The Effects of the Digitization of Operational Functions in Professional Military Education: The Organizational Challenge of Competency Management in French Infantry Units

This communication examines the impact of battlefield digitization on the increasing technical complexity of military professions, particularly in French infantry units. It focuses on how the integration of digital technologies into the operational functions of the French Army has reshaped the roles and competencies required for soldiers, especially officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). This evolution also contributes to transforming Professional Military Education, by introducing new demands for technical skills necessary to master digital tools.

The communication is based on a sociological study titled "Information and Communication Technologies and Command," conducted through semi-structured interviews with 12 French infantry officers who served during the introduction of the first information systems. It also draws from the findings of a PhD dissertation in the sociology of organizations and military labor, which combines interviews with ethnographic immersion. The results highlight the organizational challenges created by this technological evolution, particularly in managing competencies within infantry regiments. As digital systems become increasingly central to military operations, training programs must adapt to ensure that soldiers at all levels are proficient in both traditional combat skills and new digital tools.

From the case of the French armed forces, we will see that the digital transformation has led to a complexity in Professional Military Education (PME), which now needs to integrate digital skills while maintaining fundamental combat capabilities in the face of potential system failures. This results in a tension in military training due to the overlapping of competencies.

In conclusion, the research underscores the growing need for advanced technical skills and highlights the organizational challenges involved in continually updating and managing these competencies within an evolving digital battlefield environment.