка. Цел на изследването е да се разкрият състоянието на ценностната ориентация и структурните особености на управленската дейност на бъдещите логистични офицери. English Abstract: The specific features of the military professional activity of logistics officers is characterized by a high level of responsibility and decision making with limited time and material resources. They brought a defined requirement for professional training of future logistics officers. Everyone is an organic system in which interacting genetic and social factors and his behavior is the result of this interaction. In each individual, this interaction is different in their particular manifestations and this leads to the formation of differences between people and uniqueness of each person. Value orientation determines the vital concept and philosophy of the individual reflects his attitude towards yourself to the outside world and other people and formed the core of his motivation. Value system of man is strictly individual and specific. Each individual ranking their values in order of importance and arranges them in a hierarchy. Value orientation implies the ability to evaluate every human activity. Exactly it implies the choice of specific life goals and means of achieving them and determines the outcome of this choice for each individual. Object of the survey is a military professional training of future logistics officers and the subject of the survey is the formation of the values orientation and structural features management activities in the course of their military professional training. The aim of the survey is to reveal condition of the value orientation and structural features management activities for future logistics officers.

Military Professional Training and Development of Skills in Cadets from Logistics Specializations

The social, political and economical changes in the Bulgarian society leave their traces in all spheres of the public life, in particular of the military education system. The implemented in the Republic of Bulgaria reforms assign to the Vasil Levski National Military University the task to train logistic officers at a high level of professional skills, who are ready to solve efficiently the assigned tasks. The specific character of the logistic officers activity sets increased requirements to their management skills and abilities and to the management effectiveness, related to them. In connection with this the disclosure of holdings of cadets from different specializations logistics management, organizational and communication skills is the topical trend to disclose ways to improve military professional training and formation of readiness for a timely and quality management decision making. The research target is the military professional training of the future logistic officers, while the developed in the course of their military professional training management skills, management, organizational and communication skills of the future logistic officers are subject of research. The research aim is to analyze the acquired in the course of the military professional training of the future logistic officers management skills and abilities and the related to them management effectiveness. The methods of research are: a theoretical analysis of the military education literature is used during the research; also the methods of inquiry, statistics, substantiation and general conclusion.

Comparative Analysis of the Formation of Military Professional Skills in the Cadets to Be Trained in Logistics Specializations

The social, political and economical changes in the Bulgarian society leave their traces in all spheres of the public life, in particular of the military education system. The implemented in the Republic of Bulgaria reforms assign to the Vasil Levski National Military University the task to train logistic officers at a high level of professional skills, who are ready to solve efficiently the assigned tasks. The specific character of the logistic officers activity sets increased requirements to their management skills and abilities and to the management effectiveness, related to them. In connection with this the disclosure of holdings of cadets from different specializations logistics management, organizational and communication skills is the topical trend to disclose ways to improve military professional training and formation of readiness for a timely and quality management decision making. The research target is the military professional training of the future logistic officers, while the developed in the course of their military professional training management skills, management, organizational and communication skills of the future logistic officers are subject of research. The research aim is to analyze the acquired in the course of the military professional training of the future logistic officers management skills and abilities and the related to them management effectiveness. The methods of research are: a theoretical analysis of the military education literature is used during the research; also the methods of inquiry, statistics, substantiation and general conclusion.

(Research of the Motivation for Management Activities of Cadets in the Course of Their Military Professional Training)

(Research of the Motivation for Management Activities of Cadets in the Course of Their Military Professional Training)

TOWARD A CITIZEN SOLDIER PARADIGM? ASSESSING THREE DECADES OF CIVIL–MILITARY RELATIONS IN ARGENTINA

1.IntroductionSince the wave of transitions to democracy that began in Latin America in the 1980s, scholarship on civil-military relations in the region has been concerned with the age-old question of how civilian governments can control the armed forces, in order to keep them centered on their professional roles in national defense and disinterested in politics. Among Latin American countries, Argentina has made the most far-reaching progress in establishing civilian control of the military (Pion-Berlin 2014: 64). Where once the Argentine military frequently intervened in politics (1930-32, 1943-46, 1955-58, 1963, 1966-73, 1976-83), for it to do so now has become virtually unthinkable. This was crucially apparent in 2001, during Argentina's most devastating and recent economic crisis, when the military did not intervene in any significant way - not even through public statements, or in private meetings with political candidates - in events of the crisis (Diamint 2006: 163). Enabling this restraint were nearly two decades of reform of the armed forces that included reduction of the institution's prerogatives, separation of the military from internal security roles, curtailment of military budgets, and divestment of the armed forces' extensive defense and industrial sector holdings. Since the crisis in 2001, further reforms aimed at resocialization of the armed forces were instituted, with the goal of creating who are both public servants specialized in the profession of national defense, and holders of obligations and rights substantially equal to those of all other citizens.Argentina's achievements in civilian control deserve attention - not only because they have gone farthest in the region, but because they were by no means inevitable. The process of establishing civilian control over the armed forces was long, complex, and often involved setbacks. As this paper lays out, the reform process proceeded through several stages, involving strategies of confrontation in the 1980s, incorporation in the 1990s, and subordination in the 2000s. Civilian leaders spent the first two decades in a long quest toward subordination, which was achieved through legal and institutional reforms centered on a combination of force restructuring, legal restrictions on military roles, and creation of an increasingly robust defense ministry. By the mid 2000s, they turned to further legal, gender normative, and educational innovations in an effort to create citizen soldiers, with the goal of making the armed forces a participant in the consolidation of democracy. Thus legal and institutional restructuring has led to efforts to promote a culture shift in the armed forces.If Argentina's achievements were by no means inevitable, they are also unexpected in the scholarly debates on civil-military relations in Latin America. The theoretical model of democratic civilian control that emerged in early scholarship on democratic transitions from military rule (Stepan 1988; Diamond and Plattner 1996; Linz and Stepan 1996) emphasizes that a comprehensive set of conditions must be met in order for the armed forces to serve in the context of a democratic state and society. This model requires not only the elimination of military prerogatives that give the armed forces autonomy from civilian oversight, but also the empowerment of civilians, through institutional capacity and technical know-how, to take an active role in defining the parameters for military actions. Democratic civilian control exists when the armed forces are constitutionally accountable to a democratically elected legislature and executive, which set legal guidelines for their conduct and oversee such conduct through an institutional framework (e.g., a civilian-led defense ministry). In this framework civilian authorities supervise the most significant areas of defense and military policy: they control defense budgets and defense policy, and they set parameters for the military's professional training, education, promotion policies, and military doctrine (Fitch 1998: 172; Diamint 1999: 29-30). …

(Research of the Value Orientation and Structural Peculiarities of Management Activities of Cadets in the Course of Military Professional Training)

(Research of the Value Orientation and Structural Peculiarities of Management Activities of Cadets in the Course of Military Professional Training)

Internationalization: A New Challenge For Military Universities

Abstract The paper attempts to show the development within the education of military professionals in the context of new challenges. It focuses on not only the general evolution of education but also on internationalization as an important element to increase the necessary quality of military professional training. Readers can find explanation of the advantages of international terms as a common instrument that would create future possibilities for cooperation among military universities.

FMRI neural activation patterns induced by professional military training

Abstract Professional military training makes tough demands on soldiers’ perceptual and motor skills, as well as on their physical fitness and cognitive capabilities in the course of preparation for stressful operational environments. In this pilot study we attempted to identify difference in pattern of neural responses between extensively trained, professional mission-ready soldiers and novice soldiers during audiovisual simulation of mission conditions. We performed fMRI scanning on a few volunteers during presentation of semantically relevant video-clips of real combat from Afghanistan to evaluate influence of military training on mental responses of soldiers. We showed that for professional mission-ready soldiers a week before their deployment to Afghanistan, videoclips with deadly ambush combat induce greater overall brain activation compared to novice soldiers. Missionready soldiers showed greater activation in premotor/prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and posterior temporal cortex. These results imply that fMRI technique could be used as challenging step forward in the multidimensional evaluation of military training influence on neural responses and operational capabilities of professional soldiers. This is extremely important not only for potential failure prevention and mere success of the mission, but even more for the survival and the well-being of the servicemen and servicewomen.

New Challenges and Old Concepts: Understanding 21st Century Insurgency

This article was first published in the Winter 2007-08 issue of Parameters. From the 1960s to the 1980s stopping Communist-backed insurgents was an important part of American strategy, so counterinsurgency was an important mission for the US military, particularly the Army. Even when most of the Army turned its attention to large-scale warfighting and the operational art following Vietnam, special operation forces preserved some degree of capability. In the 1980s American involvement in El Salvador and a spate of insurgencies around the world linked to the Soviets and Chinese sparked renewed interest in counterinsurgency operations (as a component of low-intensity conflict). By 1990 what could be called the El Salvador model of counterinsurgency, based on a limited US military footprint in conjunction with the strengthening of local security forces, became codified in strategy and doctrine. (1) Interest then faded. Policymakers, military leaders, and defense experts assumed that insurgency was a relic of the Cold War, posing little challenge in the world order. With the demise of the Soviet Union and the mellowing of China, insurgency--even though it persisted in the far corners of the world--was not viewed as a strategic challenge to the world's sole superpower. With American involvement in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Haiti, multinational peacekeeping--a previously unimportant role for the military--moved to the fore. In a burst of energy, the military revamped its peacekeeping doctrine and concepts. Professional military education and training shifted to accommodate these missions. Wargames, conferences, and seminars proliferated. Counterinsurgency was forgotten by all but a tiny handful of scholars. Then, one clear September morning, the world turned. Al Qaeda and its affiliates adopted a strategy relying heavily on the methods of insurgency--both national insurgency and a transnational one? Insurgency was again viewed as a strategic threat and the fear grew that insurgent success would create regimes willing to support and protect organizations like al Qaeda. The global campaign against violent Islamic extremists forced the United States military to undertake counterinsurgency missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again, the Department of Defense was required to respond to a major strategic shift. The military services scrambled to develop new concepts and doctrine. (3) Counterinsurgency reentered the curriculum of the professional military educational system in a big way. It became a centerpiece for Army and Marine Corps training. Classic assessments of the conflicts in and Algeria became required reading for military leaders. Like the mythical phoenix, counterinsurgency had emerged from the ashes of its earlier death to become not just a concern of the US military but the central focus. This is all to the good. Augmenting capabilities to respond to new strategic threats is exactly what the Department of Defense is supposed to do. There is a problem, however: As the American military relearned counterinsurgency strategy and doctrine, it may not have gotten them right. During the 1970s America's national security strategy was shaped by what became known as the Vietnam syndrome--a reluctance to intervene in internal conflicts based on the assumption that some disaster would ensue. Ironically, while the United States eventually overcame the syndrome, a new one emerged. has been treated as a universal model, the Viet Cong as the archetypical foe. Defense experts even concluded that insurgents who did not use the Vietnamese approach (derived from the teaching of Mao Zedong) stood little chance of success. (4) This tendency to look back to the classic insurgencies of the twentieth century was pervasive. For instance, as the Army sought to understand the conflict in Iraq, the books most recommended for its officers were John Nagl's Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife (which dealt with the British involvement in Malaya and the American experience in Vietnam) and David Galula's Counterinsurgency Warfare (drawn from the French campaigns in Indochina and Algeria). …

Professional Military Education and Training: Challenges Facing the South African Military

Since 1994, the South African military had to cope with a new strategic environment and a changed political setting. Collaborative security demarcated the Southern African strategic environment whi...