The quality of a country’s defense force is simply the quality of each individual service member that makes up the force. Some may argue that quantity is better than quality, but true soldier quality provides a more sustainable form of security. All of this begins in the recruiting offices located in the major cities across the country. As young men and woman complete their studies, some choose to commit to a life full of discipline, regimentation and camaraderie that will last a lifetime.
It has always been a difficult task for any military organization to find the best candidates for membership. The armed forces have a tough time acquiring talent when they compete with universities and trade schools. The Georgian military is also handicapped by the negative stigma that many Eastern and post Soviet armies are still fighting.
The idea of sending a child into the ranks of the army is frightening for many, especially parents of potential recruits. The Soviet-era military has been tarnished by brutal hazing rituals and unsafe training practices. It also had poor living and eating conditions. This is especially true for parents and older relatives who were forced to serve under these deplorable circumstances in the past.
This is not the case for the modern and near future army. The Georgian military, which is parallel to their European and American counterparts, is a much more developed and professional force. The soldier of 2021, from training and facilities to equipment and technology, is the opposite of that of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. These young men are technically and tactically skilled professionals.
Modern warfare is becoming a more advanced science as a result of this cutting-edge training and technology. This requires a new breed of soldier and a better warfighter. They can no longer afford to fill uniforms with bodies. This means that recruiting officers must take extra steps to recruit from Georgia’s technologically and academically wealthy communities.
To achieve this, a massive shift is needed from the industrial age vision of military recruiting to a digital-age model of talent acquisition. Aside from the long-overdue need to abolish the conscription system, a rebranding the military’s reputation in the civilian community should rival, or even complement, career prospects in STEM fields.
Soldiers were viewed and placed in the military based solely on their job positions. The first step to modernizing this approach is to modernize the in-processing. Maximizing potential is important for potential military candidates who are faced with a variety of career options in the armed services. This not only helps them to develop professionally, but also optimizes the particular area of military. Initial assessments that measure and take into account these unique skills and inclinations will give military career advisors, and placement specialists, insights into the best way to apply a recruit.
This method of assessment, while not new, is still being revolutionized by other Western nations. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, is a famous series of tests used by the United States Army. The ASVAB is divided into nine sections, each with a time limit. It determines not only whether an individual is suitable for the armed services, but also which branch and job they are best suited for.
These nine tests produce several different scores, each of which represents a specific aspect of an individual’s abilities. These capabilities include fields such as communication, electronics, combatives and advanced technical skills. The candidate is then offered a choice of positions that are best suited to their cognitive abilities based on these quantified skills. Although no test can match an individual to their exact match, the test has historically placed the right candidates in the correct military occupation specialties.
A similar approach to the way candidates are examined in the Georgian military can maximize these natural tendencies. A battery of extensive and intensive tests, offered both to prospective candidates and free of charge to students, could help discover potential positions within the Ministry of Defense. This would change the stigma attached to a career path for the otherwise incompetent into a path of dignity, honor, and advancement, helping to shape the idea that service is a category of higher education.
Employers value the skills that can be learned in the military. This includes leadership and discipline. If a person decides that a long-term career in the military does not fit with their plans for the future, they can still use their skills in the private sector. This not only helps local businesses, but also grows the Georgian talent base and the national economy.
The Westernization project continues to focus on a lesser-discussed aspect: the branding of the defense forces. It is less about an obligation or a strict path that must be followed, and more of a privileged privilege. NATO must know that Georgian forces participating in an operation have the same technical and tactical expertise as other professional partner forces.
Rebranding careers in the military, or at least a career that begins in the military, is a major task. As seen in many Western countries, militaries constantly update and modernize marketing to keep up with the private sector as well as the trends in hiring and recruitment.
It is important to show the value of military service and to portray it as being comparable or competitive with university or other job fields.
This can be achieved in many different ways. In the United States and the United Kingdom, school and community events that aim to develop closer links between people and their defense forces were warmly received. This effort can portray the military as a character-building and honorable beginning for young men or women entering adulthood.
As we have already stated, the modern Georgian soldier represents the best of the nation. Nevertheless, it’s still important to trim the fat from the unnecessary, outdated, and impractical. The armed forces will be able to anticipate the inevitable technology curve in the near future style of modern warfare.
By Michael Godwin
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge