Wilson Center Latin America Program’s Post

Must listen and Share pl

Quite an interesting overview of Finnish Army recruit training. Of particular note, NCO candidates are selected from the recruits during the initial training phase, and officer candidates are selected from the NCO candidates during NCO training. I'm culturally pre-disposed in favour of the British and British Commonwealth systems of selection of NCO's based on achieving specific professional goals via length of service, developmental training, and progressive promotions, but this system seems to work for the Finns. I wonder if it's not only possible, but essential, due to the fact that Finns are all conscripted, and only spend a few months to a year in full-time military service before moving into reserve units? https://lnkd.in/g_dtEXrK #Maavoimat #Suomi #Finland #army #conscription #military #training #promotion #leadership #leadershipdevelopment

Good article!

I gave an interview to the leading Hungarian publication Magyar Nemzet regarding the counteroffensive in 2023 and how events might unfold in 2024 and beyond. Key points: 1. The Ukrainian counteroffensive had three objectives: liberating occupied territories, particularly in the southern part; halting any enemy advances to prevent the Russians from developing their operation further; and weakening and exhausting Russian forces. While the complete success in the first objective was not achieved, significant successes were reported in the second and third. 2. The weakening of Russian forces was substantial enough to prevent a serious eastern offensive. 3. War expectations are often higher than the actual battlefield situation. Even the best plans of commanders can be easily altered by the realities of the battlefield. 4. Concentrating forces solely on one front is not always the most effective strategy, as seen in the Russian advances near Avdiivka, resulting in significant losses for them. 5. Ukraine is still awaiting a significant amount of weaponry from Western partners, including F-16 fighters, long-range missile systems like ATACMS, Taurus, and Storm Shadow, as well as a demand for artillery shells and drones. 6. The Russian strategy will likely focus on retaining already occupied territories by attacking from various directions, primarily on a tactical level. Ukraine's strategy is to weaken and exhaust Russian forces. 7. The conflict is undoubtedly a war of resource capabilities. The question lies in who has more reserves and logistics. Russia employs psychological warfare to create an illusion of their exclusive capability for victory, but Western countries are rapidly building up their military-industrial complex, possessing far greater overall potential. 8. Recognizing Russia's larger population, Ukraine aims for maximum efficiency, emphasizing victory through quality rather than quantity. https://lnkd.in/ewiHPJbJ

Excellent idea here:

It is evident why the United States along with AIPAC has pursued military intervention in the Middle East, given the vast oil reserves present in the region. Securing access to such valuable assets can greatly enhance their economic prospects and influence world events. #power&control

Yet more interesting insights and perspectives on the story surrounding the war in Ukraine. (In Dutch)

Good afternoon once again fellow Patricias! Below you will find the writing and submission instructions from Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) for the 2023 Patrician. I would ask that you kindly share this across your branch memberships. A couple of points to note: - Inclusion of the author(s) rank, initials, and surname - Draft articles in MS Word using Times New Roman 12pt using Canadian spell check No numbered paragraphs/sub-paras - Length: 250-500 words max - Avoid abbreviations and acronyms however if used, write in full the first time with acronym in parenthesis after, for example: enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia (eFP BG Latvia) - Photographs must be high resolution and sent as separate documents, do not embed in the article - Final Deadline for submissions to RHQ NLT 15 December 2023 - Submissions direct to RHQ: ppcli.rhq@gmail.com or QR Code in Call Letter available on the Association website: https://www.ppcliassn.ca Thanks in advance, VP -- Wayne Niven VP East and Director of Communications https://www.ppcliassn.ca

Do you want to know more about the different categories available for nominations? Then join us for our webinar on how to submit a winning nomination! Learn all about the different categories and how to choose the perfect one for your accomplishments. #BOAF #BuildingCodes

Solid report of initial greetings and open remarks.