MILITARY NEWS: THE STUDY OF MILITARY SCIENCE IN LARGE UNITS AND UNITS, BY COLONEL V. ZEMSKOV AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL P. ZAYTSEV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A029500390001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 25, 1962
• Content Type: MEMO

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The Study of Military Science in Large Units
and Units
by
Colonel V. Zemskov and
Lieutenant-Colonel P. Zaytsev
Recently the study of military science in large units and units
has become noticeably more active. Officers have become more interested
in it, the level of skill in scientific methods and the creative
impulse has risen, and the quality of the work has improved. An
especially significant improvement in military studies has been
achieved in large units of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, and
of the North Caucasian, Far Eastern, Belorussian, and the Volga
military districts.
Nevertheless, on the whole, military study in large units and
units of the ground troops does not meet modern requirements. The
solution of many pressing tactical problems continues to lag behind
the level of the operational art. One of the reasons for this, it
appears to us, is the lack of necessary experience in organizing
military studies at the level of the unit or large unit.
It is well known that the organizing principle of military
studies in a large unit (unit) depends on planning. But this is not
being achieved skilfully everywhere. Planning often lacks aim, is
not specific, and is conducted without regard to the practical
tasks of the combat troop training and military education being per-
formed by the large unit (unit).
For example, during 1959-1960, the large units had to perform
important training tasks under night conditions. Yet in a number of
large units the problems of night combat operations did not find their
due place in the plans for military studies.
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Sometimes the efforts of personnel engaged in military
studies are dissipated in performing a multitude of tasks of
secondary importance, and officers are overloaded with tasks on
theoretical subjects which they often carry out formally and
badly. Not infrequentlyrplans are made without considering
the actual capabilities of the large units (units) -- the
theoretical preparedness of those who are to carry them out, the
availability of source material, of possible dates of completion
of tasks, etc.
Thus, in the plan for military studies made by the command
of the 18th Guards Tank Division of the North Caucasian Military
District, 40 tasks were contemplated. In the Ural Military District
in the plan of the 126th Motorized Rifle Divigion,investigation into
19 different subjects was contemplated; in the 105th Motorized
Rifle Regiment of this division, 11 subjects; and in the 341st Tank
Regiment, 21 subjects. By the end of the year, it was only
possible to complete four subjects in the division one in the
105th Motorized Rifle Regiment, and three in the 31st flank
Regiment.
In a number of cases,military-scientific investigation is re-
placed by the practical solution of combat training problems en-
visaged by the corresponding plans. In some large units all the
main steps of combat training, especially the tactical exercises,
were automatically included in the plans for military studies of
the units although no investigation into the subjects was done.
An adverse effect on the o?ganization of military studies
is produced by parallelism in planning, bath in official channels
and in the voluntary military study societies. It is true that in
some large units these two plans are nominally united into one
document with two independent sections; in principle, this makes no
difference. This sort of planning leads to dissipation of effort,
to a multiplicity and duplication of subjects, and, as a result,
to the non-fulfilment of many tasks.
As a result of parallel planning, some officers regard military
study as simply the voluntary carrying out of the tasks set them.
On the other hand, some commanding officers try to transfer their
direct responsibilities for the direction of military studies to the
voluntary military study societies. Under these conditions, as a
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rule, no time during working hours is allotted to officers for
investigation.
This sort of planning of mi itary atadrits is not conducive
to their wide and purposeful development but breeds irrespon-
sibility and leads to dissipation of energy. Therefore, in large
units (units) of nearly all military districts the voluntary
military study societies have either ceased to exist in fact
or else exist only nominally, and the majority of officers are
fully burdened with tasks received in their official line of
duty. It seems to us that this is the correct way.
It is impossible to agree with those officers who consider
that practical subjects are best studied in the line of duty
and theoretical subjects in accordance with plans of military
study societies. The study of theoretical subjects cannot be
divorced from practical tasks, and all commanding officers must
be directly concerned with them.
Certainly, the voluntary principle cannot be excluded from
military studies. But it should appear, first of all, in the
choice of subjects to be recommended and in showing initiative
in bringing them forward in the selection of those who will carry
out the work, and in determining the form the military studies are
to take when they are compulsory for all officers.
On the whole, the planning of military studies within a large
unit, as well as within a military district, should be centralized.
This centrali:mtion envisages an advlsa?hle coordination of the
compulsory investigation tasks press:ribed by higher headquarters
with the su'bjec?g r,aconmiended for the troops or put forward in the
large unit. The basic part of the plan for military studies must
consist of subjects which will help perform practical tasks arising
during the combat training and military education of the large unit (unit).
The plan must also indicate the arrangements made for the
training of officers in both theory and scientific methods -- lectures
for officers, viewing of military and documentary films, informational
and other reports, and discussion of work done. In addition,
arrangements may be made to provide for study of the principles of
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methods of military research, conferences on methods with the
authors actively engaged in producing the studies, and a dis-
cussion of study outlines for the more important military
studies. A summing up of the results of military studies and
the discussion of the plan for the next year should also be
included in the plan,which should also provide for officers'
conferences to exchange experiences, and other arrangements.
Finally, arrangements for work on improving efficiency and
inventive work should be taken into consideration, indicating
the main lines along which it is to be directed.
Plans for military studies should be specific. They
should show the subjects, the purpose of the investigation
and the expected result, who is to carry out the task and by
what date, and how the work is to be realized. At the same
time, the plans should show the general purposes and tasks
for military studies for the period.
For the sake of clarity and convenience in using the plan,
it is recommended that the arrangements for military studies
should be set out in a definite order. The creative part (working
out of subjects) may be separated from the tasks on scientific-
method. It is desirable to arrange the tasks in the order in
which they are to be completed or by types of military studies.
In all cases, it is advantageous to group the tasks according to
the echelon by which they will be carried out.
Some military study groups at headquarters of military
districts suggest that the plan for a large unit should include
one or two conferences on subjects of the large unit or from a
list of subjects determined by the senior commander; one or two
summaries of tactical exercises, firings, study problems and
problems of military education; a conference or a meeting may
then be called to discuss the results of these; one to three
papers on the most important problems of combat training and
military education, enrolling a wide circle of officers to write
the various sections; the preparation of lectures, reports on
military science, and communications which are subsequently read
and discussed at conferences, and the writing of articles. A
certain part of the work may be planned for units or the units
may be brought in to carry it out. This reduces the number of
subjects intended for study by officers of the large unit cor=nd.
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The unit plan for military studies can include, in the main,
the same arrangements as the large unit plan (except for conferences)
but in smaller quantity. This plan contemplates tasks for officers
at battal.iorx, and on some practical problems on specific subjects,
at company, and even platoon level.
The majority of military study groups consider that the large
unit plan for military study should be drawn up for one year but
that the unit plan may be worked out by training periods.
In our opinion, such a procedure of planning is advantageous.
It is important, however, to include in the unit or large unit plan
arrangements for training in theory and in scientific methods.
Without requiring a great amount of work, they will assist the
fulfilment of the basic creative part of the plan.
A considerable part of the work on its content will be complex,
involving the combat activities of several arms of troops and services.
The carrying out of such tasks is best entrusted to collectives of
writers.
But even here, one cannot go to extremes and reject completely
the individual method of working. As is well known, many of the
discoveries in science, including military science, belong to
individual investigative workers.
The next important step is the compilation of study outlines
on the designated subjects by those who are to carry the work out.
The study outline should set out the main problems of the
subject and show how the author intends to perform the tasks in-
volved. In approving such a plan, the senior commander will be
able not only to determine how the author understands a given task
and which way he has adopted to perform it, but also to help him to
understand all aspects of the subject. Before submitting a study
outline for approval, it would be advisable to discuss it with a large
number of officers.
The quality of the work on a subject depends to a considerable
degree on the method of military study adopted. The most acceptable
methods in a large unit (unit), inasmuch as it trains officers step
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by step to solve independently major problems of military theory,
are: summary of the experience from training and exercises;
military study conferences (including technical), meetings, and
reports; discussion of reports, papers, and articles, and develop-
ment of training aids and methods. The independent creative
element plays a varying role in all these methods, but in every
case it is essential.
A large role in military studies for a large unit (unit) is
played by summarizing the experiences gained from training. This
is not badly done in the large units of the North Caucasian, Far
Eastern, and some other military districts.
The work in these large units generally starts with the
preparation of a plan for summarizing a training exercise and
is organized in the following manner.
A group of officers is formed, with representatives of the
various arms of troops (in accordance with the problems being
studied). The group clarifies the problem dealing with the
subject, studies the necessary literature, prepares or participates
in the preparation of a task for the exercise, introducing in it
the problems for investigation (what, how, and at what stage of the
exercise to clarify, check, or investigate), indicating the aim and
the intention of the investigation, and also what forces and means
are to be used. After this, the basic methods of work are determined,
and the tasks are divided among the group and among the umpires (at
their briefing).
After the exercise, personal observations and reports by
umpires and the officers in training, as well as summary reports, are
generalized.riziing material after a battalion exercise takes
up to 15 days, after a regimental exercise up to a month, and after
a division or corps exercise up to two months.
It must be borne in mind that summarizing of the results of
an exercise cannot be reduced to describing the course taken by the
exercise or substantiating already well-known propositions. It must
be a comprehensive, thorough, and creative analysis of the most im-
portant aspects of the exercise that answers the problems posed for
investigation.
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It should reflect the main points and note and develop the
propositions which will help to perform the urgent practical
tasks or those which have great prospects for development.
In their structure, summarizing the exercises may be compiled
in a great variety of ways. As one variant, we would suggest the
following report form.
The first section should be a short general description of the
exercise (subject, aim, tasks, location, time, troops taking part,
and details of organizaticu), a description of the aim of study and
of the tasks and the problems set for solution.
It is advisable to close the section with short and substantiated
conclusions.
The second section should be a description of the course of the
exercise and the resolution of tb& problems set. This analyzes the
organization of the combat operation of the troops (the commander's
decision, assignment of tasks, combat security, control of troops, etc.)
and how they were carried out in the light of the tasks set for
investigation.
At the end of the section, short conclusions based on the
factual material should be given.
The third section should be general conclusions, setting out the
results of the investigation and the theoretical propositions on each
problem studied. This is the basis, the main part of the report,
both in significance and size.
The summing up should be supported by the necessary charts,
diagrams, tables, etc. In our opinion, it is desirable to draw up
many of them during work on the report because later they often
influence its content.
As a rule, the officers are partially informed of the results of
the summary during the exercise critique, and in full at the
theoretical or official conference. The most instructive parts of
the summary, of interest also to other large units, are published
in the district summary of collected materials on exchange of experience
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from combat training or in the central military press.
A widespread form of military study in large units (units)
is the study meeting. This deals with a narrower range of problems
than a conference but sometimes may also discuss complex subjects.
The purpose of a meeting is often to reach unanimity of opinion
on individual problems as a result of thorough discussion. Later,
these propositions may be discussed more widely (the main report at
a conference), used for further work on the subject, or, with the
senior commander's permission, they may be incorporated into the
methods of combat training and military education.
The preparation for and the conduct of a meeting require
considerably less time than for a conference although the work
methods are almost the same. But still they must not be confused.
A conference is attended by a wider range of people sent from
other large units, educational institutions, and subordinate and
higher headquarters, and therefore the discussion of the subject
will be ore comprehensive.
One of the frequently used forms is the preparation of papers
by combining original independent creative work with the results
already achieved and described in various military publications.
The methods used in the preparation of a paper differ but little
from those used in writing a report -- the basic problems are
defined, their formulation is put on a solid basis, and the sub-
stance of the report is set out. But, as distinct from a report,
a great part is devoted to an exposition of views of the various
research workers (authors) on the essence of a given subject and to
an account of the details of their opinions. But the most valuable
parts of a paper are the independent conclusions and suggestions
madc oy the author.
Another important prerequisite of success in military
studies is the organization of supervision of and assistance to
subordinate staffs and to those who actually carry out the work.
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Experience has shown that, as yet, insufficient attention is
paid to this in large units (units). Many large unit (unit)
commanding officers tuilycbnot conduct any military studies
themselves, but do not direct their subordinates and have
not created any definite system of supervision and assistance.
Supervision must be purposeful and specific. It should be
directed toward supporting the most important measures taken,
the basic problems of the subject under study, and should be
carried out at the crucial periods of the work (planning, the
working out of basic subjects, etc.). While doing this, it is
important not merely to ascertain the state of affairs but to
determine correctly how well the author has mastered his task,
what are the aims set, what ways of resolving the problems have
been projected, what is the quality of the work performed, and
what difficulties are being met.
The controlling officer will be able to cope with his own
tasks only when he can render systematic help to those who
carry out the work. Supervision and assistance must be done
systematically from the beginning of the work on a subject
because any defects which arise during the work are difficult
and sometimes impossible to eliminate.
The prerequisites for supervision and assistance are
established while the military studies are still being planned.
Even during the discussion of the study outline, the authors are
given help in selecting ways of resolving the main problems,
given advice on the use of publications, overcoming of difficulties,
etc.
To achieve efficient supervision, it is advisable to have
a calendar plan for working out each subject. This can be the
study outline of the work which shows the dates for completion
of each section or even subsection and also determines the times
for making all the arrangements in connection with the work. In
addition, it is desirable that the large units (units) keep a
chart of supervision and assistance with carefully selected, ex-
perienced, and well trained officers posted on it. In a large
unit such a chart may include the large unit commander and his
deputies, the chief of staff, the chief of operations, and the
chiefs of the arms of troops and services.
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Experience shows that a check on the state of military studies
in a unit is of most value when conducted at the same time as the
check of combat training, and the results of the check are mentioned
in the orders of the commanding officer of the large unit and made
known to all officers.
An important role in increasing military studies is played by
political organs and Party organizations. They enlist the officers
to carry out high quality work, foster widespread criticism and
self-criticism, and raise the level of creative activity, discipline,
and executive ability. Experience shows that when military studies
are constantly conducted in the sphere of influence of the Party-
political apparatus, they are successful.
The correct organization of records of the work done, as well as
their unbiased evaluation.and accomplishment in the proper time, are
of great importance. For convenience, it is advisable to have a
separate file in keeping records of military study in a unit and a
large unit. In a large unit, in addition to the tasks carried out
by officers of the command, the main measures taken by the units
are included and also studies not encompassed by the plan (review of
proposed regulations and various manuals and works).
A practice to be encouraged is the submission to higher
headquarters by a large unit of a record of a study carried out in
a unit, together with the large unit command element's opinion, of
the substance of the work.
The principal methods of realization of work within a large
unit (unit) may be: use of the recommendations of conferences on
military studies in a troop training exercise; reading of reports,
papers, lectures and information to further the theoretical and
practical training of officers; and publication of works in the
central and district military press and as individual pamphlets and
manuals.
Some comrades suggest that to achieve better military studies
the central military journals should have a special section. We can-
not agree. Studies of particularly high quality can be accepted and
are published as articles in all sections of the journals. At the
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same time it would be advisable if the journals published
materials on scientific methods and on exchange of experiences
and information on military studies, as well as notes on the
mnst important works.
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