Stojančiųjų į LKA karininko profesijos samprata ; Perception of military profession of the applicants to the military academy of Lithuania

The primary objective of The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania (MAL) is to train officers as leaders. This complex and highly responsible objective makes the MAL an exceptional institution of higher education in Lithuania. The new selection system was designed in accordance with the preparation level of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and requirements for the officers of Lithuania and NATO and the experience of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Surrey. The system allows selecting the youth who have vocation for military education, are suitable for military service and meet professional requirements. In 2001, the Officer Selection Centre was established at the MAL. The Centre is exclusive among the institutions of higher education in Lithuania. The new selection system has been functioning up to the present day. For several years the MAL has been undertaking the integrated research Leadership and Its Influence to the Commander/Leader Training according to which the scientific group of the Officer Selection Centre prepared and carried out the scientific project The Applicants’ Perception of an Officer as a Leader in the period from 2010 to 2011. Both civil and military systems have the same principles of command and leadership; however, the problems related to the military system have its peculiarities. The research analyses the exceptional role of a military leader. The terms leader and commander differ in terms of civil and military aspects. It is crucial and relevant to analyze the applicants’ perception of leadership and command that are the priority areas of the MAL.[.]