Pansarskott och PRIO : En studie om hur logikernas kamp påverkar pluton- och kompanichefernas situation på Skaraborgs regemente

The Swedish Army has seen many changes over the last thirty years and the role of the officer has had to adapt accordingly. Previously, officers at the Skaraborg Regiment began their careers as instructors of conscripted soldiers. As they progressed, they would typically become staff officers. In their formative years, their duties were centred on life in both the field and in the barracks with day-to-day contact with soldiers and other officers. At this level, an officer’s role would be to prepare and train conscripted soldiers for “the demands of war” based on the military logic. If this stage in the officer’s career went well, they would then progress towards administration and management. Taking the place of the barracks and the field, the workplace became headquarters and offices. There would be less contact with conscripted soldiers but instead there would be more interaction with fellow staff officers and civil servants - along with a greater emphasis on the understanding of law, regulations and rules. This part of the officer’s career was based on the civil service logic. Today, the officer is a manager and employer of both professional soldiers and other officers. It is necessary for them to assume these roles early on in their career. This means that during their formative years they must be ready for changes between training for combat and working in an office; between leading units and following regulations. The officer of today is forced to live in two institutional logics that are totally disparate. Successful platoon and company commanders of today’s army must be fluid between the military logic and the civil service logic: as seamlessly as swapping weapons for pens. In their daily lives, the military logic and the civil service logic are coupled. The platoon and company commanders of today live in the two institutional logics on a day-to-day basis. But there are conflicts of interest between the two that need to be addressed. The platoon and company commanders of today haven’t the time to work as much in the military logic as they have been able to in the past because the civil service logic takes up much of their time. It’s a little like the police often complaining that they are unable to get out on the beat as they are too busy filling out paperwork. In order to meet a changed threat to national security, the Swedish Armed Forces wishes to increase the numbers of army brigades and recreate an army division. In order to staff this larger organisation, with its larger need of officers at brigade and division level, the requirement of the Swedish Armed Forces is to accelerate officers’ careers in order to meet demand. This is all well and good, but the challenge for platoon and company commanders still remains that it is essential that they gain enough experience and knowledge in order to become good enough leaders. Their skills must be good enough to lead and train platoons and companies thoroughly, whilst at the same time prepare themselves for battalion, brigade and divisional levels. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of platoon and company how the clash of logics impacts the platoon and company commanders at the Skaraborg Regiment. The study is concluded by suggestions to the Swedish Armed Forces and to the Skaraborg Regiment to meet the growing challenges of the platoon and company commanders