MILITARY NEWS: TO IMPROVE COMMAND TRAINING, BY COLONEL Z. ZHILTSOV, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL I. SEVRYUKOV, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL V. PARAMONOV, AND GUARDS COLONEL V. CHUDIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A029500060001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 27, 1962
• Content Type: MEMO

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COUNTRY : USSR
SUBJECT = MILITARY NEWS: To Improve Command Training".,
Colonel Z. Zhiltsov, Lieutenant-Colonel I. SSeeybukw
Lieutenant-Colonel V. Paramonov, and Guards Colonel
V. Chudin
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Readers propose
To Improve Command Training
The state--of command_ training for -officers- still does not fully
meet modern requirements. The periodic refresher training and
exercises carried out in-the units do not resolve the problems of
systematic improvement of tactical and military-technical knowledge
of., officers.
In the-period-between the refresher training and command exercises,
the officers must increase their knowledge mainly by the method-of
private study. The majority of officers, however, study the service
regulations, new combat equipment., and other military problems
irregularly and unsystematically, without any check from their senior
commanders.
On the basis of the experience of troops we consider it possible
to suggest certain additions to the established procedure for
command.training of officers.
Among the troops of the Kiev Military District the command
training. of officers was done, to a certain extent., in a new way.
Apart from refresher training and exercises., command training for the
commanders of companies (batteries) and platoons is carried out on
those days when their subunits are on detail (v naryade)._ The
exercises are organized at battalion (batalon, divizion) level and
are conducted by their commanders., deputies, and chiefs of services
of the regiment.
It.was possible to achieve this by putting garrison and guard
duties in order. The guards of the units were amalgamated with the
garrison ones, and the number of posts in them was reduced to a
minimum. At present., in the majority of units the guard duties are
normally taken over by a battalion (batalon, divizion). The detailing
of company (battery) officers for guard and garrison duties has been
sharply curtailed. As a result,, several additional days per month
are available.for conducting command training with the commanders of
platoons and companies in each battalion.
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Let-us-look at the example.. of the 1st Battalion, 354th Motorized-
Rifle Regiment. In April 1960, the battalion was on garrison-guard
duties three times--on'the 8th, 13th, and 18th. During these days
tactical, technical, and-especially fire training were carried out
with the commanders of the companies and platoons not engaged in
guard duties. Those in charge of the exercises were the battalion
commander and the chiefs of the services of the regiment.
In each training period., besides the courses and command training,
two days of command refresher training or one command-staff exercise
every month is conducted with the battalion (batalon, divizion)
commanders, their deputies,. and staff officers. The commanders of the
units and the chiefs of arms of troops and services of the division
direct the training.
The command officer personnel of the division and regiments also
study systematically. Besides the staff training one day each month
is allotted for command training.
Experience has shown that the organization of command training
of officers that we adopted fully Justifies itself.
No less important is the improvement of training officers'
methods. After all, the level of combat training of personnel depends
on how well organized and how' skilfully the training is conducted by
the officers of the subunits.
We paid particular attention to the preparation of officers,
especially junior officers, for training. This preparation is
thoroughly planned and is conducted in an organized manner without
increasing the work day of the officers.
The company (battery) commander, usually on a Friday, presents
his training schedule for the, following week to the battalion
(batalon, division) commander for his approval. In his report he
precisely states by days and hours when and which platoon commanders
are free from conducting training in the subunits. At the same time
the chief of staff of the battalion enters these hours into the
organizational chart for the regular training_,of officers. The
names of the officers and the actual days and hours~'.of their
preparation for the training are shown in it, as well as the person
in charge of training. The battalion commander, his deputy, or the
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chief of staff is usually appointed to this position. Officers of
the artillery subunits of a motorized rifle regiment are prepared for
regular training under the direction of the artillery commanding
officer.
In accordance with this chart the officers who are not themselves
engaged in training assemble at the-appointed time. If necessary, the
person in charge checks the officers' knowledge of the service
regulations and instructions relevant to the theme of the training,
how they-intend to organize and carry it out, and by which methods
they will implement each training problem. Then the complement of
the subunit taking part in it, the materiel support of the exercise,
and the fitting out of the personnel are determined. The person in
charge recommends to the officers which tactical situation it is most
advisable to create and how to simulate the enemy. If necessary, he
explains in what sequence the most difficult problems of the subject
should be implemented and which of the training devices and visual
aids are to be used. Sometimes a young officer will require
assistance in drawing up a plan summary.
Thorough planning of combat and political preparation in all
elements and the bringing in of senior commanders as well as master
sergeants and sergeants to conduct training with the personnel gives
the platoon commanders more time for more intensive preparation to
conduct training in their subunits. Not more'than-3 to 4`hours a day
are now spent by them in the direct training of their subunits. The
rest of the working day is utilized in preparing for the regular
training and in improving their own knowledge.
At regimental level the officers prepare for the regular
training under the direction of the regimental commander, his deputies,
and chiefs of services. For each week a combined training schedule
is compiled by the regiment which shows the position, rank, and
surname of the officers, time and place of their preparation for
the scheduled training, as well as the position, rank, and surname
of the person in charge of the preparation. The procedure and sequence
for conducting training with this group of officers is approximately
the same as with the platoon. commanders. In case of need, a move to
a particular locality is organized.
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Such a-system of-preparation for regular training increases the-
responsibility-of senior commanding-officers to organize-the
instruction and the education of their subordinate officers. It
gives the officers an opportunity to prepare for conducting the training
in a purposeful and correct systematic manner.
by Colonel A. Zhiltsov
Lieutenant-Colonel I. Seveyukov
. In c a d r e (skadrovannyy) units the maximum time possible should
be allotted for command training of officers.. It is advisable to fix
the duration of the training year at.eight months. One month each
before the beginning of the winter and summer training periods will
be utilized for the preparation of the training-material base and the
converting of equipment and armament for winter and summer use.
Two months will be taken up by the preparation and conducting of
refresher training for the attached personnel and students.
It is advisable to allot three days a week for command training
of the company (battery) commanders and their deputies. It is essential
to have one day a week for special training of officers in the
artillery, mcertar, and tank subunits of motorized rifle regiments. It
is desirable that this day be the last day of command training. The
special training of officers of arms of troops and services of the
regiments is best carried out by means of a two-day training period
once a month.
The remainder of the time will be used for private study,
preparation for regular training, for party political measures,
theoretical conferences, giving of lectures, etc. Time will also be
required for instructing reserve officers, assisting DOSAAF
organizations and secondary schools in military training for civilians.
It is also necessary to maintain the combat equipment and carry out
guard and internal services.
When forming the groups for command training, one must take
into account the position held by the officer, his work experience,
individual training, and the officer's general development. This
forming of groups facilitates the planning of training and makes it
possible to provide all groups with experienced and well-trained leaders.
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The?-unit ~commanders must be the, real, organizers' of the command
training. -Exercises-on-tactical training should be conducted by the
group leaders themselves. The best trained'staff officers or their
authorized-'deputies will be employed as assistants. For other
training-subjects the leaders can be staff officers and chiefs of
arms of troops and services.
In the subject matter of tactical training for unit and subunit
commanders and-for officers of the operations and intelligence
sections (otdeleniye), it is desirable to have several subjects at a
higher level-than the positions they have. For the remaining officers
part of the subjects should be selected at a level lower than the
categories of'the headquarters or the service. The organization of
units and large units of the Soviet Army must be studied together with
other problems.
Tactical training must take not less than 20 to 25 percent of
the training time. Up to 15 to 20 percent must be allotted for
technical training. It is essential to give the greatest attention
to the study of missile equipment, weapons of mass destruction, and
armament of the unit and reinforcing subunits.
When studying new types of weapons and combat equipment, it is
useful to visit special units where this equipment and armament can
be seen. It is advisable to make greater use of military training
films.
The training must be varied in its forms and methods of
implementation. The key position should be taken by the group exercises,
solving of short tactical exercises (takticheskaya letuchka), and
war games in the.field. Classroom instruction plays only a secondary
role. The basic forms for their implementation are the theoretical
conferences and discussions, seminars and practical instruction in
special preparation, and the study of equipment and armament.
We consider that the time has come to work out the program for
command training of officers in regular units and subunits. The main
stress in this program should be laid on the Marxist-Leninist,
tactical, technical, fire, and methodology training.
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It is useful to increase the responsibility of officers for the
command training. One of the possible ways may be the taking of tests
at the end of the training year. A competent commission must be
created for this. The results of its work will be taken into account
when giving efficiency ratings and promoting officers to a higher
position.
by Lieutenant-Colonel V. Paramonov
In our regular regiment, four groups have been created for
command training. Each of these groups was formed strictly according
to official position (dolzhnostnoy priznak), taking into account the
work experience and military education of the officers.
The regimental commander's group consists of the battalion
commanders, their deputies and chiefs of staff of the battalions,
the chief of the chemical service,'the regimental engineer, and
senior medical officer of the regiment. There is a total of fifteen
officers in it.
The regimental deputy commander's group is composed of the
commanding officers of campanies,'batteries, and their deputies.
There are twenty-five officers in it.
The group of the chief of staff of the regiment has the officers
of the regimental staff in it. This group also contains officers
of battalion staff for staff training.
Artillery officers are instructed in the regimental artillery
commander's group (only during the hours of special training). Tank
officers are brought into this group for fire training from concealed
positions.
At certain exercises in the regimental commander's group
(war games, command-staff exercises), officers of the deputy
regimental commander's group attend, playing the part of the enemy.
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The subject matter of the training ?or all groups is worked out
by the district headquarters. Experience has, however, shown that it
is impossible at the district level to provide the subjects and
method of training for all regular units and subunits. It is
essential to allow their commanders more initiative because the commanders
of the regular units and subunits and their headquarters have more
knowledge about the conditions where this or that exercise is
organized, the degree of officer preparation, and the state of the
.training base.
The majority of the training should be conducted in the field.
A passion for lectures,. group exercises,.and.war?games.in the.
classroom only brings harm to the field training of the officers.
Taking into account the shortcomings that existed last year,
we organized officer training somewhat differently.
First of all,the plan was worked out for the whole winter
training period. Five or six days before the beginning of the next
month a more specific training schedule is compiled. These are
planned for three successive days. One day per week is allotted for
maintenance of equipment, one day for mobilization work, and one day
for study of military publications. With such planning the officers
know exactly what they will be doing during the following week.
The conducting of training during three successive, training days
in a week permits a considerably deeper study of the training problems.
The attendance at the training is also increased.
In the experience of past years the plans for the command
training, worked out in the regiment and confirmed by the senior
commanders, were very frequently changed and amended by them to such
an extent that they were actually completely destroyed. This affects
training very unfavorably and should not be permitted.
Last year we brought; in the battalion commanders and their chiefs
of staff to conduct training with officers. This makes it possible
for a large number of officers to gain experience in training .
methods, in the working out of short exercises, group exercises, etc.
The practical training was conducted mainly in the field with means
of radio communication. The field training of the officers improved
considerably.
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Night field training with officers, without the requisite
lighting and marking, does not produce anything, and to organize
this in a regular regiment is almost impossible because there are
no enlisted men or NCO's, and the necessary means of communication
are not available. There are not even sufficient means of transport
available. Taking this into account, it seems to us that tactical
night training of officers in each regiment should be organized,
taking into account the capabilities of the regiment.
Individual socialist competition has developed among our
officers. The totaling of the results of the training for the month
and checking the fulfilment of the socialist obligations improve
those who are lagging. The results of the officer training were
found to be higher than in previous years.
In order that the officers of the cadre units and subunits do
not lose their skills in training and educating personnel they should
be sent to line units after two to three years. It is also useful
to detail them as umpires at exercises, to commissions checking .
combat and political training in line units, and to various systematic
refresher courses. Acting in this way, even with the reduced strength
of the army one can still retain the required number of well-trained
officer cadres.
by Guards Colonel V. Chudin
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