Military leadership - masters studies
The Estonian National Defence College
Name of curriculum: SÕJAVÄELINE JUHTIMINE (Estonian)
MILITARY LEADERSHIP (English)
Level of qualification: Advanced Officer Training Course, level 2 of military higher education – Master’s studies
Volume of studies: 80 CP, 120 ECTS
Nominal period of study: 2 years
Admission requirements:
To be eligible for admission, applicants should have completed the Basic Officer Training Course (stage 1), or they should have any professional higher education equal to it, at least 3 years of service after the completion of the Basic Officer Training Course (level 1), positive evaluation, passed physical fitness test, level of English knowledge 2222 according to the NATO STANAG 6001, hold a valid medical certificate, have the access to information classified as “SECRET”, satisfactory entrance test results (completion of professional competence interview and academic capabilities test).
Aims and specialization possibilities: the aim of the military leadership Master’s studies (2nd stage) is to prepare military leaders with a Master’s degree for the posts of staff officers, wartime battalion commanders or the posts equal to them. The curriculum enables the continuation of the previous studies in infantry, communications, pioneer, air defence, artillery or logistics specialties and obtain the staff officer’s qualifications of the respective service.
Profile of curriculum and study process: the duration of the military leadership Master’s studies is 2 years. The curriculum comprises basic studies (33 CP), designated studies (32 CP), specialty studies (5 CP) and the Master’s thesis (10 CP).
Graduation requirements: for completing the 2nd stage of the military leadership curriculum – Master’s studies – the officers must pass subjects for a total of 70 credit points, and defend the Master’s thesis.
Documents awarded upon graduation: a Master’s diploma, a diploma supplement in the Estonian and English language.
The grounds of the curriculum
1. The basics and aim of the military leadership 2nd stage curriculum
The mission of the Estonian National Defence College (henceforth ENDC) is to prepare professional, patriotically minded officers with a higher education for the Defence Forces, Defence League and other military institutions and units (The ENDC Statutes, RT I 2004, 7, 43; § 2(1)). The training and education of the officers is organized in accordance with the special, professional and occupational requirements for officers. The requirements set for the level of education and qualification of officers have been defined by the regulation No 3 of the Minister of Defence issued on 8 February 2001, “Requirements for level of education and qualifications of members of the Defence Forces”. The regulation (§ 1(8)) provides the subdivision of military higher education into the following stages:
1) Level 1 – Basic Officer Training Course of the Military Academy of ENDC, involving basic studies, specialty studies and practice (minimum 120 CP), or relevant studies (considering both content and level) in institution of higher education abroad;
2) Level 2 – Advanced Officer Training Course of the Military Academy of ENDC (minimum 80 CP, stage 1 and stage 2 together minimum 200 credits), or relevant studies (considering both content and level) in institution of higher education abroad;
3) Level 3 – Senior Staff Officer Course at the Baltic Defence College, or relevant studies in any institution of higher military education abroad (minimum 40 CP);
4) Level 4 – Higher Staff Officer Course or relevant studies in any institution of higher military education abroad (minimum 40 CP).
The 1st and 2nd levels of military higher education (i.e. basic and advance officer training courses) correspond to the 1st and 2nd levels of higher education respectively (professional higher education and Master’s studies). In the overall Estonian educational system, the curricula of the levels 1 and 2 of military higher education are in accordance with the requirements set out in the Standard of Higher Education and Institutions of Professional Higher Education Act.
The curricula of the Estonian National Defence College are in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Declaration, offering the 2-level, at least 5-year higher education system, correspondingly involving the 3-year professional higher education studies - level 1 (124 CP), and the 2-year Master’s studies – level 2 (80 CP). Military leadership curricula of both stages together make a coherent system to provide the higher education and training in military leadership.
The 3-year professional higher education provides the junior officers with the knowledge and training, so that they have the competences and skills necessary to perform the tasks of a company/battery leader (service specific) both wartime and peacetime. The 2-year Master’s programme enables the continuation of general and specialty studies at the Master’s level, so that after the completion of the course, the graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary for service in the staff of an infantry battalion and infantry brigade, wartime battalion commander or in the posts equal to them.
2. Structure of the curriculum
The curriculum consists of the following parts
|
No |
Module/subject |
Volume |
Responsible |
|
1. |
Basic studies |
33 CP |
|
|
1.1. |
Armed forces in the modern society |
12 CP |
ST, HS |
|
1.2. |
Natural and exact sciences |
6 CP |
LT |
|
1.3. |
Languages |
7 CP |
KK |
|
1.4. |
Electives |
6 CP |
ST, HS, LT, KK |
|
1.5. |
Optional subjects |
2 CP |
ST, HS, LT |
|
2. |
Designated studies |
32 CP |
|
|
2.1. |
Tactics |
14 CP |
TK, ST |
|
2.2. |
Military leadership |
12 CP |
TK, ST |
|
2.3. |
Military pedagogy |
6 CP |
TK |
|
3. |
Specialty studies |
5 CP |
|
|
|
Studies of an infantry battalion/brigade staff officer |
5 CP |
TK |
|
4. |
Master’s thesis |
10 CP |
|
2.1. Basic studies
The aim of the basic studies of the curriculum is to provide the officers with a contemporary and comprehensive Master’s level academic education to reflect on and respond to the current requirements and needs of Estonian Defence Forces and Republic of Estonia as a whole. The subjects taught in the basic studies module are directly linked to those of the designated studies, thereby creating an essential prerequisite to perform the staff officer training and support their qualification level. In addition to compulsory subjects, the module also includes a variety of electives from different fields of life. The basic studies module also involves optional subjects for to provide the students with greater academic learning opportunities and expand their knowledge and understanding in the fields outside their respective disciplines.
2.2. Designated studies and specialty studies
The purpose of the designated studies module is the subspecialisation within a respective discipline to provide the graduates with the relevant training and knowledge to perform the tasks of a battalion commander or staff officer. When teaching the subject of tactics, theoretical aspects are linked to the practical exercises carried out within the military leadership studies. The specialty studies module (5 credits) enables the continuation of their specialty studies in the discipline at the Master’s level. Upon the completion of the Master’s level specialty studies, the officers with the previous infantry specialization will have the training and preparation to fulfill the posts of a reconnaissance officer and operations officer of an infantry battalion staff or infantry brigade staff, or Chief of Staff of a battalion. After the completion of the specialty studies module, during the practical exercises carried out within the designated studies module, the graduates will have the relevant training and preparation to fulfill the posts relevant to their specialty and training. All the officers will be familiarized with the staff work and procedures. Practical exercises are carried out throughout the whole study period, possibly in cooperation with other institutions of national defence.
Purposes of designated and specialty studies:
1) To prepare students for performing the duties of both national and multinational staff officers;
2) To prepare students to carry out the tasks of a wartime battalion commander or commander of an equal unit;
3) To prepare officers with relevant education and knowledge about the principles and recent trends in warfare;
4) To teach the organization and principles of military training;
5) Introduce war technology developments;
6) Familiarize the officers with the principles and organization of state defence;
7) To enhance the professional development of officers considering their previous educational and service backgrounds;
8) To train and develop the officers’ qualification in relation to leadership and organization management.
2.3 Practical work
The Table 1 gives an overview of the practical work carried out within designated studies and speciality studies of the military leadership master’s studies curriculum, with the total volume of 12.0 CP, which in turn makes up 15 % of the total volume of the curriculum. The aim of the practical training is to develop further and implement the professional knowledge and skills of students.
Table 1. Practical work within the master’s studies curriculum of military leadership.
|
Subject code |
Module/subject |
Volume in credit points |
|
|
Designated studies |
9 CP |
|
|
Tactics |
3 CP |
|
TK05.02 |
Tactics of an infantry battalion |
2 CP |
|
TK05.04 |
Military operations other than war |
1 CP |
|
|
Military leadership |
6 CP |
|
TK05.06 |
Infantry, battalion and brigade staff procedures |
6 CP |
|
|
Speciality studies |
3 CP |
|
TK05.10 |
Studies of an infantry battalion/brigade staff officer |
3 CP |
|
|
Total: |
12 CP or 15% of the curriculum |
1. BASIC STUDIES (33.0 CP)
1.1. Armed forces in the modern society (12.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
|
ST05.01 |
History of the art of war |
3 |
E |
I-III |
|
ST05.02 |
Civil – military relations |
2 |
E |
II-III |
|
HS05.01 |
The individual and the organization |
3 |
E |
II-IV |
|
HS05.02 |
International law and law of armed conflicts |
2 |
E |
I-II |
|
HS05.03 |
Military psychology II |
2 |
E |
I |
1.2. Natural and exact sciences (6.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
|
LT05.01 |
Mathematics II |
2 |
E |
I |
|
LT05.02 |
Data analysis |
2 |
E |
Ii |
|
LT05.03 |
Geoinformatics |
2 |
E |
I |
1.3. Languages (7.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| KK05.01 | English, Russian, French or German |
4 |
E |
I-II |
| KK05.02 | Oral and written self-expression in scientific research |
3 |
PE |
II-III |
1.4. Electives (6.0 CP)
1.4.1. Culture and ethics in the modern world
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| HS05.04 | Intercultural communication |
2 |
E |
II-IV |
| HS05.05 | Religion and politics in the modern world |
2 |
E |
II-IV |
|
HS05.06 |
Peace ethics and international politics |
2 |
E |
II-IV |
1.4.2. Foreign languages
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| KK05.03 | Foreign language I, II, III |
6 |
E |
II-IV |
1.4.3. The field of strategy
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| ST05.03 | World history of war I, II, III |
6 |
E |
II-IV |
1.4.4. The field of economy
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| LT05.04 | Analytical methods in the decision-making process |
4 |
E |
II-IV |
|
LT05.05 |
Economic geography |
2 |
E |
II-IV |
1.5. Optional subjects (2.0CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| HS05.07 | Military sociology |
2 |
E |
III |
|
HS05.08 |
Current issues of war ethics |
2 |
E |
III |
| HS05.09 | Current issues of social ethics |
2 |
E |
III |
| LT05.06 | The physical conception of the world |
2 |
E |
III |
| ST05.04 | The early period of the Estonian war history |
2 |
E |
III |
2.DESIGNATED STUDIES (32.0 CP)
2.1. Tactics (14.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| TK05.01 | Basics of modern combat |
3 |
E |
I |
| TK05.02 | Tactics of an infantry battalion |
4 |
E |
I-II |
| TK05.03 | Tactics of infantry brigade and joint operations |
2 |
E |
II-III |
|
TK05.04 |
Military operations other than war |
3 |
E |
III |
|
TK05.05 |
Military technology |
2 |
E |
II-III |
2.2. Military leadership (12.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| ST05.05 | National defence planning |
2 |
E |
I-II |
| TK05.06 | Infantry, battalion and brigade staff procedures |
6 |
E |
II-IV |
| TK05.07 | Management and administration of a peacetime military unit |
4 |
E |
III-IV |
2.3. Military pedagogy (6.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| TK05.08 | An overview of training systems |
2 |
PE |
II |
| TK05.09 | Methodology of military training |
4 |
E |
II, IV |
3. SPECIALITY STUDIES (5.0 CP)
| Code | Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| tk05.10 | Studies of an infantry battalion/brigade staff officer |
5 |
E |
II |
4. MASTER'S THESIS (10.0 CP)
| Subject | Volume (CP) | Assessment | Semester |
| Master's thesis |
10 |
E |
I-IV |
1. BASIC STUDIES (33.0 CP)
1.1. Armed forces in the modern society
Subject History of the art of war
Code ST05.01
Volume 3.0 CP
Time Semester I–III
Responsible Chair of Strategy
Description. The course is divided into two parts: history of strategy (1 CP) and military conflicts after World War II (2 CP).
The first part gives an overview of the history of strategy and war philosophy from the classics through the theoreticians influencing the modern times. The course also addresses the establishment and alteration of the concepts of the operational and tactical levels in warfare throughout history.
The second part deals with military conflicts after World War II and analyses their preparation, execution and results at the political, military-strategic, operational and tactical levels. If possible, methods of operation analysis (seminars) are applied. The so-called asymmetrical conflicts and terrorism-related issues are also discussed.
Assessment Examination
Subject Civil-military relations
Code ST05.02
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–III Responsible Chair of Strategy
Description: The course discusses the relations between military and civilian institutions, diverse co-operation opportunities and mutual contribution. The subject gives an overview of the effect of civilian control over armed forces in a democratic society. The course also touches upon the underlying mechanisms of the civilian society. Attention is paid to the total defence doctrine and the civilian components of the doctrine, which form the essential part of the military-civilian co-operation.
Assessment Examination
Subject The individual and the organization Code HS05.01 Volume 3.0 CP Time Semesters II–IV Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description: The subject aims to define the relationship between human behaviour and the working mechanism of an organization. The subject discusses leadership and the power of a leader, the qualities of a group and socio-psychological aspects of the communication between people, the relationship between an organization and the environment. The subject also discusses theoretical and practical issues related to the inner and outer influential mechanisms of an organization. Various theories of organization culture are analyzed and practical tasks are solved to clarify the processes within organisations. The issues are discussed in relation to specific features of the military and work of officers.
Assessment Examination
Subje International law and law of armed conflicts
Code HS05.02
Volume 2,0 AP
Time Semesters I–II
Responsi Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The first part of the course focuses on international public law, its theoretical grounds, concepts, historical developments and the sources of international law pertaining to Estonia. The international law topics discussed during the course are linked to the law in force in Estonia. The course gives an overview of the possibilities of applying international law in Estonia, and a brief summary of the fields that the law does not regulate or regulates with certain limitations. The second part of the course addresses international law of armed conflicts, introducing the sources and main concepts of international law of armed conflicts, gives an overview of the developments of the norms of the international law of armed conflicts and the most important instruments for enforcing these norms, which regulate the behaviour of nations, armed personnel and civilians in international and domestic conflicts. Assessment Examination
Subject Military psychology II
Code HS05.03
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semester I
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description: The main emphasis is on the aspects of individual and group behaviour, measuring and assessing the qualities and capabilities of personalities in the armed forces. The course addresses the following topics: studying spatial imagination and orientation; moral, coherence, behaviour under extreme circumstances; combat stress, its expression and results; possibilities of overcoming stress; applications of clinical and consultative psychology in the armed forces; post-traumatic stress and how to handle it; emergency situations; rehabilitation of prisoners; psychological war.
Assessment Examination
1.2. Natural and exact sciences
Subject Mathematics II
Code LT05.01
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semester I
Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
Description: The course discusses the theory of multi-variables functions. Continuous functions and their properties are discussed in detail. Most of the course is dedicated to the differential calculation of functions and its application when studying functions in geometry and mechanics. Properties of differential functions are studied, mean-value theorems of differential calculation are proven and formulae are given for approximate calculation of the values of the (Taylor) function.
Assessment Examination
Subject Data analysis
Code LT05.02
Volume 2.0 AP
Time Semester II
Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
Description: The subject discusses the following subject areas: concepts related to random events and quantities, classical divisions, estimation of their parameters, checking statistical hypotheses; elements of correlation and regression analysis; issues of compiling a sample; statistical relations between variables.
Assessment Examination
Subject Geoinformatics
Code LT05.03 Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semester I
Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
Description: The primary aim of the course is to develop the knowledge and understanding of geoinformatic-analyses and decision-making by means of information systems. The main emphasis is on exercises in which various digital maps and spatial databases are used; develop the skills of ESRI ArcView practice.
Assessment Examination
1.3. Languages
Subject English, Russian, French or German
Code KK05.01
Volume 4.0 CP
Time Semesters I–II
Responsible Language Centre
Description: The course aims to develop oral and written self-expression skills in the respective foreign language, introduces the military terminology of the language, as well as relevant skills for intercultural communication. The main emphasis is on the functional aspects of language study. Assessment Examination
Subject Oral and written self-expression in scientific research
Code KK05.02
Volume 3.0 AP
Time Semesters II–III
Responsible Language Centre
Description: The course aims to introduce the principles of oral and written self-expression in scientific work for to prepare the students for independent research work. The course teaches the analysis of scientific texts and also the compilation principles of such texts. In addition, the course addresses the selection principles of potential research topics and methods, as well as main requirements posed for official texts. The students are also taught to use electronic databases, summarise literary works, refer to other authors’ works and use formal style in their work. Those having completed the course should be able to use the purpose-driven style of expression. According to the students’ needs, research work seminars are conducted in co-operation with other departments.
Assessment Preliminary examination
1.4. Electives
1.4.1 Culture and ethics in the modern world
Subject Intercultural communication
Code HS05.04 Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The course gives an overview of primary and secondary communicative behaviour, its culture-specific features and possibilities of improving intercultural communication skills. The course addresses the following topics: structure of communication, types of partial communication; content, code, channel and context; symbols and their meaning in different cultures; methods and types of interaction; verbal and non-verbal communication; dimensions of intercultural communication; social functions of language; language, nation and nationalism; attitudes towards language; language as a pool of political and social values; cultural differences in the concepts of time and space; possible ways of solving intercultural problems.
Assessment Examination
Subject Religion and politics in the modern world
Code HS05.05
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The course aims to introduce the relations between religion and politics in the context of the modern world. The first part of the course gives an overview of analytical and theoretical approaches in the academic research to religion and politics. The following topics are discussed: secularisation theories; religion in political anthropology and as a source of political legitimacy; religion and modernisation/democratisation; models of relations between the state and religion; analysis of religion and politics on the basis of theories of the rational choice, religion and economy, religion and nationalism; religious motives of terrorism; religion and international relations. The second part of the course focuses on the interaction of religion and politics in the modern world, observing major religions in particular. The influence of religion on political changes is studied, as well as the adjustment of religion according to political changes. The course also touches upon the influence of religious movements on developments of inter-civilisation conflicts or promotion of inter-civilisation co-operation.
Assessment Examination
Subject Peace ethics and international politics Code HS05.06 Volume 2.0 CP Time Semesters II–IV Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The course gives an overview of the various dimensions and inner relations of topical peace-political key problems, also their potential use in relevant situations. The first part of the course provides an overview of the establishment of peace ethics and its main research interests. The second part of the course discusses the following issues: foreign politics, security politics, development politics and human rights politics that establish grounds for the development of peace-ethical positions.
Assessment Examination
1.4.2 Foreign languages
Subject Foreign language I, II, III
Code KK05.03
Volume 6.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Language Centre
Description. The course teaches various forms of oral and written self-expression in the respective language, introduces specific features and the terminological basis of the military, as well as the use of the language in the context of intercultural communication. The main emphasis is on functional language study.
Assessment Examination
1.4.3 The field of strategy
Subject World history of war I, II, III
Code ST05.03
Volume 6.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV Responsible Chair of Strategy
Description. The course gives a comprehensive overview of the fields that have not been covered so far in teaching military history. The course covers the periods from the time of Ancient Greeks and Romans through World War I. The course also gives an overview of the major events in the world history of war in their temporal sequence. The course is conducted giving special consideration to and in conjunction with other courses covering history of war and that of strategy.
Assessment Examination
1.4.4 The field of economy
Subject Analytical methods in the decision-making process
Code LT05.04
Volume 4.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
Description. The application of analytical methods in the decision-making process. The course addresses the following issues: negotiations, theoretical basis of project management, project planning, risks and their analysis, project management, software.
Assessment Examination
Subject Economic geography
Code LT05.05
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
The social and economic geography of Estonia, Estonia’s location, population, development and structure of economy, foreign relations.
Assessment Examination
1.5. Optional subjects
Subject Military sociology
Code HS05.07
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semester III
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The subject focuses on the relationship between the armed forces and the society. The following topics are discussed: different approaches to military sociology; militarism and militarisation; research topics in applied military sociology; military education; the social, ethnical and regional origin of members of the Defence Forces; motivation of cadets and their professional identity; expectations of different groups posed to the military organisations and military personnel; the value awareness and political attitudes of cadets and officers; family life and social warranties of members of the Defence Forces.
Assessment Examination
Subject Current issues of war ethics
Code HS05.08
Volume 2.0 CP Time Semester III
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The course gives an overview of problems related to war ethics, more precisely those related to ius in bello or ethics of warfare. The course addresses several aspects of ius in bello, for example: how is it possible to ethically justify the requirements of proportionality and drawing the division? What are legal targets? What is the force, the use of which can be ethically justified in achieving military goals? What is the level of a soldier’s responsibility for the acts committed during the war? The following issues are also discussed: putting international law of war into practice; problems related to the establishment of the International Criminal Court. The course discusses case analyses throughout history, for which an ethical estimation can be given.
Assessment Examination
Subject Current issues of social ethics
Code HS05.09
Volume 2.0 CP Time Semester III
Responsible Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences
Description. The course of social ethics addresses the issues that arise from human rights and obligations in their relations with other people, society, its main institutions and the environment that enables people to live together in a dignifying manner. The course provides an overview of the main directions and concerns of modern social ethics, and attempts to find solutions that are not just temporary. The following topics are discussed: the human being in the post-modern world; relationships between people and communication ethics; modern models of civic and environmental ethics; the reality and problems of bioethics in the lives of contemporary people; perspectives of sexual and family ethics in the 21st century; ethical issues related to work and working; problems of economic and business ethics; ethical issues related to copyright and right of ownership; paradigms of human rights, democracy and discrimination in the modern world; the relationship of intellectual values and power in the modern democratic society; problems of wealth and poverty in the globalising and marginalising world; the problem of evil in the modern world.
Assessment Examination
Subject The physical conception of the world
Code LT05.06
Volume 2.0 CP Time Semester III Responsible Chair of Natural and Exact Sciences
Description. The course aims to organize the knowledge of physics that students have in advance and the grounds of the modern physical concept of the world. The course addresses physics as a meaningful entity and the role of physics in forming a person’s worldview.
Assessment Examination
Subject The early period of Estonian war history
Code ST05.04
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semester III
Responsible Chair of Strategy
Description. The subject provides an overview of the fields not covered in the Estonian history of war so far. The course gives an overview of the Estonian history of war, from the ancient times to World War I and the Russian Civil War. In addition, a short overview of restoring the Estonian Defence Forces (in the years of 1990–2004) is given.
Assessment Examination
2. DESIGNATED STUDIES (32.0 CP)
2.1. Tactics
Subject Basics of modern combat
Code TK05.01
Volume 3.0 CP
Time Semester I Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The course introduces the basic principles of combat activities. The level of the new students is harmonized, so that tactics could be taught at the company, battalion and brigade levels. It is taken into consideration that not all students have served as commanders during the recent years. The course introduces the modern principles of combat activities, potential tactical enemy, combat operations of an infantry company and its support units and activities. The course aims to give the basic knowledge for to be able to take independent decisions while carrying out mission tasks, to refresh previous knowledge and update students about the activities of both infantry companies’ and infantry battalions’ subunits.
Assessment Examination
Subject Tactics of an infantry battalion
Code TK05.02
Volume 4.0 CP
Time Semesters I–II
Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The study of commanding the preparations and execution of an infantry battalion’s combat activities. The aim is to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to serve at the post of a staff officer (also in an international staff) or that of a battalion commander. The subject is a basis for the further studies of tactics of infantry brigade and joint operations, military operations other than war.
The subject is related to the history of warfare taught at the Chair of Strategy, and the subject of military psychology (leadership) taught at the Chair of Humanitarian and Social Sciences. The Volume of practical work is 2.0 CP.
Assessment Examination
Subject Tactics ofinfantry brigade and joint operations
Code TK05.03
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–III
Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The aim of the course is to introduce the basics of higher command levels in joint context, to enhance an understanding and knowledge of infantry brigade combat environment. Upon completion of the course, the officers have a better understanding of the battalion tasks, and, if necessary, are capable to serve at the post of a staff officer in a brigadestaff (also in an international staff).
Assessment Examination
Subject Military operations other than war Code TK05.04
Volume 3.0 CP
Time Semester III Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. An introduction of military operations other than war, applied tactics and techniques for them, which makes it possible for the officers to serve as battalion commanders or staff officers in national and international crisis management operations and conducting international peace operations. The course mainly involves tactics to execute tasks in the above areas. The subject is related to the following subjects taught by the Chair of Strategy: planning national defence, international law; military psychology taught by the Chair of Social and Humanitarian Sciences; tactics of an infantry battalion, tactics and joint operations of an infantry brigade taught by the Chair of Tactics. The Volume of practical work is 1.0 CP.
Assessment Examination
Subject Military technology
Code TK05.05
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters II–III
Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The subject aims to introduce various weapon systems, their development through history up to the present day and their potential development in the future. Upon completion of the course, the officers have the knowledge and understanding of the opportunities of modern weapon systems and the systems supporting them.
Assessment Examination
2.2. Military leadership
Subject National defence planning
Code ST05.05
Volume 2.0 CP
Time Semesters I–II Responsible Chair of Strategy
Description. The course involves operational planning and defence planning. The course gives an overview of planning and administering national defence, operational planning. The course also addresses the factors influencing planning, instruments and roles of planning, those responsible for various issues during the planning process, etc. The course also discusses political-strategic Guidance Papers (of Estonia and NATO).
Assessment Examination
Subject Infantry, battalion and brigade staff procedures
Code TK05.06
Volume 6.0 CP Time Semesters II–IV
Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The subject aims to give the students the knowledge and skills necessary for a staff officer for service in an infantry battalion and brigade staff (also in an combined staff). The subject addresses the theoretical aspects of staff procedures, division of staff tasks and relevant practical exercises. The exercises are carried out during different periods of time, when possible, the students fill posts according their specialities. The Volume of practical work is 6.0 CP.
Assessment Examination
Subject Management and administration of a peacetime military unit Code TK05.07 Volume 4.0 CP Time Semesters III–IV Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The subject discusses the peacetime administration of the Estonian Defence Forces. The main emphasis is on the organization of the service of the training centre (unit) and comprises the following topics:
- Administration and management of the activities of a peacetime unit, more specifically the documentation or organization of administration according to staff sections of the units. In addition, the roles of chief of staff and the (infantry) school commander in establishing and systaining effective service arrangements are discussed. The rights, liabilities and responsibilities of various level commanders in organizing the service in relation to the effective work of the entire unit are also discussed.
- Administration and management of the activities of a peacetime brigade and higher staffs, more specifically the documentation of activities and overall administration according to staff sections of the units.
- Organization of weaponry and equipment maintenance.
- Project management.
The subject also touches upon the rights, liabilities and responsibilities of various level commanders in organizing the service.
Assessment Examination
2.3. Military pedagogy
Subject An overview of training systems Code TK05.08 Volume 2.0 CP Time Semester II Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The course aims to give an overview of the functional structure of the military training system and the factors affecting the structure and effectiveness of such training systems. The course is based on the comparison of army models and training systems used in different countries. The course addresses the following topics: the structure of the training system and the relations between relevant military organizations’ working principles; ways of defining the aims and content of the study process; organization and management principles of the study process; institutions/units conducting the studies; structure of the study process; teaching methodology.
Assessment Preliminary examination
Subject Methodology of military training Code TK05.09 Volume 4.0 CP Time Semesters II, IV Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The aim of the course is to prepare the students for organizing tactical training. The course involves the preparation and execution of tactical unit training (collective), the development of the command capabilities of subordinate commanders (individual), and planning of the imitation systems for training. The study process is divided into three parts: 1) preparation and command of tactical exercises (2.5 CP), 2) development of the decision-making abilities of combat commanders (1 CP), 3) imitation systems in tactical training (0.5 CP).
Preparation and conduct of tactical training – the aim is to give the students an overview of the types of tactical field exercises and ways of using them. The course is focusing on the main issues and procedures related to the preparation of tactical exercises. This part introduces the overall execution process of the exercise (the tasks and activities of the staff and the personnel conducting the exercise) and the principles of analyzing the results of the exercise and giving conducting after action reviews (feedback to the participants).
Developing the decision-making ability of battle commanders – the aim is to create the preconditions for developing the decision-making ability of subordinate commanders in organizing tactical training. The following issues are discussed: differences in the thinking of beginners and experts, the decision-making process, the psychological theories of information processing and recalling, the demands of modern warfare to the command of combat activities and decision-making on the part of the commander, teaching methods for developing the students’ decision-making skills in the sphere of combat operations.
Imitation systems in tactical training – different imitation and simulation systems, their working principles and possible uses.
Assessment Examination
3. SPECIALITY STUDIES (5.0 CP)
Subject Studies of an infantry battalion/brigade staff officer
Code TK05.10
Volume 5.0 CP Time Semester II
Responsible Chair of Tactics
Description. The course aims to continue the professional training of officers on the basis of their respective specialty. This approach focuses on the studies of capabilities, tactics and techniques, and military technologies to enhance the knowledge about the respective specialty. The professional knowledge and skills are providing the basis for the participation in practical training activities carried out within the curriculum 3.0 CP.
Assessment Examination
4. MASTER’S THESIS (10.0 CP)
Subject Master’s thesis
Volume 10.0 CP Time Semesters I-IV
Assessment Examination
