Command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineer Corps

A number of cadres, especially platoon-level cadres, still lack practical knowledge, experience, and command skills; Attitude in commanding units is sometimes inappropriate, indecisive, and afraid of responsibility; Handling situations is not flexible [6]. Or in the Resolution of the Party Committee of the Engineering Corps for the 2015-2020 term, a number of shortcomings were also pointed out such as: The knowledge level of some cadres is not comprehensive and specialized, and certain limitations are still revealed in practical activities; The management of troops, organization of training command, maintenance of combat readiness and building of regular discipline and the "adjustment of combat readiness plans of some agencies and units is not timely, the quality of training of some combat readiness plans is not high" [28, p. 10]. These shortcomings, mainly caused by limitations in the command capacity of the squad-level officers, have significantly affected the effectiveness of command organization and the results of the squad's task implementation. This situation raises an objective requirement to study and find timely solutions. Therefore, research on the command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineer Corps is urgent in the current period.

Thus , in both theoretical and practical aspects, it can be affirmed that the research on the command capacity of squad-level cadres in the Engineer Corps is a new issue, of important significance and urgency. Based on the above reasons, the author of the thesis chose the issue: Command capacity of squad-level cadres in the Engineer Corps as his research topic.

2. Research purpose and tasks

Research purpose

Maybe you are interested!

Research theoretical and practical issues on command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps, on that basis propose some psychological and social measures to effectively develop command capacity for platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps.

Research mission

Overview of research related to command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps.

Building basic theoretical issues on command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps.

Survey and evaluate the current status of command capacity and the level of influence of factors on the command capacity of engineering platoon-level officers.

Proposing psychological and social measures to develop command capacity for platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps.

3. Object, subject and scope of research

Research object

Squad level officers, Engineer Soldiers and Engineer Brigade level officers in the Engineer Corps.

Research object

Manifestations, levels and factors affecting the command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps.

Scope of research

Regarding content and approach: Currently, research on capacity in Psychology has many concepts according to different approaches. In this thesis, the approach to command capacity is the form of capacity to perform command activities, created by a "combination" of internal psychological elements and expressed externally through aspects of command knowledge, attitudes in command activities, command skills and results of command activities. At the same time, the thesis does not delve into the internal structural components that create capacity but focuses on clarifying the external manifestations to be able to measure and quantify command capacity specifically, clearly and accurately.

Regarding the subjects: This study conducted a survey of 568 subjects including: 333 squad-level officers and 235 engineer soldiers. For brigade-level officers, only in-depth interviews were conducted, no survey was conducted because the number of subjects was small, making it difficult to ensure representativeness. For squad-level officers in the officer ranks: command, politics and engineering, there will be many different aspects of activities. However, the thesis only limited the research to the aspects of activities.

The main tasks of an engineering platoon are: training, combat readiness and engineering support practice. These are the activities in which command capacity is most clearly demonstrated and the manifestations of command capacity of platoon-level officers in different officer ranks are similar.

Regarding the location: The thesis conducted research at 5 Engineering Brigades (Engineer Corps) of the Engineering Corps including: 3 Brigades in the North, 1 Brigade stationed in the North Central region and 1 Brigade in the South Central region.

About time : The data used for the thesis research was surveyed, investigated and synthesized from 2017 to 2020.

4. Scientific hypothesis

(1) The command capacity of the squad-level officers in the Engineering Corps is currently at a fairly good level. However, the levels of command capacity are different, in which command skills are at a lower level than the other aspects.

(2) Squad-level officers in the Engineer Corps who hold higher positions and have held their positions for longer have higher commanding abilities. There is no difference between officer ranks in terms of commanding ability.

(3) The command capacity of squad-level officers is influenced by many different factors. Among them, the engineering career trend has the strongest influence on their command capacity.

5. Methodology and research methods

Methodology

The research of the thesis is based on the methodology of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought; the viewpoints and guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam on building the army cadre team. In addition, the thesis also studies and applies the Directives and Resolutions of the Central Military Commission on the responsibilities and tasks of the commander in the Vietnam People's Army; Directives and Resolutions of the Party Committee of the Engineering Command, the Engineering Brigades on training, practice of engineering support and building the current cadre team.

The thesis approaches the following methodologies:

Approach to activities - personality: Command capacity is a basic component in the personality structure of the commander, formed and developed in command activities. Therefore, research on the command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineer Corps needs to be approached based on the practical activities of commanding squads and their personalities according to the general standards of qualities and abilities of military officers, and the specific requirements of current engineer squad-level commanders.

Systemic approach: The command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps is expressed in terms of knowledge level, attitude, command skills and results of command activities. These contents interact, influence and influence each other to create a unified whole in the personality of the commander. At the same time, command capacity is influenced by many factors, so in order to fully and comprehensively research and propose appropriate measures to develop command capacity, a systemic approach is needed.

Developmental approach: The command capacity of the platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps is always moving, changing and developing from low to high, from simple to complex and increasingly perfected on the basis of training and accumulation in practical command activities. Therefore, the study and assessment of command capacity must be placed in the movement, change and development of command activities, objects and command tasks; the development of the capacity of each commander in the practical conditions of commanding an engineering platoon.

Approach to the Psychology of Leadership and Management of Troops : The command capacity of the platoon-level cadres in the Engineer Corps is always associated with the practical command activities, which are special activities with their own characteristics. The approach of the Psychology of Leadership and Management of Troops creates a theoretical basis and a method to clarify the psychological manifestations of the cadres, of the engineering platoon collective and the relationships between the cadres and their subordinates in the platoon. From there, it is possible to determine the characteristics of command activities and the regulations, impacts and influences of these activities on the command capacity of the platoon-level cadres.

Research methods

The thesis uses a synthesis of research methods in Psychology with the following 8 specific methods:

Document research method; Expert opinion method; Questionnaire investigation method; Observation method;

In-depth interview method;

Product activity research method; Psychological portrait analysis method;

Method of processing and analyzing data using mathematical statistics (using SPSS 20.0 software).

6. New contributions of the thesis

Theoretical contributions

The research results of the thesis have systematized and contributed to enriching the theory of Psychology in general, Military Psychology in particular, on troop command activities; the concept of capacity; command capacity and command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineering Corps. At the same time, the research results of the thesis have supplemented and developed the theory of Military Psychology through identifying four characteristics of command activities; providing criteria in 60 indicators of command capacity and explaining the factors affecting the command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineering Corps today.

Practical contributions

The research results have shown the level of manifestations of command knowledge, attitude in command activities, command skills, and results of command activities; Accurately and scientifically reflecting the current state of command capacity, groups of platoon-level cadres with different levels of command capacity and the influence of factors on the command capacity of platoon-level cadres in the current Engineering Corps. At the same time, the research results also found the values in the content of manifestation that have the greatest determination on the level of command capacity; Affirming,

Scientifically proven data for appointing cadres, specifically: platoon level should hold the position for no more than 4 years, company level should hold the position for no more than 6 years and battalion level should hold the position for no more than 8 years. This is important to determine measures and in the work of arranging and using cadres, in order to develop command capacity for platoon level cadres effectively and sustainably.

7. Theoretical and practical significance of the thesis

The research results of the thesis will provide additional scientific basis to help the Party Committee, the Engineering Command, the Engineering Brigades and the cadres at all levels in the Engineering Corps apply in practice to build a team of cadres at the platoon level with sufficient qualities and capacity to meet the requirements of the tasks in the new situation, contributing to improving the quality of training, combat readiness and practice of engineering support in the platoon. At the same time, the thesis will be a useful scientific document for leaders and commanders of engineering units in the whole army; lecturers at military academies and schools to study and refer to.

8. Structure of the thesis

The thesis is presented in the following contents: Introduction, 4 chapters (12 sections), conclusion, recommendations, list of published works of the author, references and appendix.

Chapter 1

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH RELATED TO THE THESIS TOPIC

1.1. Studies related to the command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineering Corps

Research related to the command capacity of platoon-level officers in the Engineer Corps is a content that attracts the attention of many authors in Vietnam and the world. Research results are summarized in the following main directions:

1.1.1. Research direction on command activities and specialized capacity of officers in military activities

Research on command activities of military officers

Hoang Van Thai (1980), Some issues of command and staff [67], pointed out the command and staff process with contents such as: understanding the task; calculating time; giving forecast orders to subordinates; assessing the situation; making determination; assigning tasks; making combat plans; organizing coordination and ensuring all aspects; checking and urging implementation. The author affirmed that command activities are difficult, arduous and complicated activities, the commander plays a very important role in this activity. The research results mentioned the nature and characteristics of command activities, pointed out the process of command activities and emphasized the role of the commander.

DA Ivanop, VP Xaveliev and PV Semanxky (1981), Basic issues of troop command in combat [39], affirmed that command activities are essentially the activities of the commander in managing, maintaining and organizing combat and combat assurance tasks for subordinate units; pointing out the command model including: commander, command technical means, command headquarters organization and communication. At the same time, the authors believe that troop command is a process including: collecting and processing documents on situations when preparing for combat and during combat; making decisions and planning operations for troops; disseminating combat plans to subordinates; organizing and maintaining coordination; organizing and implementing combat assurance and guard measures; checking; researching and disseminating combat experience.

CM Cann and R. Pigeau (1996), “Receiving orders from C2” [92], presented at the Second International Conference on Command Technology held in the UK. This study has put forward a new argument and clarified the difference between the two concepts of command and control, creating the C2 model (Command and Control). This is a concept that is similar to the concept of leadership and command in the army in Vietnam. The research results show that receiving orders (receiving) and performing command activities are always associated with conditions, means of command and modern equipment and weapons. This process is a manifestation of creativity, will and shows the uniqueness of each commander. At the same time, the authors have put forward the concept of command as “a manifestation of the commander's creativity and will be necessary to complete a task” [92, p. 538]; Clarifying that command is related to authority, responsibility, initiative, courage, trust and some other psychological manifestations of the commander's command capacity that the thesis can inherit and develop.

Hoang Minh Thao (1997), Regarding the use of troops [70], the author believes that the commander is an important factor in the victory of the unit; puts forward the concept that command includes the totality of different activities and is an activity that requires strict and unified discipline from top to bottom. The study also emphasizes the role of "strategy", the commander needs to have an understanding of the enemy, of us, of the terrain, of the weather, thereby creating the situation, must create a situation depending on the time, and must apply flexibility in fighting the enemy; the commander needs to "know how to organize a complete battle well from preparation to withdrawal, know how to organize the unit to complete combat missions in any time and space" [70, p. 202]. These are the theoretical bases for determining the characteristics of command activities, manifestations and measures to develop command capacity in the thesis topic.

Nguyen Ngoc Tinh and Do Mong Khuong (2002), Brief Military Strategy [73]. The translators have systematized Tran Quoc Tuan's military ideology on a number of basic points such as: Emphasizing the role of generals in building military strength "to have strong soldiers, one must have good generals" [73, p. 50]; Considering commanding soldiers as the basic and main activity of generals; generals and commanders need to know how to plan, arrange military flags, and respond to situations.

Command capacity of squad-level officers in the Engineer Corps - 2

Comment