Effective in battle: conceptualizing soldiers’ combat effectiveness*

How do we understand combat effectiveness – soldiers’ performance in battle? Despite the broad consensus that understanding combat effectiveness is important both for scholars and policymakers, there is widespread disagreement about what combat effectiveness is. More specifically, studies of effectiveness tend to focus on either the skill of soldiers in battle, or their will to fight. Yet both skill and will are essential components of an effective fighting force. This article argues that understanding combat effectiveness requires understanding both of these key components of effectiveness. In other words, combat effectiveness requires both the skill and will to engage the enemy in an organized manner. It then demonstrates the usefulness of this conceptualization by applying it to the cases of British, Indian, and Australian forces fighting the Japanese during the Second World War. Only when scholars are talking about the same concept will our understanding of the conditions under which militaries are effective in battle progress. By comparing different units fighting the same opponent under the same material conditions, I demonstrate that units vary both in their combat skill and their will to fight, and that understanding their effectiveness in battle requires analyzing both of these key factors.     

军队高等工程院校教师的人文修养

大学教师本身的人文修养所体现出来的师德水平、学识水平、人格魅力以及教学艺术水平,是新时期教师素质的重要组成部分。要在军队高等工程院校中全面推进素质教育,全体教师必须首先提高自身的人文修养水平。     

The politics of counter-terrorism in post-authoritarian states: Indonesia’s experience, 1998–2018

ABSTRACT

The separation of the Indonesian national police (POLRI) from the military (ABRI), now named the TNI, in 1999 led to transfer of domestic security role from the armed forces to POLRI. On one hand, POLRI has a greater role in internal security, particularly in countering terrorism. On the other hand, TNI continually attempts to reassert its dominance in the field of counter-terrorism. Previous studies on the subject place the issue in the context of the early days of democratisation. This paper aims to contribute by counting latest developments, notably the rise of new terrorist groups and recent counter-terrorism legislations. We argue that institutional rivalries between the POLRI and the TNI, and the military's determination to reclaim a greater role in domestic security have become an impediment to achieving successful counterterrorism efforts. This article also examines the development of military reform against the backdrop of the military's disproportionate and growing influence.     

Moral Aspects of “Moral Injury”: Analyzing Conceptualizations on the Role of Morality in Military Trauma

In clinical circles, the concept of “moral injury” has rapidly gained traction. Yet, from a moral philosophical point of view the concept is less clear than is suggested. That is, in current conceptualizations of moral injury, trauma’s moral dimension seems to be understood in a rather mechanistic and individualized manner. This article makes a start in developing an adequately founded conceptualization of the role of morality in deployment-related distress. It does so by reviewing and synthesizing insights from different disciplines into morality and trauma. This discussion will lead to three positions: (1) values and norms are by definition characterized by conflict, (2) moral conflict may entail important social dimensions, and (3) moral conflict may lead to altered beliefs about previously held values. These insights provide important steps in further developing conceptions of the role of morality in deployment-related suffering.     

“算法战”及其在空战领域中的应用

随着战争从体能较量、技能较量发展为智能较量,"算法战"与人工智能和指挥控制系统相关联并在其中占据关键地位,是实现智能化作战和建设智能军队的技术基础。通过梳理与总结美军在落实"算法战"研究方面所进行的开创性工作,理清"算法战"发展的脉络,重点对"算法战"产生背景、基本概念与内涵以及发展现状进行了探讨,结合课题组在航空集群作战领域的研究基础,探讨"算法战"在空战领域的落脚应用的可鉴之策,为我空军装备的信息化升级和智能化转型奠定基础。     

部队装备管理军用标准体系构想

分析了部队装备管理军用标准体系研究3方面的需求，提出了部队装备管理军用标准体系研究的任务和5个基本原则，对部队装备管理军用标准体系总体结构和基础标准、程序标准、技术标准、评价标准等进行了初步构想。     

网络环境下军校思想政治教育的创新思考

网络技术的迅猛发展正在深刻改变着军校大学生的学习、生活和思维方式，影响着其世界观、人生观、价值观。网络是一把双刃剑，它使军校思想政治教育机遇与挑战并存，军校要与时俱进，深入贯彻科学发展观，把网络环境下军校思想政治教育推上一个新台阶。     

General Zuo’s counter-insurgency doctrine

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the career of one of the most notable of Chinese state officials in the mid-nineteenth century, General Zuo Zongtang (1812–1885) at a time when the Qing Empire was beset by enemies on all sides along with the massive Taiping Rebellion (1851–65). The paper explores how Zuo created a coherent and flexible counter-insurgency doctrine that underpinned his suppression of the Taipings, the Nian, Muslim rebels of the northwest and the defeat of a massive Sufi revolt in Central Asia. The paper also shows how Zuo helped convince the Russians to return territory they occupied in Central Asia, thereby preserving the territorial integrity of the Qing Empire in the region.     

推进舰队舰船装备保障军民融合深度发展

文章就推动装备保障军民融合深度发展,提出应正确把握和领会其基本内涵,客观分析其发展现状,着力解决制约装备保障军民融合深度发展的深层次矛盾和问题,并从创新体制机制、构建管理系统、健全法规标准三方面提出了相关的对策思考。     

改革军事高科技培训质量评价办法的思考

文章通过梳理20年来开展军事高科技培训质量评价工作的情况,分析了取得的成绩和存在的不足,指出要将培训效果和课程体系的整体质量评价与具体课程的教学质量评价相结合,构建完善的评价体系。提出了改革军事高科技培训质量评价体系的基本原则,并结合培训工作的主要环节和特点,借鉴柯氏模型提出了一种军事高科技培训质量评价体系的主要结构。最后给出了构建质量评价体系和提高评价实效的有关思考。