Contents
A military psychologist is an army position introduced in 2001 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, mandatory for each regiment.
Tasks of military psychologists
- Selection of cadets and recruits for different types of troops, taking into account the specifics of military affairs. Development of selection methods.
- Improving the psychological combat readiness of personnel and units.
- Improving interpersonal interaction in the army.
- Organization of effective activity of military personnel.
- Help in overcoming severe psychological conditions characteristic of combatants.
- Assistance in adapting to civilian life for retired servicemen.
The duties of a military psychologist are complex and varied. In peacetime, it is called upon to solve problems of studying the psychological characteristics of military personnel, military teams, to psychologically ensure combat readiness, combat training, combat duty, military discipline in a military unit, to carry out the prevention of negative socio-psychological phenomena in military units, to provide assistance to military personnel in solving their psychological problems, etc. In wartime, he acts as the direct organizer of the entire system of psychological support for the combat operations of the regiment (battalion).
From the list of duties of a military psychologist, it can be seen that he differs from civilian psychologists in the versatility of his professional activities. If in civilian areas a psychologist is considered as a specialist of a rather narrow profile, acting within a specific specialization, then the conditions for the activity of a military psychologist forced the authors to build a model of a specialist that includes most of the existing types of professional activities of psychologists: psychodiagnostics, psychoprophylaxis and psychohygiene, psychological training, psychological rehabilitation military personnel, socio-psychological readaptation of combat veterans, psychological counteraction to the enemy, psychological counseling of military personnel and their families, group diagnostic and correctional work. In essence, a military psychologist is forced to combine the basic competencies of a diagnostic psychologist, a social psychologist, a clinical psychologist, a psychotherapist, a labor psychologist, and a military psychologist proper. At the same time, he acts in two roles of different quality — a psychologist-researcher and a psychologist-practitioner.
Passing a course of psychotherapy for a military psychologist is not necessary, since psychotherapeutic functions are not assigned to him. In this regard, military psychologists have a less pronounced “professional burnout syndrome”.
Organizational bases of activity of the psychologist of the regiment.
The working hours are defined in the governing documents from 8.30 to 17.30, but in reality you have to work much more. The activity of the psychologist takes place on the territory of the entire regiment. The psychologist reports to the deputy regiment commander for educational work and does not have his own subordinates. The psychologist is responsible for fulfilling the duties specified in the documents (see above). The remuneration of his work depends on the length of service, military rank, good work is encouraged by the issuance of thanks, the presentation of letters, promotion. The psychologist himself determines the goals of his activity, plans his work himself, makes decisions, but coordinates all this with higher officials. This is necessary, because the military organization (regiment, division) lives in its own regime, which should not be violated by a psychologist.
How does a military psychologist solve his professional tasks? What should he know, be able to do, what individual and personal qualities can contribute to success in his work?
The psychologist studies the types of work of military personnel, the situations of their official and everyday life, observes the behavior of military personnel, conducts testing, questionnaires for personnel, and talks with them. The collected information is analyzed. The psychologist himself isolates the problems, outlines ways to solve them, develops proposals for the provision of psychological assistance. The psychologist plans and conducts activities for the professional psychological selection of personnel (in this case, he relies on the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation «Guidelines for professional selection in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation» No. 50, 2000). If necessary, he has to arrange «Centers for psychological relief», conduct consultations. A special form of activity is speaking to officers, ensigns and sergeants with lectures, mini-trainings, operational information. A psychologist must also be fluent in writing, because he has to submit reports to higher officials, write reports on the work done. As a professional, a military psychologist must orientate himself in the scientific and psychological literature, in the methods and procedures of examination. As a serviceman, he must possess the special military knowledge provided for by training in the specialty VUS-390200 (regulatory documents, the charter of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, etc.). In addition, the psychologist of the regiment must be proficient in modern information technologies (Internet, text and computer programs). For individual consultations, public speaking, and work with small groups, it is important for a military psychologist to have oratorical skills, organizational and pedagogical skills, and methods of psychological influence.
The work of a military psychologist involves frequent changes in the types and objects of activity. The pace of work is high, it is necessary to fill out a lot of documents in conditions of time pressure, and a high concentration of attention is required in order to avoid mistakes. The work requires long-term storage of information in large volumes. Operational reproduction of information concerns a narrow range of issues. The activity of a psychologist often involves volitional regulation of the emotional state. Since at present the level of psychological knowledge of the population as a whole is not high enough, the psychologist may have contradictions, facts of misunderstanding on the part of the leadership, he must be able to “make himself understandable”, accepted, must be able to resist misunderstanding and opposition of other people. The work of a psychologist is formally clearly regulated and necessarily agreed with the management, but the tasks performed by him may be unique, not standardized. The mistakes of a psychologist in the performance of his duties do not appear immediately, but the consequences can be disastrous for the entire personnel.
How do you become a regimental psychologist?
An applicant for this position must be healthy (in accordance with the standards for those liable for military service), he must have a higher education in the specialty VUS-390200, which is provided by military higher educational institutions, and undergo a 2-3-month internship. This specialty can also be mastered by students of civilian universities, studying in parallel with the main faculty at military departments. Forms of advanced training: additional courses, second education in related fields (personal counseling, labor psychology, social psychology).