QUEST FOR QUALITY HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: EXAMINING CIVIL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING JUNIOR LEADERSHIP IN BANGLADESH ARMED FORCES

Abstract

A sustainable development strategy for Armed Forces needs focused
improvements in transformational leadership at different tires that need to be
nurtured through a careful progressive human resource management process.
Leadership experience coupled with quality education is critical for such potential
leadership development. Our military training systems are continuously upgrading
but quality education is perhaps one area that needs attention. At present
secondary level educational qualification is required for recruiting in general in
Armed Forces while soldiers undergo a set of progressive training for professional
development. Recent policies emphasize a junior leader to have higher secondary
educational qualification. However, quality junior leadership depends on much
more wider range of issues. The research encompassed determining soldiers’ civil
education requirement for quality junior leadership development; henceforth,
vertical development of Armed Forces. It examined the link of levels of quality
education on two aspects of HRM: selection and training process, in a quest for
quality junior leadership across Armed Forces. It also identified HRM challenges
due to differing education requirements and explored three possible HRM
options: higher level intake, integration of military training curriculum with civil
education and focused civil education for grooming junior leadership. The study
proposed a comprehensive policy approach towards developing junior leadership
in Armed Forces. The research may be of interest to decision making leadership,
subject matter experts, training institutions, institutions concerned for recruiting
in Bangladesh Armed Forces and other researchers in this field.