Themes in defence manpower economics and challenges for the future

Raising and maintaining military forces have posed enormous challenges for the United States and its allies. Economists have made significant contributions to understanding of how to recruit and manage such forces. This paper highlights key past contributions and discusses challenges for future research. Rapid changes in the roles and missions of military personnel, technology, and the civilian labor market pose serious challenges for future military manpower policy and will challenge economists to develop new approaches to military recruiting and personnel management. Yet the body of past research can continue to provide insight and guidance in making decisions about defense manpower.     

How pressure for change challenge military organizational characteristics

This article elaborates on how structural, normative and functional pressures for change may challenge military organizational characteristics. We problematize theoretically and exemplify empirically what consequences these pressures can have on military organizational characteristics, arguing that they constitute major challenges for managing in particular normative pressures for change. The empirical examples suggest that bureaucratic, hierarchical, narcissistic and greedy traits of the organization are challenged by normative pressures such as value changes and normalization. Another source of challenge is professionalization processes. Structural challenges, on the other hand, are managed by the organization and do not seem to inhibit the workings of organizational characteristics. The plausibility probe conducted questions the sustainability of military organizational characteristics in their traditional disguise, in particular due to legitimacy concerns. It is suggested that future research should be directed towards analyzing how military organizations manage pressure for change and whether their characteristics are questioned.     

Military Innovation Studies: Multidisciplinary or Lacking Discipline?1

This article explores the evolution of the field of military innovation studies, critiquing its theoretical foundations and setting out a number of challenges that must be overcome if the field is to fulfil its potential and enhance its contribution to wider disciplinary debates as well as to the practitioner community. Tensions between the main theoretical approaches to military innovation are examined as are the challenges inherent in its increasingly multidisciplinary character. The issue of whether military innovation studies constitutes a field in its own right is addressed before recommendations are made to expand the field’s research agenda, broaden its theoretical base and strengthen its multidisciplinary credibility.     

装备采办风险管理风险源分析

装备采办各个阶段都存在着不确定的因素,为加强风险管理,重点研究了在武器装备采办过程中可能出现的13个风险区域,并对各个风险区域可能出现的风险源进行了较为详细的分析。同时详细研究了辨识风险的4种方法,即基于工作分解结构的风险辨识方法、基于项目评审的风险辨识方法、基于费用分析的风险辨识方法和基于试验与评价的风险辨识方法。     

The prediction formula and a risk-based sensor scheduling method in target detection with guiding information

Sensor scheduling is used to improve the sensing performance in the estimation of targets' states. However, few papers are on the sensor scheduling for target detection with guiding information. This letter can remedy this deficiency. A risk-based target detection method with guiding information is provided firstly, based on which, the sensor scheduling approach is aiming at reducing the risk and uncertainty in target detection, namely risk-based sensor scheduling method. What should be stressed is that the Prediction Formula in sensor scheduling is proposed. Lastly, some examples are conducted to stress the effectiveness of this proposed method.     

The British Army, ‘Understanding’, and the Illusion of Control

Over the past decade, Western military doctrines concerned with matters of irregular warfare and counterinsurgency have emphasised the requirement for properly ‘understanding’ the social, political and cultural environments in which those militaries may operate; the so-called human and socio-political ‘terrain’. This has led to a number of advancements and initiatives designed to facilitate the way that militaries may enhance that understanding. One of those initiatives has been the emergence from within the British military of a doctrine – JDP 04 ‘Understanding’ – designed for that purpose. Using that doctrine and other subsequent publications as a template, this article will examine the utility of ‘understanding’ for those commanders seeking to match military activities with political ends. It proposes that while any advances in understanding the operating environment are to be applauded, the ‘understanding’ of greatest importance is that relating to the feasibility of the strategic objectives at hand. If those objectives lack inherent feasibility, then the development of subordinate forms of understanding, particularly in relation to the socio-political dynamics of target societies, will likely only serve to slow the process of failure.     

基于HHM-RFRM的实弹发射风险分析研究

实弹发射是复杂的系统性军事训练活动,在实施前要对其进行风险评估,实施的全过程中要进行风险管理,首要工作是运用科学方法进行风险分析。本文运用系统工程的思想,针对实弹发射这一复杂系统活动,识别得到环境、交通、技术、管理、人员、任务、装备、保障和通信这9类风险情景,进一步分析建立了实弹发射风险等级全息模型（HHM）。在此基础上,运用风险过滤、评级与管理框架（RFRM）,通过初步情景过滤、双重标准过滤、多重标准过滤、主要风险情景的定量评级等步骤对以上风险情景进行过滤分析,得到了环境因素、装备因素和管理因素这3种最重要的风险因素。通过综合运用HHM和RFRM方法分析出的风险因素,能够为决策者进行有针对性的风险评估和风险管理提供一定理论支持。     

Spaghetti: systems thinking and the US Army

In the mid-2000s, the United States Army was embroiled in counterinsurgency missions in Iraq and Afghanistan that required deeper understanding of local social systems. The Army turned to systems thinking and design thinking to model and understand the world, define problems, and develop approaches to strategic and operational challenges. However, the Army’s approach as expressed in publications and doctrine encourages the development of complicated, unsupported, and unfalsifiable hypotheses. The risk is that the Army will act on incorrect assumptions and develop plans that are fragile.     

基于ANP和云模型的军事通信系统效能评估

将网络层次分析法(ANP)和云重心评判法相结合应用于军事通信系统的效能评估中,并指出有无卫星支援下军事通信系统的效能对比。首先,针对军事通信系统的特点,构建通信系统评估的指标体系,建立ANP模型;其次,根据通信系统各指标之间的关联性,采用网络层次分析法构造极限超矩阵来确定指标的权重,并与AHP确定的指标权重相比较,指出ANP提高了指标权重的科学性;最后,利用云模型处理定性指标和定量指标之间的转换,给出有卫星支援下的军事通信系统效能的提升度,并与模糊综合评判法相比较,结果证明了网络层次分析法和云重心评价法相结合在军事通信系统效能评估中的可行性和科学性。     

Transforming the Spanish military

The article analyses the Spanish military transformation. This process started in 2004 as a means to adapt the force structure, organization and capabilities of the Spanish military to meet present and future threats in compliance with NATO’s initiatives, thus ensuring the continuity of the equipment modernization, professionalization and the adjustment of the country’s defence architecture to the post-cold war environment. A decade later, although transformation is still a priority for the Ministry of Defence, limited political will, a lack of strategic guidance, poor resource management and the effects of the economic crisis are compromising its development. This article describes the Spanish military transformation and assesses its value in adapting the country’s armed forces to the current and prospective security environment.     

风险评价在军队营区环境管理中的应用

分析了军队营区环境风险的概念,认为要消减军队营区环境风险,不能仅考虑降低风险概率或风险后果,而应从风险概率与风险后果两者的乘积效应出发,通过综合分析和控制环境风险系统来解决;着重探讨了军队营区环境风险评价的内容和方法,包括环境风险识别、环境风险预计、环境风险评价与对策.军队营区环境风险评价可从二个层次进行评价一是从事件及与之有关联的周围环境条件出发,按"环境风险系统"的思路,从风险源、初级控制条件、二级控制条件、目标4个阶段进行评价;二是从事件或行动的具体问题出发,评价其风险的重大性和可接受性.最后讨论了军队营区环境风险管理的内容和方法.     

CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESSES,UNCERTAINTY AND INVESTMENT DYNAMICS: EVIDENCE FOR THE BASQUE COUNTRY

The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is a high school program that combines classroom teaching with extracurricular activities. The program is located primarily in inner city schools and serves at‐risk students. Its goals are multidimensional and include military preparation and improving academic achievement. Using High School and Beyond data we find that the program’s effects depend on the timing and intensity of involvement. Test scores, graduation rates, and enlistments are higher for students who participate early in high school and for those who persist in the program. Conversely, we find few effects for students participating in the last two years of high school.     

COSO框架体系在部队财务风险评估中的应用

COSO框架体系是国际普遍认同的内部控制体系,各行各业纷纷以此为依据构建适合自己的内部控制体系,成为各单位财务风险管理的重要基础依据。结合COSO框架尝试从内部环境、目标设定与事项识别、信息与交流、控制活动、监督等方面对部队财务风险评估指标体系进行设计。     

基于HHM的军事演习风险识别

军事演习风险对军事演习的安全顺利进行有很大的影响。有效控制演习风险,首先需要全面、系统地识别出军事演习中存在的风险因素。本文在给出军事演习风险定义的基础上,运用等级全息模型(hierarchical holographic modeling,HHM)~([1])的思想和方法建立HHM风险识别模型,对军事演习中存在的风险进行分析和识别,有助于提升军事演习风险识别的准确性和全面性,为军事演习风险的评估和控制打下坚实的基础,对军事演习的安全进行和军事训练水平的提升具有重要意义。     

网络中心环境下的军事通信超网络结构模型

网络中心环境下的军事通信网络是一个多重边异构的人工功能网络。为了分析、设计和构建网络中心环境下的军事通信网络,通过扩展、综合Jeff的作战网络模型和Hans的网络兵力参考模型,提出了一种能够清晰描述网络节点功能和链路传输类型的军事通信超网络结构模型,给出了模型的数学描述,并说明基于它可将军事通信网络分解为多个具有军事特征的功能子网或专业通信网。最后通过分析某联合作战部队通信的超网络结构特征,验证了模型的有效性。     

军用飞机服役过程的风险管理

墨菲定理指出系统危险源必然引发事故,海恩法则强调事故发生是量的积累,因此欲提高飞机这种高风险系统的服役安全就必须展开风险管理。风险管理是安全管理的重要组成部分,系统安全性理论是安全管理的基础,在对系统安全性进行定义、明确目标和组成的基础上,建立了一种适用于飞机服役过程的风险管理模型,并分析了其风险控制步骤,对于飞机服役过程的风险管理有一定的指导意义。     

Multinational counterinsurgency: the Western intervention in the Boxer Rebellion 1900–1901

This article proposes a case study of the multinational counterinsurgency operations that occurred in China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900–1, to provide a better understanding of the political and military dynamics specific to this type of mission. The study focuses primarily on the nature of the cooperation on the ground, the various national approaches to counterinsurgency, and the asymmetry of strategic approach between the Westerners and the Chinese. A discussion is also proposed, highlighting that combined counterinsurgency is not per se an obstacle to the unity of command, but that politically international coalitions create unique challenges to counterinsurgency operations.     

武器装备一体化试验鉴定中两类风险管理

在制定武器装备试验鉴定方案时,厂家和部队双方很难协调生产方风险α、使用方风险β和试验成本之间相矛盾的问题。提出的一体化试验鉴定方法,引用F分布构造的统计量,根据试验具有继承性的特点,充分结合先验数据与现场试验数据对产品进行鉴定,证明了2类风险α、β与现场数据样本量n、先验数据样本量m等参数间的内在联系,运用MATLAB软件计算出一体化试验鉴定方法对应的各参数间量化数值表。     

KICKING THE HORNETS’ NEST

This article applies the concept of nuclear ambivalence to the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nuclear ambivalence differs from other approaches to understanding nuclear proliferation in that it focuses on the deeply misunderstood relationship between the two potential uses of nuclear power: energy and weapons. According to this theory, the civilian applications of nuclear technology cannot be separated from the potential military applications and vice versa. Ambivalence, therefore, extends into the realm of states’ nuclear intentions, making it impossible to know with certainty what a potential proliferator's “true” intentions are. This article will demonstrate that the concept of nuclear ambivalence applies in the case of Iran, suggesting that current international nonproliferation efforts run the risk of encouraging rather than discouraging Iranian weaponization. The final section outlines recommendations for policy makers to reverse this counterproductive nonproliferation approach.     

Operational idealism: doctrine development of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army under Soviet threat, 1969–1989

This article analyses the doctrine development of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) coping with the Soviet military threat between 1969 and 1989. In the 1970s, the PLA applied a doctrine of ‘active defence and luring the enemy into depth’ based on its traditional operational art. In 1980, the PLA decided to focus its doctrine on positional defence. In 1986, the PLA introduced ‘integrated operations and prioritised strike’, a generalised doctrine that originated from its war history. Many organisational and intellectual challenges in peacetime doctrine development contributed to the PLA’s operational idealism, including its aging leadership, command structure, attitude towards its previous experience, limited analysis of contemporary military developments, and failure in test and validation of doctrines. In the post-Cold War decade, many of these challenges persisted in spite of military modernization efforts. The ongoing military reform has to address these challenges and improve the PLA doctrine development in peacetime.