NationStates Jolt Archive

Omzian Forces Reintroduces Political Education After 45 Years to All Servicemen
July 30, Democratic Republic (Dakarie) Year 93

OSSN - After much controversy from opposition leaders and proceeding a series of heated political exchanges, the Omzian Ministry of National Defence has announced plans to reintroduce political education in the Omzian Forces 45 years since its abolishment in the pre-Homeland Defence War, Socialist Party era. Generating much arguments and debates ever since the introduction of the proposal in Parliament and after the 'Militarized Political Education Bill' narrowly passed following a 50.5% majority in Parliament and a 55.2% majority in the Administrative Council, all servicemen within the Omzian Forces (active duty component), National Guard, and Militia will be subjected to a series of political classes where they will be indoctrinated within sets of different curriculums designed for men and women serving in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Further, the plan to reintroduce political education will also replace all existing counselors in Omzian field units (the equivalent to chaplains) with Political Advisory Officers, who will take over the existing roles of the counselor, while adding the responsibility of political education to the servicemen in his/her combat unit.

"Introducing political education is a fundamental step towards fully integrating our vast armed forces into the Omzian Republic and our system of government," Commodore (Ret.) Noran Henderson, the Deputy Minister of National Deefnce, stated in a press conference hosted as an announcement of the reintroduction. "The establishment of political education will not only teach our honourable and brave comrades in the armed forces the fundamentals of service to the Omzian Republic, but will also raise their awareness of the greatness of the Republic and Omzian Socialism, while also adding an extra sense of patriotism alongside with boosting morale as well." Though the outlines of the full curriculum of the political education courses in the Omzian military is currently classified - although not for long into the foreseeable future, the Commodore has also presented a series of textbooks to the press, to be used in the political education course. One such material, numbering to 556 pages and designed for a five-year course, is titled 'The Fundamentals of Omzian Socialism, while another book numbering to 332 pages and designed for a three-year course, is titled 'The Essentials of Patriotism and Service'. The Commodore also revealed that in order to accept new personnel entering the military, the course will be taught in a cycle as opposed to following a strict year-by-year format, thus guaranteeing flexibility while "allowing our servicemen to be updated in their awareness of the Republic as they get along with the courses' cycle," as quoted from Henderson.

However, the agenda has also received strong opposition from many political factions, civilian personnel, and few military personnel as well. Though the Omzian Socialist Party - one of the biggest government oppositions - praised the agenda as "what should have been an integral part of the Omzian Forces from forty-five years ago", other opposition leaders has strongly criticized the agenda as "deliberately brainwashing the servicemen of the Omzian military under the left-wing and centrist thoughts of the government". As well, in the military, some leaders including a corps commander in the Omzian Army also criticized this as a "pointless and wasteful attempt at attempting to integrate the Omzian Forces into the agenda of specific political factions". However, representatives from the MOND has reassured the general population that "these lessons and teachings for the political education courses will only indoctrinate Omzian servicemen with the fundamentals of service for the Republic, and is neutral in its point of view and does not incline towards any political factions in idea and philosophy". In unofficial polls, only 60% of the population approves the proposal, though in the military results turned to a more favourable 92%.

Even despite the strong opposition against this agenda, many servicemen in the Omzian military are positive about the introduction of political education. A task force commander in the Omzian Navy praised the reintroduction as "one of the essential elements in mobilizing the Omzian Forces servicemen psychologically and morally", while Major Benard Zenkara of the Omzian Army labeled the initiative as "a crucial part that should be a part of the daily lives of every proud and dignified Omzian servicemen and women". Others however, have expressed either apprehension or uncertainty. "I'm not sure if this is a good proposal that will benefit the military morally in actuality, or if this is just a wasteful expedition from the politicians in Osaria," Aviation Commander Norman Konares of the Omzian Air Force said. "While the promotion of this political campaign as 'providing an unbreakable backbone' for the Socialist and Patriotic minds of the Omzian servicemen seems to be a convincing piece of rhetoric, we'll just have to wait and observe."

New Socialist Political Education Receives Praises in Armed Forces
Omzian Red Banner Daily - "The Forces and the People are One"
Written by Ensign Logan Haras

OFNB Launderdale - In a ordinary naval base in southern Omz bordering the pristine waters of the Hagras Bay where both the men and the ships of an unspecified Destroyer Squadron of an unspecified Carrier Battle Group is based in, things and matters looked much the same until the introduction of socialist political education just some months ago, with peaceful murmurs of the life on the base and the chirps of seagulls. Now, both the officers and the sailors in the Destroyer Squadron has another thing that will occupy their minds for months and years to come - the new political education scheme, surrounded by ideas of socialism and moral conservatism. Indeed, for the past few weeks, the regular jokes and magazine reading around the campfire has been replaced by songs praising socialism, and even a small rally followed by a speech praising the brilliantness of socialism as the 'beacon towards success and freedom'.

When political education was introduced initially for these heroic servicemen, many of them were still skeptical about the whole programme along with the impact that it will bring for the Omzian Armed Forces. Some has even termed it as "purposeful brainwashing", while dirty jokes ran across the base about the newly introduced education scheme. "People just didn't believe that it would bring anything other than something to joke about and mock with, and I too thought that it would be a bizarre program," says Comrade Lieutenant 1st Grade Jorges Hagras, the weapons officer on an unspecified destroyer vessel in the Squadron, and a newly appointed Political Advisory Officer for his entire Destroyer Section of several hundred men.

"However, when the program was finally introduced to us, though there was still much suspicion and doubt, we slowly began to adapt ourselves to it," Hagras said in the interview, one of his hands holding a textbook titled 'Omzian Socialism - The Indestructible Beacon Among the Rough Seas', and with a medal ribbon for the new 'Exemplary Political Advisory Performance Medal' on his chest. "And then we - for some reason - all adapted to the program. We found the education scheme to be not only insightful, but it also gives us a boost in our morale and our will to fight for the Republic when the time comes for all my comrades to link hands in the perils of combat.

Often however, he revealed, not all men and women were - and still are - fully absorbed and is satisfied with the program. However, Jorges noted, "a large proportion of men and women in our squadron are still going along with the program pretty well, regardless of their political backgrounds." He also revealed that a small number of his men even threatened to complain to the chain of command above - as he discussed in detail rather disapprovingly; however, as a man of great responsibility both tactically and morally, he is still staunch in his viewpoint that the education program is nothing short of a complete benefit for the servicemen of the Omzian Navy and beyond.

"It certainly gave me an new outlook into the definition of serving our Glorious Republic, among our Dear Comrades and under the guidance of the invincible might of the Omzian population."

ENS Haras serves in an unspecified Carrier Battle Group based on OFNB Hagrasporte near Port Hagras, acting as a part of the tactical air operations staff. Though a newcomer in Omzian journalism in the Armed Forces, he is proudly serving as the recipient of a Gold Star as a result of his decisions and advises that led his battle group to success in the Yasmarean Campaign.

Commissariat Of Public Education

It is of fundamental importance, that the people and united militia of all nations are educated. Political education and teaching of socialist philosophy in order to insure freedom and equality world-wide should also be a fundamental goal of all nations wishing to call themselves democratic.

The Commissariat of Public Education in a joint response from the Commissariat of Military Affairs congratulate the Omzian people in realising the necessity in teachings of Marx and Engels and likewise philosophers and intellectuals.

- Martin Blakow, Commissar Of Public Education