Czech Military Review, 2008 (vol. 89), issue 4
Visions, Prognoses, Concepts, Execution Plans and Implementation Methods as Means of Departmental ManagementNonreviewed - Other
Prof. PhDr. František Ochrana, DrSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 3-12 
The purpose of this essay is to analyze the role of conceptional documents as guideposts supporting decision-making process of ministerial top-management. The key role belongs to visions. They reflect various political targets, whereas prognoses represent the prospective image of goals of department in question. The author offers several matrices of assorted components serving for the creation of predicted variants of normative and nonnormative scenarios. This leads to forming concepts, followed by plans and methods of their implementation. It is necessary to respect this outlined principle, so that titles of individual documents would match their...
Risk Management and its PhasesNonreviewed - Other
Prof. Ing. František Božek, CSc., brig. gen. prof. Ing. Rudolf Urban, CSc., dr.h.c., Ing. Josef Navrátil, CSc., dr. Josef Kellner, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 13-20
This paper discusses the methods of integrated risk management during evaluating the risk rates of military activities. Risk management is an important tool for effective implementation of secure surroundings. And vice versa, the level of security determines requirements concerning the transformation of armed forces, because this security level plays one of key roles in its implementation. The authors depict individual phases of integrated risk management that ought to be applied not only at the level of military units and groupings, but also during the whole process of security evaluation of acquisitions for missions or regions. The acceptation of...
Administrative Culture and the Economization of Activities in Defence SectorNonreviewed - Other
Prof. PhDr. Miroslav Krč, CSc., brig. gen. prof. Ing. Rudolf Urban, CSc., dr.h.c.,
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 21-35
The administrative culture is something like "mind set" of "software" of organization, its philosophy, a part of which is the so-called economization. The process of economization of defence sphere will lead to further decrease in numbers, cutting down redundant materiel, supplies. Such economy measures should produce savings in terms of hundred millions Czech crowns, side by side with the increased potential of the whole military organization. The authors introduce Activities in Defence Sector the CAF model (Common Assessment Framework), based upon the Model Excellence of the European Foundation for Quality Management, expressed by the following formula:...
Centre of Gravity-the Decisive Operational Concept Part IIMilitary art
Plk. gšt. Ing. Ján Spišák
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 36-43
The second part of this short serial deals with the theory of the operational art focusing on the centre of gravity (COG). The article emanates from Carl von Clausewitz's ideas, doctrinal publications analysis and many study projects of the operational art theorists. The author especially aims on disunity and heterogeneity of comprehension of the centre of gravity theory in confrontation of contemporary doctrinal publications and original Clausewitz's theory. He compares operational manuals (those of U.S. and NATO), and finds similarities concerning characteristics, capabilities or localities from which a military force, nation or alliance, derives...
Some Aspects of Command and Control of Bde TFin NEC SurroundingsMilitary art
Pplk. Ing. Jiří Černý, doc. Ing. Vítězslav Stodůlka, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 44-51
This article deals with the present state of command and control dilemma in brigade battle groups. It outlines the resources of the rationalization of organizational structures at HQs and it shows their impact on modular design of the command posts. The gradual introduction of NATO Network Enabled Capability (NEC) into Czech armed forces (Bde TF-Brigade Task Force), requires first, changes in the structure of individual components of command and control system; secondly, initiating basic changes oriented towards optimalization command and control structures; third, the preparation of commanders and staffs in the field of information technology, so...
Reach-Back Concept as a Support to Construction Supervision in ACR Mission AbroadMilitary art
Mjr. Ing. Eva Zezulová, Ph.D., mjr. Ing. Jiří Štoller, Ph.D., pplk. doc. Ing. Pavel Maňas, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 52-59
The article is focused on applications of the Reach-Back concept as a procedural help to the technical supervision of the investor during peacekeeping missions abroad. The fourth part of the article describes the technical supervision of the investor based on KFOR mission lesson learned. Private local construction companies perform the majority of constructional works during KFOR missions. In fact, with the use of Reach-Back concept, there is no difference between the contents of work of technical supervision of investor in peace time in the Czech Republic and during the mission in Kosovo. The Reach-Back concept has several applications, Lotus Sametime,...
Transparency, Simplicity, Reduction Administration, Effectiveness: Proclamation and Reality in MoD DepartmentOpinions, controversy
Ing. Jiří Dušek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 60-69
Department by Ing. Jiří Dušek. The purpose of this article is to provoke discussion among military public dealing with economy in order to improve economy management in the forces. The author would like to point out the gap between officially proclaimed principles and true economy development in MoD department. Why proclaimed principles remain only on a sheet of paper and are not introduced in practice? In three theses are summarized the main problems to be resolved. The article is not conceived as a mere critique, it also features several proposals how to improve, optimalize, economy behaviour of the ACR. Among others he proposes to make us of 3E...
Factors Influencing Veracity of Midterm PlanningOpinions, controversy
Pplk. Ing. František Růžička
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 70-78
Some of the published critiques dealing with midterm planning are not true, as they were created without detailed knowledge of practice and methods how our midterm plan was created. Nevertheless, there are some real faults in midterm planning. According to the author, they are divided into two groups: external-they depend on quality of assignment; and internal-they are connected to the application of theory. Main external fault is the absence of long-term plan. In fact, it was introduced by the Order of Defence Minister, but it has not been worked up thoroughly. We lack adjusting main goals, tasks and priorities for MoD. Next problem are unstable and...
Foreign and Security Policy of the Russian Federation at the End of the First Decade of the XXIst Century and its Anticipated DevelopmentInformational pages
PhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 79-93
The study analyzes the key features of Russian policies in the late 2000s and their prospective developments. It is above all the rise of Russia's economic power, boosted by the favourable rising trend of energy prices (oil and gas) that has helped to resume again the position of one of the key world powers, obsessively pursuing its geopolitical interests in a new emerging multipolar world. This also determines its relations with other major global actors, e.g. the U.S., the EU, and China (outlined in this article). As far as military budget is concerned, it is increasing. Russia has overcome a long period of stagnancy. After 2007, they re-established...
Russian-Georgian War and its Impact on International SecurityInformational pages
Doc. PhDr. Jan Eichler, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 94-102
Backed by a heap of articles from the Western Press, author summarizes the recent conflict in the Caucasus. Georgia's position astride the western access route to the Caspian sea's energy reserves and Central Asia give it geopolitical significance. Moreover, Georgia represents exactly what Russia does not want to see on its borders: a country both independent and increasingly democratic. Russian government instead seeks submission, preferably by authoritarian rulers that it can manipulate. In summer 2008, Russia invaded South Ossetia, aimed at locking Georgia out of NATO. Moscow's military operation has far-reaching implications. To leaders in Ukraine...
The Application of Quantitative Methods in Practice: Procedures of Transparent Placing Small OrdersInformational pages
Mgr. Ing. Jitka Janová, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 103-110
At present, we are going through army transformation, represented among others by lowering military expenditures. One of many questions accompanying this process is a purposeful and functional spending money for military purchases. The authoress, the former teacher at Defence University Brno, explains her method of multicriteria decisionmaking during shaping the algorithmic program eliminating non-optimal behaviour, suitable for all, military and state, officials, who are in contact with external providers (suppliers). Introduced method is transparent one and could be used namely for small public orders, explicitly during concluding contracts without...
The Strategic Implications of Climate ChangeInformational pages
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 111-117
The world's leading climate scientists poses fundamental questions of human security, survival and the stability of nation states. While state weakness and destabilizing internal conflicts are a more likely outcome than interstate war, climate change will be a stress multiplier for all nations and societies, especially those already at risk from ethnic and religious conflicts, economic weakness and environmental degradation. Strategic planners ought to include worst-case climate-change scenarios in their contingency planning, as climate change is set to rank with terrorism, pandemic diseases and major war as one of the principle challenges to security...
New Tactical Publications of the ACR as a Contribution to Higher Effectivity of Tactical PerformancesMilitary professional
Genmjr. Ing. Jiří Halaška, Ph.D, plk. gšt. Ing. Tomáš Rak
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 118-122
The overall trend set by NATO forming small, mobile, modern and highly capable units, prepared for combat deployment whenever and anywhere - determines fundamental changes both in military materiel, arms, technologies, but also those in structures of command and control, in the field of preparation and training soldiers. Small units, company, platoon, section are to be prepared for matching the task in the whole spectrum of operational and combat activities, so that they could immediately conduct warfare after being deployed. Supported by a wide range of Allied Publication, Joint Force HQ and Doctrine Committee, Training and Doctrine Directorate, prepared...
Fire Team-Basic Building Block of the Modern Infantry SquadMilitary professional
Prap. Dušan Rovenský
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 123-136
Supported by several historical examples, this article covers the past and contemporary development of both role and organizational structure of the infantry fire teams and squads. Fire team (or fireteam in British English) is an infantry grouping of four or less men (half of a section, GB); or one third of a squad (US). The fire team concept of the U.S. and British Army is shown as an example how to more effectively employ infantry in the all-volunteer military force. The author also shortly mentions Infantry Squad
The Last Generation of Chemical WeaponsMilitary professional
Prof. Ing. Emil Halámek, CSc., prof. Ing. Zbyněk Kobliha, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 137-146
At the beginning, the authors introduce modern history of chemical weapons, starting with the deployment of chlorine on April 22, 1915. In the early 70s, the US opened the project BLWS (Binary Lethal Weapons Systems) with the aim to replace old chemical arsenal and eliminate risks tied with the storage of chemical weapons, so did the Russians. Today, new generation of chemical weapons come into being, with higher toxicity, prepared by very simple procedures and means, very heavily degraded. We are proud that the Army of the Czech Republic belongs to those few armies oriented to building chemical-warfare units, specialized and trained to detect the...
Expeditionary Capabilities and Food AcquisitionMilitary professional
Ing. Pavlína Vasická, prof. Ing. Aleš Komár, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 147-154
The ACR is going to take part in expeditionary operations abroad, so we must be prepared to supply and sustain such forces. Problems with the provision of the bakery products in the military operation and mission include diet; economical, technological, safety; and psychosocial aspects. The ground forces are to be effective. Now we are developing premixes that meet the conditions of nutritional content of bakery products and the indigenous products with the protective function. The new utilized technology is based on preparing dough with improvers. Cost analysis of producing bread and pastry in operation was carried out with a surprising outcome: the...
Reciprocal Teaching and its Importance for Improving Reading ComprehensionLanguage preparation
Kpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 155-164
At present, we pay great attention to alternative methods of teaching and learning foreign languages. Actually, it is difficult for language instructor to choose from among them. This article is a sort of hint to help teachers to pick up the most suitable one. Reciprocal teaching has its prominent position, namely in the field of reading with understanding. There four basic strategies: prediction, questioning, clarification, summarizing. During socio-cognitive conflict, in discussion, the language knowledge of learners (students) is pushed up and higher, learners are mutually influenced in social interaction. This learning process is sometimes recorded,...
The Successfulness of Departmental Language Courses, Level SLP 2, DLILanguage preparation
Kpt. Mgr. Jan Šmíd
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 165-169
The author analyses the impact of the Order of the MOD (1/2007) on language training within the Czech Armed Forces. He examines the situation before and after the publication of the said order and makes recommendations how to optimize the system. He supports his recommendations by empirical data gathered in the preceding eight months at the DLI- Defence Language Institute (ÚJP-Ústav jazykové přípravy) Vyškov and its subordinated branches. The results reached lead us to genuine optimalization of departmental language training. The contemporary system of language instruction, without any amendment, could exist even in the future, but it will not be as...
Risk Management in Integrated InterpretationBook review
Prof. Ing. Aleš Komár, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 170-172
This year, the Defence University published the book titled Risk Management, by Brig. Prof. Ing. Rudolf Urban, CSc., and Prof. Ing. Rudolf Božek, CSc., as a textbook offering comprehensive glance at topical questions of impending risks and responses to match them. Risks are in fact part of our everyday life, out aspiration must be not to create unnecessary risks, constituted risks as fast as possible eliminate. The authors give a definition of many terms, together with their English counterparts. Especially they draw our attention to terms used wrongly in newspapers or magazines. This reviewed monograph is of highest quality and the peer reviewer recommends...
Security Forum '08Book review
PhDr. Antonín Rašek.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 173-175
In February 2008 the Security Forum took place in Slovakian city Banská Bystrica. The collection of 32 presented papers was issued by Matěj Bél University. This review summarizes main ideas of those papers, in a form of cross-section study. The reviewer finds most inspirative Maersheimer?s neorealistic theory of stability, classifying bipolarity above multipolarity, which is reflected in consequent evaluation of security threats. New security threats ask for the transformation of NATO alliance, in the background of political Islam or the recent Russian-Georgian conflict. The contents analysis of presented papers points to main hidden problem lying...
Military Memorandum 1968: Why the Soviets did not Occupied the Ministry of National Defence, but MPA KGHistory pages
PhDr. Antonín Rašek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 176-179
It might be logical to occupy the main posts of enemy's command, but to take over the school? The Military Political Academy (MPA KG) constituted natural background of the so-called reformed forces, arising after the January 1968, at the beginning of the Prague's Spring. The MPA teachers and scholars outlined new prospects of European security development, among others with minor role of the Warsaw Pact, i.e. with the demand to rethink key principles of party's military policy, to reassess communist military doctrine. That's why the invaders regarded this university more dangerous then the then MoD. The review, eyewitness of those historic events,...
Another True Hero Has Gone Away: Major General (ret.) Miloš Knorr, M.B.EPersonal data
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008: 180-181
E. Mr. Knorr came from the family with pedagogical background, his father was a principal in a small Moravian town Ivančice. He acquired flawless knowledge of French and German, which was very useful after he emigrated in 1940. In France he became a personal adjutant to Division Commander. After the fall of France, in Britain, apart from other military occupations, he took a position of paratrooper drill instructor. In June 1944, his ship of the second invasion wave was hit by Germans and wrecked. No Czechoslovak soldier took part in invasion; in this second wave he was one of three. In Europe he interviewed captured German soldiers, dressed in English...