E. K. SARKISYAN, Colonel (Ret.), Senior Research Fellow, Center for Research on Operational Art, NDRU, MOD, RA

SUMMARY

The modern conditions for conducting combat actions (operations) differ significantly from those that existed in the last century. This requires not only a serious improvement in the commander’s and staff’s performance both when preparing and conducting an operation (combat actions), but also a review of the entire philosophy of its organization. With a view on the character of modern warfare it becomes significantly relevant to enhance the operative effectiveness by means of studying its principles as far back as in peacetime and choosing an optimal variant of its organization, primarily targeted at reducing the time for decision-making, tasking of the subordinate troops and their authorities, providing cohesion of their actions, implementing modern operation simulation systems and battle command systems, creating a unified information and control platform at all levels.

In this respect, a great importance should be given to raising the level of professional training of the military at all levels and fostering them to display a creative approach to completing tasks, including the sphere of command and control. In this regard, systemic organization of exercises, group exercise studies, trainings, war games, individual (independent) trainings, held not to templates but rather containing something new every time, unexpected and instructive, are indeed of general importance. In such conditions the student is placed in an unforeseen situation, requiring deep analysis of the environment, comparison and check of various data, accomplishment of tactical calculations, a display of operational and tactical innovative thinking, sharpness and ingenuity. The experience in training the command staff and forces proves that only a competent commander can have a well-trained personnel.