To train or not to train

Capabilities & Training Branch, Headquarters, Armed Forces of Malta.

The military mindset cannot be activated with the push of a button. Being a soldier cannot be just a job, it is a way of life, and it is through formation training that a recruit starts his soldiering career.

The AFM is a life-long learning organisation, hence after their transformation process from civilian life, soldiers need additional training to acquire and maintain the necessary military and specialised skills related to their career via a continuous learning mentality. Training is also important to focus on the ability to perform under times of crises, where soldiers will default to their level of training, whatever level or specialisation that may be. Consequently, it is critical to have a well-trained force for operational success.

Contrary to the private sector, where training and the development of personnel is often required on a needs basis and focused on increasing the performance of the organisational output, the military views training as a cyclical continuum to improve the performance of the individual soldier, in both his ability to be successful in every operation, and in performing well as a team. Moreover, training is also an important factor to prepare soldiers for every phase in their career, being gunners, non-commissioned officers and commissioned ranks.

The requirements to join one may ask? Simple…a hunger to distinguish yourself. The Service will take care of the rest. So what about the outcome then at the tail end of a soldier’s career? A seasoned leader of men and women coupled with sharp analytical capacities, judgement and emotional intelligence, academically qualified to transpose these much sought after skills to the civilian sector. The military stereotype evokes images of highly disciplined, robust, mentally resilient, and polished bodies of personnel demonstrating controlled, rational aggression only when and if a situation dictates.

For all those joining, it starts with an indoctrination phase (16-18 weeks duration, fully accredited through NCFHE at MQF Level 3) during which candidates are mentored through the fundamentals of functioning in the military, the ethos, their rights and duties towards the organization and country.

Posting to a Unit and specialisation in one of a multitude of roles follows, all conducive to maturing and hardening the individual in preparation for a significant step in every soldier’s career: consideration for promotion to a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (JNCO) with the rank of Lance Bombardier after four years of diligent service, having demonstrated the potential to effectively take charge of a small team and successfully graduated the challenging 8 week JNCO Cadre Course, also accredited at MQF Level 3.

Upcoming phases of a soldier’s career string direct command exposure, on the job training locally, academically accredited external education, the possibility of formation and specialist training abroad with foreign militaries encompassing the whole spectrum of tasks the Armed Forces of Malta is assigned to execute, too ample to list for the scope of this article. The pace is relentless. If they have what it takes, it will take all they have to attain the highly coveted rank of Warrant Officer, the highest non-commissioned rank. Nevertheless, the option to further one’s career and earn an Officer’s commission as a Lieutenant will materialise in due time. Candidates will be required to pass the Late Entry Officer’s Commissioning Course (LEOCC). Works in progress consist in the process of accrediting a Diploma in Leadership, Management & Defence Studies to be awarded to successful candidates.