ABSTRACT

The importance of Military Geography in the curricula of military academies cannot be overemphasized, because geography plays a significant role during military operations of any nature. Military Geography encompasses various social science sub-fields, among others political science, military history, military strategy and military intelligence. It should therefore be recognized as a force multiplier in terms of educating military students and as a research avenue by both military academic and military training professionals. Military Geography as a subject should not focus exclusively on the theory of geography with potential military operational application. It should much rather train soldier-academics to conform to a country’s military doctrine for using geospatial information. This study evaluated the geography curricula of two military academies, abroad and in Africa, and one extra-continental civilian tertiary institution to identify generic elements needed in a fit for purpose Military Geography curriculum. The undergraduate Military Geography curriculum at the South African Military Academy was then assessed against their addressing these generic elements. Three limitations in the Military Geography curriculum were identified, namely inadequate Urban Geography coverage, lack of practical GIS and remote sensing application, and lack of accreditation credits to professional GIS bodies. Solutions were proposed to address the limitations.

摘要

军事地理在军事院校课程中的重要性怎么强调都不为过，因为地理在任何性质的军事行动中都起着重要作用。军事地理学涵盖各种社会科学子领域，其中包括政治学、军事史、军事战略和军事情报。因此，它应该被视为教育军事学生的力量倍增器，以及军事学术和军事训练专业人士的研究途径。军事地理学作为一门学科不应只关注具有潜在军事行动应用的地理学理论。它更应该训练士兵学者遵守一个国家使用地理空间信息的军事学说。本研究评估了国外和非洲的两所军事学院和一所大陆以外的民用高等教育机构的地理课程，以确定适合目的的军事地理课程所需的通用元素。然后根据这些通用要素对南非军事学院的本科军事地理课程进行评估。确定了军事地理课程的三个局限性，即城市地理覆盖面不足、缺乏实用的 GIS 和遥感应用以及缺乏专业 GIS 机构的认证学分。提出了解决这些限制的解决方案。然后根据这些通用要素对南非军事学院的本科军事地理课程进行评估。确定了军事地理课程的三个局限性，即城市地理覆盖面不足、缺乏实用的 GIS 和遥感应用以及缺乏专业 GIS 机构的认证学分。提出了解决这些限制的解决方案。然后根据这些通用要素对南非军事学院的本科军事地理课程进行评估。确定了军事地理课程的三个局限性，即城市地理覆盖面不足、缺乏实用的 GIS 和遥感应用以及缺乏专业 GIS 机构的认证学分。提出了解决这些限制的解决方案。